A survey conducted by Psychology Today found that 80% of their respondents felt that their pet had been their closest companion.  Other surveys show that more than 50% keep photographs of their pet in their wallet or mobile phone, and a similar number share their bed with them.   

But thanks to the relatively short lifespan of an animal there is a price to pay for this close companionship: the heartbreak when they die. 

Recently a friend's dog died.  She was so distraught that she felt unable to go to work for two weeks but she lied about the reason the reason because her employers "wouldn't have understood."  I thought this was awful; not only was she suffering from the pain of losing her beloved two year old dog that she had bred herself but she was unable to share that pain with anyone other than her family. Lack of support and help from others can compound the hurt and comments like "well, he was just a dog" or "he had a good innings" or, even worse, "you can always get another one" are unhelpful, to put it mildly.   Some owners have to cope with the guilt too when they realise that the loss of their pet has actually hit them harder than the death of a human.  And how many feel brave enough to go to their doctor and admit that they are mourning their dog?

Now agony aunt Virginia Ironside has written a book about pet bereavement called Goodbye Dear Friend:Coming to Terms With the Death of a Pet (JR Books) which may prove some consolation if you have just lost your dog - or you know someone who has. 

Instead of the well-known "I think therefore I am", remember Gertrude Stein's wise words:  "I am because my little dog knows me."