An artist's rendition of the Rainbow Bridge, a mythical place where beloved pets wait in health and happiness for their owners to arrive, after they die. The Rainbow Bridge is a place often referred to by people whose Pets have died

The loss of a pet or a non-human animal to which one has become emotionally bonded can be an intense loss, comparable with the death of a loved one. A pet is an Animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a househeld animal as opposed to Livestock, Laboratory animals Working animals Animal love or animal friendship are emotions of fondness that lead to bonding with non-human species Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific Whilst there is strong evidence that animals can feel such loss for other animals, this article focuses on human feelings, when an animal is lost, dies or otherwise is departed. Emotion in animals considers the question of whether certain species of non-human Animals feel emotions in the sense that humans understand it Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus An emotion is a mental and physiological state associated with a wide variety of feelings thoughts and behaviours

Impact

UK

Pet illness and loss is gradually becoming recognized as similar to other forms of sickness and death in the family. In the UK, a variety of companies provide paid leave for such eventualities,^[1] with employment tribunals backing this in some instances where employment terms did not specifically mention pet loss. ^[2]

Recent studies by insurers suggest that up to one in four pet owners are sufficiently affected by pet loss or illness to take time off, but that many feel this will be treated lightly and hence simply state they were sick. According to Petplan, 35% of people admitted to taking time off work to either settle new pets into the home or care for sick pets, and half of those owned up to taking a whole week off,^[3] and according to Direct Line one in four pet owners "said they have been too upset to go into the workplace when their four legged friend died" and "many of those who did go into work after the death of their pet said they were unproductive. Direct Line is a division of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group that specialises in selling Insurance and other financial services over the phone and internet " ^[4] The latter survey also noted that pet owners in the UK take "around 8 million days off" due to grief at the death of a pet, and that "seventy-nine per cent of people responding to the survey admitted they did not think their boss would be sympathetic, and the only way they could get time off work was by . . . pretending to be ill. " ^[3]

Beliefs about non-human death

Materialists believe that when a being dies physically, its life ends. The Philosophy of materialism holds that the only thing that can be truly proven to exist is Matter, and is considered a form of Physicalism. Religions are divided as to whether non-human animals are believed to have souls, reincarnate or none. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living

In the absence of a common belief, many pet owners have adopted feelings towards the Rainbow Bridge, a metaphorical or mythical place of reunion where pets that die live in a paradisical version of limbo, rejuvenated and free of pain and suffering, until their companion humans or other animals arrive in the course of time. The Rainbow Bridge is a place often referred to by people whose Pets have died Metaphor (from the Greek: μεταφορά - metaphora, meaning "transfer" is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Paradise is a word of Persian origin ( Persian: پردیس Pardìs) that is generally identified with the Garden of Eden or with Heaven. See also Intermediate state Purgatory|Heaven|Sheol|Hades in Christianity|Hell in Christianity In Roman Catholic theology Limbo (Latin limbus At this point, they enter heaven as companions and loved ones, never to be divided again. Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond In many pet-related communities, pets who have died are often referred to as being At the bridge or ATB. A virtual community, e-community or online community is a group of people that primarily interact via communication media such as Newsletters

Some Christians take comfort in Bible verses or stories that seem to point to the existence of animals in heaven, such as references to "the lion lying down with the lamb. Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond " Another popular passage is the well-known Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "

In LDS theology, all organisms (as well as Earth as a planet) are believed to have a spirit, but that beings without the gift of free agency (the ability to know and choose between right and wrong) are innocent and unblemished spirits who go straight to Heaven when they die, unlike humans who spend some time in spirit prison first. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 A planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU is a celestial body Orbiting a Star or stellar remnant that is The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath Agency (also referred to as free agency or moral agency) in Latter-day Saint theology, is "the privilege of choice which was introduced by God Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond Spirit prison is believed by some Christians including most notably Latter-day Saints, to be a place where people who have not had the opportunity to learn and accept It is believed that pets can be reunited completely with their human companions after they both have passed on.

Animal chaplains are becoming increasingly popular for helping the bereaved family members deal with the loss of their pet, to provide memorial services, give spiritual reassurance their pet is in heaven, and to provide grief counseling. Animal chaplains provide a wide array of services to the Community, including Pet loss grief support animal Memorial services Praying for Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond The Interfaith Association of Animal Clergy boasts more than 35 members around the world, and is training new students to become Animal Chaplains.

See also

• Animal euthanasia
• Grief
• Grief counseling

References

External links

• www.pet-loss.net - The Pet Loss Support Page
• Lightning Strike Pet Loss Support - Online for more than a decade with pet loss info and a very active message board.
• www.alln.org - the animal love and loss network.
• Pet loss support links
• www.ilovedmypet.com A website for people who have lost their pet.
• Interfaith Animal Clergy List
• Chance's Spot - Pet Loss and Support Resources
• Special Needs Pets - Dealing with the loss of a pet
• Pet Medium A pet medium who helps those still having a hard time dealing with the loss of their beloved pet.