How does pet euthanasia affect us?
A study on the impact of pet loss, led by Dr. Wendy Packman, PhD, at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, was conducted online across several countries between 2008 and 2011. The results were striking:
- 43% of respondents answered “often” or “almost always” to the question: “Do you prefer the company of your pet over that of people around you?”
- 15% of pet owners who lost an animal wished they could have died at the same time as their companion.
- 25% of people reported that life no longer felt meaningful without their pet.
- 10% of participants admitted to seriously considering suicide after the loss of their pet.
These results clearly show that the emotional impact of losing a companion animal is far greater than many might assume. This is why it is so important not to minimize or dismiss the grief caused by pet loss.
Need support? Here are some recommended readings to help you better understand and navigate the grieving process:
- Deuil animalier – Guide de survie, by France Carlos (available in French)
- Accompagner son animal vieillissant – Vivre son grand âge et surmonter son deuil, by Martine Golay Ramel (available in French)
- Quand l’animal s’en va… – La perte de son animal de compagnie, by Dr Marina von Allmen-Balmelli (available in French)
- Apprivoiser le deuil animalier – Trouver réconfort à la suite de la perte d’un animal de compagnie, by Lynne Pion (available in French)
- La vie sans Boris – Essai sur le deuil animalier, by Dr Joel Bergeron and Stéphanie Bérubé (available in French)
- La dernière promenade – Faire le deuil de son animal de compagnie, by Florence Meney (available in French)
For children:
- Le deuil de mon animal de compagnie : album d’activités et de souvenirs pour apprivoiser la perte, by Annique Lavergne and Yves Dumont (available in French)
- Carnet trésor pour dire « je t’aime » à mon animal disparu, by Lisette St-Pierre, Lucie St-Pierre and Léonie Côté (available in French)
- Mingan les nuages, by Marie-Andrée Arsenault and Amélie Dubois (available in French)
If you feel the need for additional support, you may also consider meeting with psychotherapist France Carlos, a specialist in pet loss and grief counselling.