Pet loss is no different than other loss but it is sometimes dismissed and downgraded. Losing a pet is like losing family and it should be treated as such. If someone loses a dog or cat that has been with them for years and has been their closest companion, then the loss will hurt as if a person has died.
The article, “How to mourn the loss of a pet: ‘There are no rules, grief has no endpoint’” by Gemma White reviews how intense the loss of a pet can be. She states,
“Owners can sometimes face indifference or a lack of understanding from those who may not understand the place their pet held in their lives. But whether dog, cat, horse or hamster, the loss of a pet can have a devastating effect.”
To read the entire article, please click here
Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Support Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pet Loss Grief Support.