I run an online pet memorial web site and as you can imagine I come into contact with many people who have lost a much loved pet or animal companion.
Looking through the memorial web sites that pet owners create when a beloved pet passes away has shown my that there are a number of ways that people come to cope with the loss of a pet.
Some people seem to be unsure or even embarrassed about the depth of grief and loss that they feel when a close pet dies. In the back of their minds they may think that others would think It was just a pet, only an animal and be surprised at how the death affects them.
But the truth of the matter is that we form a very special bond with our pets, they become part of the family and we love and take care of them for many years.
Many people confide in their pets (if my dog could talk Id be in big trouble.), pets help to take us out of ourselves when things are not going so good in other areas of your lives and they have unconditional love to give us. All of this goes to form a special bond that when broken by the death of our pet, goes to make a substantial loss.
Possibly those who think its just a pet have never...