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Pets: Loss & Grief

Pets: Loss & Grief. Dr. Millie Cordaro, LPC-I Texas State University Department of Psychology. Pet Ownership. According to the 2009/2010 National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 71.4 millions homes Total Number of Pets Owned in the U.S. (millions)

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Pets: Loss & Grief

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  1. Pets: Loss & Grief Dr. Millie Cordaro, LPC-I Texas State University Department of Psychology

  2. Pet Ownership • According to the 2009/2010 National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 71.4 millions homes • Total Number of Pets Owned in the U.S. (millions) • Bird                              15.0 • Cat                               93.6 • Dog                              77.5 * Ownership statistics are gathered from APPA’s 2009/2010 National Pet Owners Survey

  3. Spending • Estimated 2010 Sales within the U.S. Market • For 2010, it estimated that $47.7 billion will be spent on our pets in the U.S. • Breakdown:                                           Food                                                       $18.28 billion Supplies/OTC Medicine                            $11.01 billionVet Care                                                 $12.79 billionLive animal purchases                              $2.21 billionPet Services: grooming & boarding           $3.45 billion  * Ownership statistics are gathered from APPA’s 2009/2010 National Pet Owners Survey

  4. Subjective Well-being • Pets contribute to physical and emotional health • Pets provide sense of being needed

  5. Subjective Well-being • Pets provide emotional attachment bond • When experiencing emotional distress, dog owners more likely to turn to their dogs for support

  6. Family • Pets are perceived by pet owners as part of the family • Pets can act as surrogate friends & family

  7. Breaking of the Bond • The death or loss of a pet has a marked effect on emotional well-being • People can experience a grief response to the loss of a pet similar to the loss of a significant person

  8. Breaking of the Bond • The deeper the attachment, the more intense the grief reaction

  9. Breaking of the Bond • In order to get past our grief, we must go through it

  10. Grief Cycle Not everyone goes through every stage or in sequential order

  11. Grief Process • Denial: • numbness & disbelief • Mind’s way of processing facts

  12. Grief Process • Anger: • typical grief reaction • Underneath anger is hurt.

  13. Grief Process • Bargaining: • Wanting to do anything to spare the loss of your pet • Feeling of guilt common • Hindsight bias

  14. Grief Process • Depression: • Normal and appropriate grief reaction. • Along with feelings of emptiness, grief occurs at deeper levels. • We may..

  15. Grief Process • Acceptance: • Confused with being “OK” about the situation. • Accepting new reality • Redistribute emotional energy

  16. Grief Reactions • Preoccupation with thoughts or memories about the pet • Diminished ability to concentrate on other tasks

  17. Grief Reactions • Anticipatory grief occurs prior to the loss of a pet • Grief triggers

  18. Individual Differences • People living alone or who have limited social contact • Age and personality of owner

  19. Disenfranchised Grief • Grief hidden, unrecognized or underestimated • There is a lack of social recognition

  20. Disenfranchised Grief • Grief reactions and rituals for mourning deceased pets tend to be discouraged

  21. Disenfranchised Grief • Friends and family may unintentionally appear insensitive to pet loss- related grief • May keep people from fully grieving the loss when a pet dies

  22. Disenfranchised Grief • When people feel that there grief is unworthy of public acknowledgement, the grief process stagnates

  23. Disenfranchised Grief • Grief experienced within social context • Fear ridicule for openly expressing grief • Underlying invisibility or stigma

  24. Disenfranchised Grief • Should grief surrounding the loss of a pet be undervalued? • Need to tease apart pet loss as a disenfranchised grief

  25. Support for the Grieving • Acknowledge the grief • Cry when you need to • Seek out empathic family or friends • Frame picture to be kept next to urn or grave stone • Write down all memories or eulogy in a journal. Select a time/date to read eulogy aloud once urn/ grave prepared. • Send a card or donate money to organization in pets name. Make sure griever is sent notice that money donated in pet’s name. • National Pet Memorial Day is second Sunday in September

  26. Support for the Grieving • If you need additional support • Toll Free Hotlines • PetFriends, Inc. 24-hour service (1-800-404-PETS) • Iowa State University (1-888-478-7574) • Support Groups • Human Society of Austin and Travis County (512-837-7985 ext. 226) • Furry Angels In Heaven Pet Loss Support Group (Pflugerville, 512-971-9321) • Counseling • Pet loss counselor • Counselors specializing in grief/ loss

  27. Questions? • Millie Cordaro, Ph.D., LPC-I • Mc.phd@live.com • 512.487.6998

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