For many people, pets are more than just animals—they are family. A new study shows that for one in five people, losing a pet was even more painful than losing a human loved one. This challenges how we think about grief and the way society treats pet loss.
In a survey of 975 adults in the UK, researchers found that 21% of people who had experienced both the death of a person and a pet said the pet’s death hurt more. This finding shows that the bond between people and their pets is deep and meaningful, and losing that bond can bring intense sadness.
This type of grief is often ignored or downplayed by others. Experts call it “disenfranchised grief,” meaning a kind of sadness that society doesn’t fully accept or recognize. People may be told, “It was just a pet,” or feel embarrassed to share their feelings. But for most pet owners, their animal is part of the family.
A 2025 survey by the animal charity RSPCA found that 99% of pet owners see their pets as family members. The social media tag #dogsarefamily has over 3 million posts on Instagram, showing how common and accepted this belief is.
The study, published in the journal PLOS One, also looked at a serious condition called “prolonged grief disorder.” This condition involves intense, ongoing grief that lasts at least 12 months and affects a person’s daily life. About 7.5% of those who had lost a pet met the criteria for this disorder—similar to the rates seen after losing a person.
Surprisingly, pet loss made up 8.1% of all cases of prolonged grief disorder in the study. People who lost a pet were 27% more likely to develop this condition than people who had not.
This number is close to the risk of developing prolonged grief after losing a parent (31%) or sibling (21%) and is even higher than the risk after losing a friend or other relative.
One of the most important findings of the study is that the kind of relationship a person had with the one they lost matters more than whether that being was human or animal. The love and connection someone feels can be equally strong, and the pain of losing it can be just as deep.
A major risk factor for prolonged grief disorder is not having enough support after a loss. Many people grieving a pet feel alone. They may be ashamed to talk about their sadness or worry that others will not understand. This lack of support can make it harder to heal and may lead to lasting emotional pain.
Losing a pet also has some unique challenges. In many cases, the pet’s owner is part of the decision to put the pet to sleep.
For some, this brings peace, knowing they helped end their pet’s suffering. For others, it can cause guilt or trauma, especially if they feel unsure about the timing or excluded from the decision. These kinds of experiences can increase the risk of prolonged grief.
Right now, prolonged grief disorder is only diagnosed after a human death. But this study shows that grief after losing a pet can look and feel the same. Experts suggest it may be time to rethink how we define and diagnose grief.
Even though the medical system may not fully recognize pet loss yet, help is available. The RSPCA offers a free pet loss support toolkit, and there are counselors who specialize in pet grief. Talking to someone who understands the special bond between pets and people can make a big difference.
This research reminds us that grief is personal. What matters most is not who we lose, but how deeply we loved them. By offering more support and understanding, we can help people heal after losing a beloved pet.
If you care about depression, please read studies that vegetarian diet may increase your depression risk, and Vitamin D could help reduce depression symptoms.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and these antioxidants could help reduce the risk of dementia.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
