Will My Other Pet’s Know?
Many people wonder if when a beloved pet dies, how the other pets in the family will react. Will they know their friend is gone? Or should I show the body to them and let them say “good-bye”? Veterinarians are often asked this very question, and there seems to be quite a debate over the subject – although there is little evidence to support either view. Some argue that pet’s don’t have the cognitive ability to understand the finality of death, but others believe that pets can see death as we do.
Many people have had experiences with surviving pets that have reported that they grieve the loss of deceased companion animals. Author Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, in her book “The Hidden Life of Dogs” described how a dog howled for the first time when it somehow sensed that its buddy was not returning home after a final trip to the Vet.
It is possible that the dog may not have been so upset if it had accompanied his buddy to the Vet and witnessed for himself the final event. Also, in the book “Dog’s Behaving Badly” the author describes how a dog was put to sleep and the owners tried to conceal it from the other family dog. Upon returning home, the remaining dog frantically combed every inch of the house looking for his companion until he finally found him in the garden in a well-camouflaged grave. There he sat for days, staring off into space with a far away look. It was as if he knew what had happened, and he probably did.
Horse and donkey mares do better if they are allowed to spend time with the deceased foal, than if it is hurried away withour their inspection. If unable to inspect the dead foal, frantic equine moms have even dug up the foal’s remains to seemingly reflect for awhile before coming to terms with their loss.
For a pet who is closes bonded with another, displaying the deceased’s body may help the survivor to accept the finality of the event and to bring closure to them. They may also display classic stages of grieving, just like humans. Don’t be alarmed if they become less active, eat less, sleep fitfully and generally appear depressed. They too are trying to come to terms with with has transpired.
It may help to bury their companion nearby, in a favorite spot in the backyard where they can visit often. Burying your pet in a Pet Casket it is a beautiful and dignified way to intern your beloved companion animal.