Companion animals grieve the loss of bonded animals and human family members. Recognizing and supporting grief in pets reduces welfare harm during bereavement periods.
Animal grief is a genuine welfare concern supported by behavioral and physiological evidence. Dogs and cats that lose bonded companions show measurable behavioral deterioration that in some cases persists for months. The welfare harm of grief is distinct from physical illness but equally real for affected individuals. Supporting bereaved animals requires maintaining consistent routines, providing additional social interaction, and monitoring for clinical signs of depression requiring veterinary attention. Well-intentioned but premature introduction of new companion animals sometimes worsens rather than resolves grief symptoms. Human owners who are themselves grieving after a pet death may be less attentive to surviving animals during a period when those animals most need additional support.