do dogs grieve

[margot]

this message is to jane. jane, i was devastated for you to hear of your sad loss. i wont go into it, as youve probably already read my entries, but i sadly lost my dog missy last june. my jack russell, alex, was pining for her. i was not ready to get another dog, but i had to within a week, or run the risk of my little alex grieving to death. i got a rescue dog, jessy, a terrier mix. immediately, alex cheered up. i had brought him with me to pick her out. she is very playful, and brought alex out of the doldrums straight away. i love her so much now, and though i would give anything to have missy back, i realize that without missy passing, this little dog wouldnt have had the chance she now has, in a home where she is adored. they are great friends, and we have never looked back. im not sure if i am doing this correctly, and if indeed jane will get this. if you do jane, you can reply to me and if you want me to chat to you online, i will. you and your dogs are in my thoughts and prayers. margot

[Deanna]

Yes, they do grieve. My mom had 3 dogs a few years ago. When one of them died the other two were very upset. They were looking all over for him and just acted very depressed, didn't play or act happy at all.. for a few weeks! Now just today, one of her other dogs has died and the one that is left is just laying around and following her everywhere. He is not his normal "happy" self. My mom goes back to work tomorrow (she took the day off after being up all night with her dying baby girl) and we are worried about the last one being all alone as he has not been alone since she got him almost 10 years ago! I'm going to keep checking on him during the day for awhile until he gets used to it.

[Belles]

I think some animals do grieve.. far worse than others.

[Darrell]

Man didn't invent grief. It's a natural animal reaction to losing a friend or a loved one. I remember once watching a show about parrots that had apparently been released and come together as something of an informal family in the san francisco area. The show was about a man that fed them and studied them.

There was one pair that was obviously in love. The female would nuzzle up with the male every chance she could, with obvious joy expressed by both. Then one day there were some hawks in the area and the male never returned. The grief seen in that female bird was extremely profound. She was never the same afterward. (and to think I once saved a hawk that was tangled in my garden deer netting -- grrrr)

[Bobbie]

They grieve ther hearts out. Especially when they are closely bonded. My Moms cat grieved himself to death 2 wks after her passing. All the signs were there. He wouldnt stay off her bed or anything with her scent on it. When she was taken out in ambulance he saw it and instinctivly knew she wouldnt be coming back. More then we knew as we thought it was a stroke but it was a heart attack. Hugs, bobbie