The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
And Then the Dog Died
Authors:
Kaufman, Kenneth R.
Kaufman, Nathaniel D.
Source:
Death Studies: 2006. Volume 30, pp. 61-76.
Summary
The article provides a case analysis of a child that experienced the death of a beloved dog after previously experiencing the deaths of three grandparents and an uncle within the space of 18 months. The authors suggest that the earlier loss experiences magnified the child’s response to the death of his pet. One of the authors is the subject of the case study discussed in the article. The authors state that participation in the study has been beneficial to the child, helping him to find meaning in the losses he has experienced.
Key words: child, pet, research
Service Provider Implications
Children often have extremely close relationships with their pets, and the grief that a child experiences after the death of a pet is often minimized by adults in their lives. Children may require assistance in finding expressive ways to address pet bereavement. The study suggests that adults acknowledge the significance of pets in a child’s life and help the child find multiple modes (verbal, written, artistic) to express thoughts and feelings associated with the death of a pet.
