WHY PETS HELP US GRIEVE
Coming to terms with loss is a long, tough process, but many people find getting a four-legged friend – be it a dog, cat or horse – can make the journey more bearable. Jo Waters looks at the therapy our animals can offer
WHEN NAVIGATING YOUR WAY THROUGH GRIEF, support from family and friends, counselling, the structure of a work routine and exercise are all invaluable. But when you’re feeling overwhelmed, help can come from the simple comfort instinctively provided by a devoted pet. This was something writer and radio presenter Emily Dean learned first-hand when she was left reeling from a series of family bereavements. Her sister Rachel’s death from cancer in 2012 was followed by her mother’s from motor neurone disease in 2015, and her father died shortly afterwards following a stroke. Emily has now published her memoir, Everybody Died, so I Got a Dog, about how a four-legged friend helped her through the darkest period of her life.