Grief severity: A comparison between human and companion animal death

Abstract

Grief severity was investigated and compared amongst 50 participants aged 18 to 65 years who had experienced the death of a human (n = 35) or the death of a companion animal (n = 15). Participants were recruited in Australia and completed an on-line self-report questionnaire package, measuring grief severity, social support, and emotional connection to the deceased. There were no significant differences between the levels of grief severity, however, the qualitative analyses highlighted the complexities associated with attempting to compare these grief experiences. These results highlight the importance of therapists acknowledging and validating companion animal grief.

“Forever in Our Hearts” Online: Virtual Deathscapes Maintain Companion Animal Presence

“…Marshall (2000, p. 3) affirms comment by Lavorgna and Hutton (2018) and by Arluke and Sanders (2009) that pet memorials often reflect “much more intense feelings than those for people.” Online, there can be greater anonymity and thus increased freedom of speech with perhaps a decrease in conventional phraseology. On the down side, it therefore becomes possible for web memorials to be written by “strangers” who may not have known, or may have fabricated, the deceased.…”

“…However, when a pet who is perceived to exist at this level of being, dies, the pain of loss felt by the human may be acute, and as research suggests, this can cause emotional devastation and lifestyle disruption similar in intensity to that borne by human-bereaved individuals. Findings in an Australian study by Lavorgna and Hutton (2018, p. 1) revealed “no significant differences between the levels of grief severity” felt by a human for a human or companion animal. Arluke and Sanders (2009, p. xv) drew similar conclusions, noting thatsince human emotional response to the death of a pet can be as intense as those precipitated by the loss of any family member, it is not surprising that there is a modest but growing interest in burying pets in animal cemeteries in order to maintain this connection.The death of a nonhuman animal who is considered a surrogate companion in life (refer Haraway, 2003, pp.…”

Animal euthanasia – empathic care or empathic distress?

“…7,8 However, despite empirical support for the validity of their deep grief, some people describe ongoing problems coping with the death of a companion animal when family, friends and society set a time limit on how long it is appropriate to mourn an animal. 2,14,15 This means that grieving owners may turn to a source of comfort that they feel conident will understand this loss -their vet. Vets are not trained as grief counsellors, and the empathy and caring that attracted them to the veterinary profession may be their undoing as they grapple with their client's emotions.…”

“…The contemporary grief literature is increasingly linking the loss of a companion animal – previously positioned as a ‘disenfranchised’ or socially unacceptable grief 13 – to symptomology and characteristics synonymous with the loss of a person 7,8 . However, despite empirical support for the validity of their deep grief, some people describe ongoing problems coping with the death of a companion animal when family, friends and society set a time limit on how long it is appropriate to mourn an animal 2,14,15 . This means that grieving owners may turn to a source of comfort that they feel confident will understand this loss – their vet.…”

Exploring how veterinary professionals perceive and use grief support resources to support companion animal caregivers in Ontario, Canada

“…Most caregivers will experience significant grief symptoms following the passing of their companion animal. In some cases, these symptoms can be greater than those experienced following the loss of a human family member (Adams et al, 1999;McCutcheon & Fleming, 2001;Planchon et al, 2002;Toray, 2004;Wrobel & Dye, 2003;and Lavorgna & Hutton, 2019). Unlike human loss, however, grief following the loss of a companion animal can lack social acknowledgement and support (Attig, 2004;and Meyers, 2002), placing caregivers at a greater risk for complicated and more prolonged grief experiences (Adams et al, 1999;Cordaro, 2012;and Rémillard et al, 2017).…”