Now, a new study by the National University of Ireland Maynooth has revealed that pet loss can feel just as intense as losing a person. AdvertisementThe impact of pet loss is hugeResearch by Professor Philip Hyland of the Department of Psychology found grief following the death of a pet can be as deep and as distressing as that for a person. In the study, 93% of people who had experienced the death of a pet had also experienced the death of a person. When asked to identify the bereavement that caused them the most distress, more than one-in-five (21%) chose the death of a pet. AdvertisementIn fact, the study found that people can experience clinically significant levels of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) following the death of a pet.

Source: Huffington Post January 20, 2026 13:24 UTC