The loss of 4 legged friends : supporting pet owners through pet bereavement

• Main Author: Yuen, Pei Yun
• Other Authors: Yam Min Yee Angeline
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Visual arts and music::Drawing, design and illustration
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/66983
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

According to research, pet owners are increasingly humanizing their pets and treating them as part of the family. Pets no longer serve the role of simply being guard dogs or assistive animals but rather act as companionship and providing social support for their human. The bond developed between pet owners and their pet overtime becomes an interdependent relationship that holds significant emotional attachment and memories between them. Some bonds are every bit as strong as those with other humans. When pet dies, owners often grief on their own without an established system of professional support. The lack of social empathy from immediate friends and families can lead to emotional isolation of many bereaved pet owners. Many of whom, fear the social ridicule of grieving over a pet. A lack of sensitivity towards grieving pet owners can result in implications of developing grief symptoms such as depression and even questioning their own psychological ability. In recent years, pet bereavement has been acknowledged as an area of neglect that can have long term adverse effect on the human’s physical and emotional health. This project therefore aims to create a platform where pet owners can turn to for open emotional support and grief without societal judgement. Through the platform, it also aims to create awareness to non-pet owners the emotional implications of loosing a companion animal and bring about wider empathy of pet bereavement.