Profound grief with the loss of a pet

Profound grief for a pet is normal – how to help yourself or a friend weather the loss of a beloved family member

Olga RoussPsychology

Melissa and her partner are still grieving over the loss of their beloved dog, Kivi Tarro, who passed away three weeks ago after living for 14.5 years. As Melissa Starling, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sydney, works through the pain of life without Kivi, she believes examining how pet loss affects individuals is vital. In a recent article for The Conversation, Melissa delves into a new scientific review and offers guidance to counsellors on how to assist individuals in dealing with the passing of a beloved pet. The review highlights the importance of the bond between humans and animals, which can be just as meaningful as human-to-human relationships, making the grief felt by pet owners just as deep. …