Pet Loss: Implications for Social Work Practice (Practice UPDATE‪)‬

More than 64 million households in the United States own one or more companion animals (U.S. Census Bureau, 1998). Many pet owners develop strong attachments to their pets and view them as members of the family (Beck & Katcher, 1996). Pets are often considered sources of unconditional love and affection and as providers of companionship, security, and protection (Cusack, 1988). It is not surprising, then, that the loss of a pet can be a very unsettling experience. The grief surrounding the loss of a companion animal has been compared to that experienced when a spouse or family member dies (Quackenbush, 1984). Cusack (1988) noted that grieving pet owners may experience stages of bereavement similar to those identified by Kubler-Ross (1969). Bereaved pet owners also may be more vulnerable to illness (Katcher & Rosenberg, 1979) and encounter difficulties with eating, sleeping, social activities, and job performance (Quackenbush).