Pet Grief Support Groups Seeing Increased Demand During Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact people’s lives in various ways, there has been a noticeable increase in the demand for pet grief support groups. According to Ms. Goodfriend, a pet grief counselor, the pandemic has made people more aware of grief and more inclined to express it, leading to a spike in the number of individuals seeking support after losing a beloved pet.
One such facility meeting this demand is the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, which has been offering a free pet-loss-support group to clients since 1983. The group was initially small, but over the years, the number of attendees has doubled, leading to the expansion of the center’s offerings, including video call grief groups catering to different timelines of pet loss and health issues.
Judith Harbour, a veterinary social worker at the center, highlighted the diverse backgrounds and range of ages among attendees, demonstrating the universality of pet loss grief. She emphasized the importance of these groups, stating that many attendees have felt unable to fully express their sadness over a dying pet to people close to them, feeling judged or dismissed by their loved ones.
Moreover, Ms. Harbour expressed that the pain of a pet’s death often goes unrecognized by a person’s community and society as a whole, leaving individuals feeling unseen and isolated in their grief.
In a broader context, the increasing demand for pet grief support groups reflects a growing recognition of the deep bond between humans and their pets. With more people turning to these groups for support, it is evident that the grieving process following the loss of a pet is a significant and complex experience that deserves compassion and understanding from society as a whole. The opinion on the topic is that the recognition of the pain of pet loss and the need for support is crucial, and the increasing demand for these groups indicates the deep and meaningful relationships people have with their pets.