Pet Loss and Disenfranchised Grief: Implications for Mental Health Counseling Practice

Abstract

Counselors who acknowledge and validate the implications of pet loss will help to re-enfranchise an undervalued grief. In the article, pet loss is conceptualized using both a traditional model of grief, Kubler-Ross's stages of grief, and two contemporary models of loss adaptation, the dual process model and adaptive grieving. General grief reactions to pet loss are discussed, along with the negative impact of disenfranchised grief for pet bereavement. Finally, I address the use of grief counseling, self-help, and community resources for bereaved pet owners.

A Multilevel Intervention Framework for Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness with Pets

“…The close human-animal bonds that people experiencing homelessness develop with their pets has been reported to be a protective factor against suicide [ 34 , 47 ]. When pets die, this can trigger bereavement and grief that is complicated by the undervaluation of this loss within society [ 98 ]. In some instances, suicidal ideation may develop or be exacerbated by the death of a companion animal [ 99 ].…”

Public health and natural hazards: new policies and preparedness initiatives developed from an Australian bushfire case study

“…Emergencies can occur when people, property, the environment and other assets (including animals) intersect adversely with hazards 4 . Animals may be considered ‘dependent others’ and their welfare is frequently linked to human physical and psychological health 24–26 . For livestock farmers, an economic relationship does not exclude emotional attachment and both are considerations at the responder‐owner interface 20,24,27 …”

Animals in Social Work

“…Because companion animal loss is often unrecognised and indeed minimised, the loss or death of an animal companion has been described as a type of disenfranchised grief (Carmack, 2003;Cordaro, 2012;Meyers, 2002). Doka's (1989) term refers to a grief that is not legitimated or validated by society and does not allow the grieving person to publicly mourn their loss.…”

“…Specialist social work support and counselling services therefore provide an important means of affirming, and acknowledging a grief that may not be otherwise validated. (Cordaro, 2012;Toray, 2004) …”