I frequently speak and write about the multitude of reasons why the death of a companion animal can be such a difficult loss and why, for some, it can be even more difficult than human loss. As important as that narrative is for understanding and working towards healing, it is also important to look at statistics and research when seeking to understand and re-in franchising this marginalized and traumatizing loss. In a continued effort to raise awareness and sensitivity to th

In both my personal and professional life, it still amazes me how many people do not understand the emotional, psychological and spiritual significance of the human-animal bond and continue to trivialize the impact companion animal loss. How many times have you heard the comments; “it's just a dog/cat, "just get another one", “why are you not ‘over’ it yet”, or “you know pets don’t live as long as people do” in response to your grief? I know I have heard these insensitive an