Companion animals grieve the loss of bonded companions — recognizing and supporting this grief is an important but often overlooked welfare responsibility.
The grief of companion animals has historically been underrecognized, partly because animal emotions were not taken seriously and partly because grief responses can be subtle or misinterpreted as illness or behavioral problems. Research now documents clearly that many species show prolonged behavioral changes following the death of bonded companions — changes consistent with what grief looks like in terms of behavioral expression. These responses represent real psychological experiences that cause suffering. Supporting a grieving animal involves maintaining routine, providing additional social contact and enrichment to compensate for the loss, and allowing time for adjustment rather than immediately introducing a new companion. Premature or poorly managed introduction of new animals can cause additional stress rather than comfort.