Animals grieve the loss of companions, and owners grieve their pets. Understanding animal grief supports welfare decision-making and the emotional health of both animals and owners.
Animal grief represents both a welfare concern for surviving animals and a reminder that companion animals form genuine emotional bonds. Dogs and cats showing prolonged reduced appetite, withdrawal, and searching behavior after companion loss are experiencing a real welfare impact that deserves acknowledgment and management. Owner grief for pets is similarly real — pet bereavement is a recognized psychological phenomenon — and poorly served by dismissive responses to this form of loss. Veterinary practices and animal welfare organizations increasingly offer pet bereavement support alongside their clinical services, recognizing that owner emotional wellbeing directly affects the welfare of the animals in their care.