As everyone who has ever had a pet pass away can agree, there is nothing worse than seeing another person’s grief.
Some may see such a response as exaggerated since, to them, the death of a human being is more significant than the death of a dog.
New research, however, suggests that after thousands of years of co-evolution, humans have come to see dogs as more than just pets. Moreover, the emotional toll of a dog’s death might eventually outweigh that of a loved one’s.
Those who have never had a dog may think «It’s only a dog» adequately allays their sorrow.
But ask any pet owner who will tell you differently. In addition, the mourning process might be overlooked, misunderstood, or misread due to the lack of established standards around pet death.
Around 10,000 years ago is when we’ll need to be.
Among domesticated animals, only dogs have successfully combined their evolutionary traits with those of humans. It’s true that dogs are uniquely suited to the role of companion animal due to their adapted lineage.
A dog’s brain will light up just as brightly when its owner praises it as when it is fed, according to some studies utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
People’s facial expressions and emotions may be read by them.
According to psychologist Julie Axelrod, this is one of the reasons why it hurts so much to lose a dog. She’s dealing with more than just the death of a pet. Having that source of love and support suddenly torn off is devastating.
