Dogs, cats, and other companion animals can experience grief responses following the loss of bonded companions — a recognition that has welfare implications for how we manage multi-pet households through bereavement.
The grief responses observed in companion animals provide evidence that their emotional bonds with conspecifics and human family members are genuine and meaningful. A dog that refuses to eat, searches for a missing companion, or shows reduced engagement with the world is experiencing a negative emotional state that constitutes welfare harm. This welfare harm is often overlooked by owners focused on their own grief. Providing affected animals with extra attention, maintaining routines, and allowing expression of grief behaviors (searching, vocalization) supports emotional processing. Managing grief in surviving pets requires recognition that their emotional needs are real and distinct from human grief responses, requiring tailored behavioral support rather than simply assuming animals "don't understand."