Will Man’s Best Friend Mourn His Loss?

Earlier this year, we examined the phenomenon of grief in animals and discovered that most experts agree that many types of wild animals seem to experience grief at the loss of companions, mates, or offspring.

But, what about pets? Do our domesticated animals mourn the loss of their human companions? Regular reports would suggest that, in fact, Man’s Best Friend will surprise us in his enduring loyalty even after the death of his master.

Hawkeye

The photo seen around the world – This Labrador retriever led his family down the aisle into the funeral service attended by 1,500 in a local high school gym in Rockford, Iowa. With a sigh, he down lay by the casket of his fallen owner, Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson and remained there throughout the service.

Theo

Lance Cpl. Liam Tasker, a dog handler with the Army Vet Corps., died in a firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan in March 2011. Hours later, Theo, his bomb-sniffing springer spaniel mix, suffered a fatal seizure and died, many believe, a result of the stress of the loss of his companion.

Greyfriars Bobby

This statue was erected at the southern end of the George IV Bridge in Edinburg, Scotland after becoming famous for guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray, for 14 years in the nineteenth century.

Hachiko | Japan, 1925

A statue of this Japan breed, Akita, stands in the plaza of one of Tokyo’s busiest subway stations in honor of a nationally-recognized loyalty. The dog used to walk his owner, university professor Eizaburo Ueno, to the station every day for work and return at the end of the day to pick him up. When Ueno suddenly died suddenly while at work in 1925, Hachiko continued to return to the station and search for his owner.

Dogs can experience grief from weeks to months to years, depending on the individual animal and the strength of the bond. Margaret Keely shares a few tips on how to help grieving dogs in her guest post on YourOldDog.com:

1. Understand the loss. The dog is likely grieving the absence of a friend or companion, rather than the death itself. What he needs is someone to fill in this gap.

2. Provide distractions. Give the dog something to do to keep him occupied and not simply moping in his grief.

3. Introduce new acquaintances. Allow the dog social interaction and time to play with other people and other dogs.

4. Visit a veterinarian. If the dog shows sever signs of depression, a vet may be able to diagnose him and offer medication to help.