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6th October 2019
09:23am BST
Guy Winch, psychologist and author, says that we need to change our attitudes and be more supportive of people who are grieving the loss of a pet.
He explains that the grief over losing a pet is often misunderstood, despite the fact that it is real, and often severe.
Guy says that symptoms of acute grief after losing a pet can last "from one to two months, up to a year - or longer - for the symptoms of grief to fully disappear."
So, it is a long and painful road for many.
"Although grief over the loss of a cherished pet may be as intense and even as lengthy as when a significant person in our life dies, our process of mourning is quite different."
He points out that people who have lost a beloved pet rarely ask for time off work, so as to avoid seeming "overly sentimental, lacking in maturity or emotionally weak".
Another issue that Guy has identified is that people tend to keep their sadness to themselves, which has the potential to build up.
Basically, if you know someone who has recently said farewell to their furry BFF, check in on them, and ensure they're okay.Explore more on these topics:
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