One Health

Researchers surveyed 975 UK adults to look closely at the severity and duration of pet bereavement. The key finding of the study is that 7.5% of the participants who lost a pet met the clinical criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). This rate is closely identical to the rate of severe, chronic grief experienced by people losing their own human family members, which is about 8.9% for a sibling and 9.1% for a partner.

Even more, about 21% of participants who had experienced both the death of a pet and a human relative reported that losing their pet was actually the more painful experience. The researchers concluded that diagnostic medical guidelines should be updated to officially recognize pet loss... That hopefully this change will help grieving pet families in accessing much-needed mental health support and counseling without facing social stigma or having their pain over losing their pets downplayed.

How do you feel about these findings? I could definitely see how that 21% figure could raise an eyebrow, but then again, I think it is fairly understandable considering that pets can become very hard-wired into your daily routine in a way most other people in your life are probably not. When a pet becomes such a close companion of daily living, there will be a lot of devastation once they must part.

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Kayla Anderson
Veterinary Social Worker
Program for Pet Health Equity
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T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Center for Pet Family Well-Being
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I worked at a company that provided paid bereavement leave for pet loss. It was pretty wonderful. I lost 4 furbabies in the time I worked there, and working in an environment where the culture respected the loss of a furry family member was helpful.

Later I worked for a company that considered pet bereavement, but decided to write the policy more generally to be inclusive of any death that was meaningful to the employee. It was still nice, but the specific inclusion of pet bereavement had a bigger impact for me. 

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Rebecca McCathern
Founder & Managing Director
Helena's Community Cats of SOWEGA
GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-04-2026 01:46 PM
From: T' Fisher
Subject: A recent research survey found that grief after a pet's death can be just as intense as grief after losing a human family member.

Thank you @Kayla Anderson for sharing this powerful research-it truly emphasizes the depth of the human-animal bond and the need for greater recognition of pet loss grief. The findings are incredibly relevant to the work we do at the University of Tennessee Center for Pet Family Well-Being (CPFW), particularly through our One Health focus, which explores the interconnected relationships between humans, animals, and the environments we share.

The statistic that 7.5% of participants met the criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) after the death of a pet is striking. It validates the intense emotional impact that pet loss can have, comparable to the loss of human family members. The fact that 21% of participants found losing their pet more painful than losing a human relative highlights how deeply pets can become embedded in our lives-not just emotionally, but also in the rhythms of daily living.

From a One Health perspective, this research reinforces the importance of addressing pet bereavement as part of broader mental health and public health strategies. Pets often provide unconditional love, emotional stability, and companionship, and their loss can disrupt not only emotional well-being but also daily routines. Recognizing this within healthcare systems and community support structures could make a significant difference for grieving pet families.

I wanted to share some helpful tools for those coping with pet loss grief. The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) offers excellent resources, including online support groups and counseling services. Additionally, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA Pet Loss Support) provides guidance and tools for navigating the grieving process.

On that note, we would also like to invite everyone to join our upcoming webinar, "Building Emotional Resilience: Supporting Families Through Pet Loss," taking place on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. During this session, we'll discuss practical strategies for coping with grief and fostering emotional resilience during challenging times. You can register here: tiny.utk.edu/EmotionalResilience.

I'd love to hear others thoughts on this topic:

• Do you think greater public awareness about pet bereavement could help reduce stigma and encourage people to seek support?
• What role do you think workplaces, schools, or community organizations can play in supporting individuals experiencing pet loss?
• Are there any specific resources or approaches you've seen that have worked well for grieving pet families?

Thank you again for sharing this important research Kayla-it's a vital conversation that can help create a more compassionate and inclusive approach to grief.

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T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Center for Pet Family Well-Being
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Thank you @Rebecca McCathern. 

This is such a powerful example of One Health in practice! When workplaces recognize pet loss as a meaningful loss, they are acknowledging the real connection between human well-being, family systems, mental health, and the human-animal bond.

Specific inclusion of pet bereavement matters because it helps reduce the stigma so many people still feel when grieving an animal family member. A more general bereavement policy can be helpful, too, but naming pet loss sends a clear message: this grief is valid.

I hope more employees feel encouraged to talk with their employers about policies like this. Even small changes in workplace culture can make a meaningful difference for people navigating loss.


Any others have similar experiences at their place of employment?

