What on an emotional scale is the value of your dog to you?  What financial number would you place on your dog’s life?  While many place the love they have for their dog equal to a human, courts have different views.  Many love their dogs so much they will spend thousands to save him or her despite the low monetary values courts put in lawsuit cases.

Other things to consider is how long you have had the dog.  Individuals tend to put less stock in a dog they may have just bought or found.  Again with everything in life, love and grief are associated with attachment and bonds.  The stronger the bond, the stronger the love and consequently loss and grief.

The article, “A dog’s life :La Follette School researcher puts a number on man’s best friend” by AARON R. CONKLIN looks to understand how individuals differently value their dog’s life.  He states,

“If you’re like most pet owners, the quick and easy answer is “priceless.” But in regulation and the courts, that sort of vague, emotion-based response doesn’t go especially far. Until recently, neither venue had any science-based estimate of dollar value pet owners implicitly place on the lives of their pets when they make decisions that affect their pets’ mortality risks. ”

To read the entire article, please click here

So what value would you put on your dog’s life considering, he or she is young and been part of your life long enough to form a concrete bond?  Please also review AIHCP’s Pet Loss Grief Counseling Training Program and see if you qualify to earn a certification in this field.

The loss of a pet is a big deal.  Dogs, cats and horses are like family.  As the issue becomes larger, professionals are asking if a person should receive bereavement day for the loss of dog or cat or horse.  While many do not receive days for aunts or uncles, but only parents or children, employers should consider giving someone a day to grieve the death of a pet.  This is best for the business and the mindset of the griever.

The article, “Should employees be allowed bereavement leave when a pet dies?” by Kate Palmer states,

“Currently, there is no legal requirement for employers to allow their employees any time off work when their pet dies and, currently, no right to any form of bereavement leave at all. Permitting time off for employees in times of bereavement is down to the discretion of their employer and it is perfectly acceptable for them to refuse such a request.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

Losing a pet is traumatic but is there a line to be drawn before it becomes too abnormal?  For instance, losing a dog or cat is questioned by some as not a true loss.  Obviously this loss is subjective to the person who loss the animal but it is clear dogs, cats and even horses are companions.  They are more like family to many and to some, all they have.   Can it be taken farther to include mice, or fish?  This is a difficult question when something crosses the line as a pathology and not recognizing the reality of grief in the person.  The grief definitely needs respected but what are the lines that should be drawn in regards to abnormal reactions?  Individuals can form unhealthy bonds, but those bonds still exist and need respected.

The article, “Why I’m Mourning The Death Of My Hedgehog As Much As Any Dog Or Cat” by Gark Mavigan looks at why grief can be over any type of loss and should be respected.  He states.

The loss of a pet can be very traumatic.  Pets are family and the loss of a pet can be as traumatic as losing a family member.  Unfortunately, many individuals mock this type of loss and mock it as insignificant.  This is unfortunate and very untrue.  The loss of a pet needs to be respected as a significant loss.

The article, “Here’s How the Death of a Pet Can Be Just as Traumatic as Other Forms of Grief” by Philip Ellis states,

“So often, when an animal companion dies and the human partner is bereft, well-meaning people say things such as: ‘it’s only a dog,’ ‘come on, get over it,’ ‘you can always get another one,’ ‘they’re better off,’ ‘be strong,’ ‘you’re crying too much,’ ‘get a life.’ And so the grief-stricken suffer again.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program 

The loss of a pet is not something easy.  Losing a pet is in fact a very hard loss for many and should not be ignored.  Losing a pet is like losing family and pet loss counseling is sometimes needed.

The article, “When pets die, the grieving process is real” by Jack Hagerman, takes a closer look at the type of grief involved in losing a pet.  He states,

“Because we don’t typically have funerals for pets, we miss out on this important step in the grieving process.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program and see if it matches your academic and professional needs.

Pets are family.  The loss of a pet can be traumatizing because of this.   When we start to objectively define loss for another as small or not significant, we miss the whole point of grief.   Grief is a reaction to loss and the severity is connected to the level of love.  A dog or cat or horse are all great companions.   These type of higher intelligent companion pets have connections with the person that cannot be ignored.   Lesser intelligent pets may not have the emotional connection, but as grief counselors, we need to recognize in particular cases the affect of the loss on the person.

So it is important that the loss of pets be taken far more seriously.   An individual who loves his dog and lost his companion will suffer as much as a person who may have lost a brother.  Just because some individuals do not love animals, does not invalidate the legitimate bond with our pets.

The article, “Why we should start recognising the loss of a pet as ‘real grief'” by Jill Stark looks at this type of loss more deeply and why it is so important to recognize.  She states,

“There is often the expectation to keep feelings “in perspective” or to move on and “just get another one” – as if our pets are interchangeable non-entities we can replace like an old pair of socks.”

To read the entire article, please click here

I feel, these terms used by many towards the grieving over pets are insensitive and dodge the real loss and pain.  One can never replace a family member and because of this, one can never replace a pet.

If you would like to learn more, please review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program

The love and bond between a boy and his dog is one of the first true bonds that is tested in death for a child.  It is a sad loss with true value but also a loss that teaches one the nature of death in this broken world.  One learns though how to love, how to give and how to be love unconditionally back.

The article, “A Boy and His Dog: Finding Strengths and the Capacity To Love Through Grief and Loss” illustrates how conventional stereotypes of how a man should grieve and the loss of a dog brought one man to his knees in grief.  The article states,

“No one tells you how multi-layered grief can be: I supposed it is one of those things that must be experienced first-hand. I know if I am going to resolve my grief, I have to feel this. I have to accept this loss and let “sad” happen. ”

To read the entire article, please click here

I think this article pastes together these two aspects of how men should grieve and how loss does not see one’s gender when grieving the loss of one of our furry friends.  Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling program to learn more and become trained in Pet Loss Grief Counseling.

One of the first and most painful memories of a child is the loss of a pet.  Even the simple loss of a fish displays the fragile nature of life and that animals do not live forever and that death is part of life.  This is critical learning lesson for children as they discover life is not forever and the startling conclusion that even mommy or daddy can die.  This needs to be dealt with carefully as not to traumatize the child but to educate the child on the reality of death.  Hiding the child from the loss of a pet, as if to replace the fish, is not a good idea.  It only reinforces bad concepts regarding life and death itself.  Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program as well as our Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Program

The article, “A dying fish, a beloved dog and a parenting lesson, of sorts”, by Theresa Vargas states

“I thought a dead fish was the worst thing my 5-year-old son could find in his new fish tank.

I was wrong.

An almost-dead fish is so much more unsettling.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling Program and see if it matches your educational and professional needs.