Dogs, cats, and other companion animals experience genuine grief responses following the loss of bonded companions — understanding this helps owners and carers provide appropriate support.
Recognising animal grief is important for welfare because owners who do not acknowledge it may fail to provide appropriate support or may introduce new animals too quickly, causing additional stress. Grieving animals benefit from maintained routines, extra social interaction, and monitoring for signs of clinical depression or health decline. For social species kept in groups — horses, rabbits, guinea pigs — the loss of a companion animal is a significant welfare event that deserves planned management, not simply replacement.