Introduction to Module 2 – Specificities of Pet Bereavement
Welcome to Module 2 of our training on pet bereavement support. In this module, we will explore the specificities of this type of grief, which distinguish it from other forms of grief and require adapted care.
We will start by retracing the history of the human-animal bond and the unique place animals occupy in our lives and societies. Then, we will examine the different types of relationships that can unite a human with their animal companion, and the intensity of the emotional bond that results from it.
We will discuss the particularities of pet bereavement, notably the lack of social recognition that surrounds it and the guilt often felt by those who are grieving. We will also explore the impact of this loss on family dynamics and the identity of the bereaved person.
Finally, we will dedicate two sections to the specificities of pet bereavement in children and elderly people, two populations for whom this loss has particular implications.
The goal of this module is to provide you with the necessary knowledge to understand the complexity and depth of pet bereavement, in order to offer adjusted and compassionate support to the bereaved. We hope it will help you refine your role as a listener and responder in these often overlooked bereavement situations.
