It’s not till it happens to you do you realise how much the death of a pet effects you and your whole family. “It’s only an animal” many people would say. True, but our pets spend many years being faithful members of the family and when they die, it feels like the loss of a close friend.
In fact, it is the loss of a close friend. Whether the death of your pet reminds you of the death of other close friends and relatives, or makes you more aware of your own future death, the grief is very real.
Having a family and a busy life probably helps in times like this. It must be truly awful for older, single people whose main companion is his or her pet