What our survey data tells us about pet grief
Pet grief is real. Let鈥檚 talk about it.
Our national survey reveals the hidden toll of pet loss. Most said their grief was intense 鈥� but not fully understood. From guilt to loneliness, many struggle alone. Let鈥檚 break the stigma and support each other better.
Key findings on pet loss
More than 2,800 people took part in our pet grief survey, bravely sharing what loss felt like for them. The results reveal just how deep this grief can run, and how often it goes unrecognised. We hope these findings offer a sense of understanding and solidarity, wherever you are on your journey.
Pets aren鈥檛 鈥渏ust pets鈥�, they鈥檙e family
These findings reflect just how strong our emotional connection with pets really is.
- Fewer than 1% of people (0.7%) view their pet as just 鈥渁 pet鈥�.
- The rest of us consider our pets to be family (60%), best friends (32%) or companions (8%).
- Nearly three-quarters (75%) have experienced anticipatory grief 鈥� that鈥檚 grieving when thinking about losing our pet.
- 4 in 10 people (39%) struggled to decide when was the right time to put their pet to sleep.
Nearly 75% have experienced anticipatory grief - grieving when thinking about losing a pet
The pain of pet loss runs deep
Grief after pet loss can be overwhelming 鈥� and often takes people by surprise.
- Two-thirds (67%) of people who鈥檝e lost a pet have been shocked by how intense their grief for their pet felt.
- Over 9 in 10 say they鈥檝e felt heartbroken (93%) or deeply sad (93%).
- Guilt (60%) and loneliness (55%) were also common.
- Around half have experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Over 9 in 10 say they've felt heartbroken
Grief takes a physical toll
When we lose a pet, it can shake up our whole world 鈥� even how we eat, sleep and function.
- 73% lost their sense of daily routine or purpose
- 70% struggled to concentrate
- 66% had trouble sleeping
- 56% withdrew socially
- 43% experienced changes in appetite
Many feel alone in their grief
Too many people face pet loss without understanding or support, and feel pressured to keep their grief hidden.
- Fewer than 1 in 10 (6.9%) felt society has taken their grief seriously.
- Just over 1 in 10 (13%) have felt truly understood by others.
- Nearly 6 in 10 people (57%) have felt they had to hide their grief.
- The same number believe there鈥檚 a stigma around grieving for a pet.
- Over one-third (35%) experienced people thinking or telling them 鈥渋t鈥檚 just a pet鈥� when they were grieving.
Finding support is a struggle
When grieving a pet, many people don鈥檛 know where to turn, or feel unable to take the time they need to process their loss.
- Over half (57%) of people who鈥檝e lost a pet said they couldn鈥檛 find the support they needed.
- Over one-quarter (28%) one-quarter didn鈥檛 know where to turn.
- The same number have felt unable to take time off work, or other responsibilities, to grieve.
- Just over one-quarter (26%) have found it difficult to mark or memorialise their pet鈥檚 passing.