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T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Center for Pet Family Well-Being
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-06-2026 07:49 AM
From: Rebecca McCathern
Subject: A recent research survey found that grief after a pet's death can be just as intense as grief after losing a human family member.

I worked at a company that provided paid bereavement leave for pet loss. It was pretty wonderful. I lost 4 furbabies in the time I worked there, and working in an environment where the culture respected the loss of a furry family member was helpful.

Later I worked for a company that considered pet bereavement, but decided to write the policy more generally to be inclusive of any death that was meaningful to the employee. It was still nice, but the specific inclusion of pet bereavement had a bigger impact for me. 

------------------------------
Rebecca McCathern
Founder & Managing Director
Helena's Community Cats of SOWEGA
GA
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-04-2026 01:46 PM
From: T' Fisher
Subject: A recent research survey found that grief after a pet's death can be just as intense as grief after losing a human family member.

Thank you @Kayla Anderson for sharing this powerful research-it truly emphasizes the depth of the human-animal bond and the need for greater recognition of pet loss grief. The findings are incredibly relevant to the work we do at the University of Tennessee Center for Pet Family Well-Being (CPFW), particularly through our One Health focus, which explores the interconnected relationships between humans, animals, and the environments we share.

The statistic that 7.5% of participants met the criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) after the death of a pet is striking. It validates the intense emotional impact that pet loss can have, comparable to the loss of human family members. The fact that 21% of participants found losing their pet more painful than losing a human relative highlights how deeply pets can become embedded in our lives-not just emotionally, but also in the rhythms of daily living.

From a One Health perspective, this research reinforces the importance of addressing pet bereavement as part of broader mental health and public health strategies. Pets often provide unconditional love, emotional stability, and companionship, and their loss can disrupt not only emotional well-being but also daily routines. Recognizing this within healthcare systems and community support structures could make a significant difference for grieving pet families.

I wanted to share some helpful tools for those coping with pet loss grief. The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) offers excellent resources, including online support groups and counseling services. Additionally, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA Pet Loss Support) provides guidance and tools for navigating the grieving process.

On that note, we would also like to invite everyone to join our upcoming webinar, "Building Emotional Resilience: Supporting Families Through Pet Loss," taking place on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. During this session, we'll discuss practical strategies for coping with grief and fostering emotional resilience during challenging times. You can register here: tiny.utk.edu/EmotionalResilience.

I'd love to hear others thoughts on this topic:

• Do you think greater public awareness about pet bereavement could help reduce stigma and encourage people to seek support?
• What role do you think workplaces, schools, or community organizations can play in supporting individuals experiencing pet loss?
• Are there any specific resources or approaches you've seen that have worked well for grieving pet families?

Thank you again for sharing this important research Kayla-it's a vital conversation that can help create a more compassionate and inclusive approach to grief.

------------------------------
T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Center for Pet Family Well-Being
------------------------------

Thank you for sharing this, Kayla.

I think one of the biggest challenges surrounding pet loss is that many people still view pets as property rather than family members. Because of that, the grief that follows is often minimized or misunderstood.

The mention of Prolonged Grief Disorder especially caught my attention because I often wonder if that's something I've experienced myself.

On September 27, 2024, I lost my 9-pound Chihuahua, Chicken, to a dog attack.

The attack lasted less than a minute.

We had him at an emergency veterinarian within thirty minutes and spent the entire day being reassured that he was doing okay and was simply being kept for observation. By that evening, it became clear he wasn't improving. We rushed him from one emergency clinic to another before finally reaching a trauma center. They stabilized him and sent us home.

Thirty minutes later, the phone rang.

His heart had stopped.

I remember walking back into the hospital, still convinced they were going to save him. Instead, there was a white box sitting on a table.

Chicken was inside.

He looked like he was sleeping.

I picked him up expecting him to open his eyes, boop me in the face, and demand attention like he always had. Instead, there was only silence.

I remember crying in a way I didn't know was possible. At one point I actually thought, "Someone else has lost their baby."

Then I realized it was me.

For weeks I barely ate, barely slept, and struggled to function. Even now, nearly two years later, there are moments when the grief hits just as hard as it did that night. His ashes sit on my mantle with his harness draped over the top. When I travel, he comes with me. In my closet is a bag containing the blanket he was wrapped in and the shirt I left behind so he would have something that smelled like me while he was at the hospital.

I still haven't been able to open it.

People who have never experienced this kind of loss often don't understand that losing a pet isn't "just losing an animal." It's losing a family member. It's losing the companion who loved you on your best days and your worst days without judgment or conditions.

