The grief experienced when losing a companion animal is profound and often underestimated by others. Understanding and supporting pet bereavement is an important element of animal welfare care.
Pet bereavement support is an underrecognised welfare adjacent area that significantly affects the human-animal bond and future animal care decisions. Owners who feel unsupported through pet loss may delay seeking care for future animals, avoid bonding deeply with subsequent pets, or develop complicated grief responses. Veterinary practices that provide compassionate end-of-life care, follow-up bereavement contact and referral to specialist support services improve both client welfare and the welfare of future animals in their care. The decision to euthanise a suffering animal — while the most compassionate choice — often carries lasting guilt that requires specific support to process. Normalising pet grief as genuine, significant loss is an important social welfare goal.