Anyone who’s lost a dog can tell you how painful it is. They are a cherished member of the family and the grief they feel is normal. If you’ve known someone who’s lost a service dog, you may have seen them experience an even greater amount of grief. Research has suggested this is not simply due to attachment but also to the caregiving role of the dog.
Attach Hum Dev. 2011 Sep;13(5):421-36. doi: 10.1080/14616734.2011.584410.
“Not just a dog”: an attachment perspective on relationships with assistance dogs.
Kwong MJ, Bartholomew K.
Source: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.Abstract: We explored individuals’ relationships with an assistance dog from an attachment-theory perspective. We used both inductive and deductive thematic methods to analyze semi-structured interviews with 25 participants who had lost an assistance dog to retirement or death. Analyses revealed attachment processes of safe haven, secure base, and separation anxiety. Although attachment dynamics were an important feature of these relationships, caregiving was equally important. When confronted with the loss of their dog, almost all participants experienced intense grief. Most grief responses were consistent with the loss of a caregiving relationship. Findings suggest that grief is a natural response to the loss of a beloved companion who fulfilled fundamental needs for attachment and caregiving.
PMID: 21838644 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] View full text
My first service dog died about 15 months ago. I was intensely sad for about six months and even now, I still have periods where I’ll cry over his loss. I’ve lost a number of animals over my life and even though I loved each one of them, the grief I felt over losing him didn’t compare to the others.
Has anyone else lost a service dog, either through retirement or death? Please feel free to share your experiences.