For me, there was one unexpected silver lining.

As part of trying to heal, my son and I began volunteering with local shelters and rescues. Through that experience, we learned about the challenges they face every day and the limitations of the software they relied on to save animals.

That ultimately led to the creation of Pawdango.

While nothing will ever bring Chicken back, there is some comfort in knowing that our work helps shelters and rescues save more lives every day. In a small way, his legacy lives on through every animal that finds safety, care, and a home because of the organizations using our platform.

I couldn't save my own little buddy.

But maybe his story has helped save others.

And for me, that's a meaningful part of healing.

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Destiny Crum | Executive Director
Pawdango
Houston, TX

http://www.pawdango.com
https://calendly.com/pawdango
destiny@pawdango.com
------------------------------

@Destiny Crum, Thank you so much for sharing Chicken's story. I am so deeply sorry for your loss. What you described is heartbreaking, and I can feel how loved Chicken was - and still is.

You are absolutely right that pet loss is often minimized because so many people still view animals as property rather than as family members. But for those of us who know that bond, losing a family member that is a companion animal can be devastating. It is the loss of a relationship, a routine, a source of comfort, and a family member who was part of everyday life.

I also really appreciate you sharing your thoughts about Prolonged Grief Disorder.  Grief after the traumatic loss of a pet can be complicated, especially when the loss is sudden, violent, or filled with those painful "what if" moments.

What you shared about Chicken's legacy through Pawdango is incredibly meaningful. It does not take away the pain of losing him, but it is powerful that your love for him has become part of work that helps shelters and rescues save more animals. That is a beautiful way to honor him. 💜

Warmly,

T'

 @Augusta O'Reilly, @Kayla Anderson

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T' Fisher, Director of Operations
Center for Pet Family Well-Being
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-07-2026 09:53 AM
From: Destiny Crum
Subject: A recent research survey found that grief after a pet's death can be just as intense as grief after losing a human family member.

Thank you for sharing this, Kayla.

I think one of the biggest challenges surrounding pet loss is that many people still view pets as property rather than family members. Because of that, the grief that follows is often minimized or misunderstood.

The mention of Prolonged Grief Disorder especially caught my attention because I often wonder if that's something I've experienced myself.

On September 27, 2024, I lost my 9-pound Chihuahua, Chicken, to a dog attack.

The attack lasted less than a minute.

We had him at an emergency veterinarian within thirty minutes and spent the entire day being reassured that he was doing okay and was simply being kept for observation. By that evening, it became clear he wasn't improving. We rushed him from one emergency clinic to another before finally reaching a trauma center. They stabilized him and sent us home.

Thirty minutes later, the phone rang.

His heart had stopped.

I remember walking back into the hospital, still convinced they were going to save him. Instead, there was a white box sitting on a table.

Chicken was inside.

He looked like he was sleeping.

I picked him up expecting him to open his eyes, boop me in the face, and demand attention like he always had. Instead, there was only silence.

I remember crying in a way I didn't know was possible. At one point I actually thought, "Someone else has lost their baby."

Then I realized it was me.

For weeks I barely ate, barely slept, and struggled to function. Even now, nearly two years later, there are moments when the grief hits just as hard as it did that night. His ashes sit on my mantle with his harness draped over the top. When I travel, he comes with me. In my closet is a bag containing the blanket he was wrapped in and the shirt I left behind so he would have something that smelled like me while he was at the hospital.

I still haven't been able to open it.

People who have never experienced this kind of loss often don't understand that losing a pet isn't "just losing an animal." It's losing a family member. It's losing the companion who loved you on your best days and your worst days without judgment or conditions.

For me, there was one unexpected silver lining.

As part of trying to heal, my son and I began volunteering with local shelters and rescues. Through that experience, we learned about the challenges they face every day and the limitations of the software they relied on to save animals.

That ultimately led to the creation of Pawdango.

While nothing will ever bring Chicken back, there is some comfort in knowing that our work helps shelters and rescues save more lives every day. In a small way, his legacy lives on through every animal that finds safety, care, and a home because of the organizations using our platform.

I couldn't save my own little buddy.

But maybe his story has helped save others.

And for me, that's a meaningful part of healing.

------------------------------
Destiny Crum | Executive Director
Pawdango
Houston, TX

http://www.pawdango.com
https://calendly.com/pawdango
destiny@pawdango.com
------------------------------