We feel a little ashamed that we are so distraught over the loss of “just” a dog.
My first experience with the death of a loved one was at the age of seven—we lost our family dog suddenly following complications from a routine spaying procedure. She had been a nanny dog to me since my birth , and was always at my hip no matter where I went. Her loyalty to me made losing her that much harder on my parents. They weren’t just losing a beloved family member; they were also watching their child grieve death for the first time.
But those who’ve loved and lost a dog know. The death of a dog can be absolutely excruciating, just as painful as losing a human loved one. Even dog lovers know this sounds a bit nuts—but we know it’s true. So what is it aboutIf we try to answer this question scientifically, it’s hard to land on a sensible answer. The most obvious reason the death of a dog hurts so much is that we had a bond with the dog, and that bond has been broken.
Some scientists theorize that humans and dogs essentially evolved together, humans selectively breeding for traits that facilitate human relationships—like the ones between parent and child—even as they themselves continued to evolve. My mom definitely relied on my dog Kurkay to “herd” me into the front yard.
So, we sort of understand how we develop these attachments to our dogs, but does that also explain why it hurts so much when we lose them?I think it does, in part, but I also think there’s an extra layer to it. An article in Quartz points out that, we aren’t typically afforded the usual outpouring of support from the community. There are no last rites, no funerals, no gatherings to remember them. And we feel almost a little ashamed that we are so distraught over the loss of “just” a dog.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boston Dynamics' terrifying, dog-like robot Spot is leaving the lab for the first timeBoston Dynamics has begun leasing out Spot, a dog-like robot which it says could be used for inspecting building sites or oil and gas facilities.
Read more »
I Aspire to Be as Blissful as This Service Dog Cuddling Donald Duck in Disney WorldThere are few things that can make Disney World feel more magical, but a cuddly dog certainly helps. Nala, a 2-year-old service dog trained to help people with
Read more »
Washington woman quit her job to find family dog lost on vacation - CNN VideoCarole King and her husband lost their dog while on vacation, so King quit her job to stay and search for Katie, her canine companion. HLN's Susan Hendricks explains.
Read more »
Meet The Fabulous, Hilarious Brand “Watch Dog” For Kate SpadeAfter working in traditional publishing for years, Elizabeth Olsen talks on UnStyled about her move to Kate Spade during a crucial transition, her personal
Read more »
Service Dog Falls In Love With Donald Duck, And Now The World Loves HerNala the service dog is absolutely smitten with Donald Duck.
Read more »