Losing a beloved dog can cause immense emotional distress, comparable to the pain experienced by a parent who has lost a child, according to a recent study.
According to researchers, the findings confirm the notion that pets are considered as integral members of the family by their owners. In the unfortunate event of a pet being stolen, owners experience a range of emotions including a sense of helplessness, sorrow, and bereavement.
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Some study participants actually experienced a deeper sense of grief and loss when their beloved dog passed away, compared to the death of a friend or relative. They attributed this intense emotional reaction to the incredibly close bond they shared with their furry companions, which often surpassed the connections they had with certain family members.
Lead researcher Akaanksha Venkatramanan, an assistant psychologist with the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in the U.K., stated that the study demonstrates the profound affection people have for dogs and the sense of responsibility they feel as their guardians.
In a recent study published in the journal Animal-Human Interactions, researchers interviewed four individuals who had experienced the theft of their dogs. These participants were recruited through social media platforms.
“I embarked on this research project after witnessing the heartbreaking incident of my friend’s dog, Lola, being stolen right from her backyard, seemingly by someone pretending to be a delivery driver,” shared Lindsey Roberts, a senior lecturer at the University of the West of England. In a journal news release, Roberts emphasized, “The distress it caused affected everyone involved, and it compelled me to take action in order to provide better support for individuals who have experienced the traumatic ordeal of having their beloved pets stolen.”
Losing their beloved pets, the dog owners in the study expressed a consistent range of emotions, including sorrow, despair, hopelessness, emotional pain, and a sense of numbness.
According to the researchers, people experience similar emotional reactions when their human loved ones die. However, society tends to perceive the deaths of humans differently compared to the deaths of beloved pets.
The study emphasized that there is a genuine concern regarding the lack of closure, especially when the dog remains missing or is discovered deceased.
Regrettably, the number of individuals at risk of experiencing such losses has increased as a result of the pandemic.
During lockdown in the U.K., approximately 3.2 million pets were purchased as people sought companionship, according to researchers. This surge in pet adoption has been accompanied by a significant 250% rise in reported dog thefts.
Roberts stated that they have created a questionnaire that aims to identify the specific areas where people require the most assistance in dealing with the loss of their dogs. The intention behind this initiative is to alleviate the emotional distress experienced by individuals affected by dog theft.
