The importance of pet loss and some implications for services

Christine Morley, Jan Fook

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Understanding the meaning of companion animals and their loss in peoples' lives has major implications for the way professional services are organized and delivered. There is much research and literature which argues for the major social, emotional and physical benefits of animal companionship, and the widespread nature of pet ownership. Yet ironically, much of the professional service literature has tended to marginalize or pathologize the human-animal bond, often dichotomizing it against human relationships and assuming its inferiority. We argue that this reflects a tendency to individualise what should be a major social concern. Therefore service design and delivery needs to reflect a recognition of human-animal relationships as a significant part of normal experience. Services and policies need to factor in both the inclusion and loss of these.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)127-143
Number of pages17
JournalMortality
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2005
Externally publishedYes

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