Losing a pet is something you "can't understand" unless you have gone through it, according to one listener.

Experiencing the loss of a family pet can be a destructive and painful event.

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Irish Independent journalist Kirsty Blake Knox said her Labradoole's death was "terribly sad" for her family.

"He was a real member of the family and I think anyone who has lost a pet knows how destabilising and upsetting it can be when you lose them," she said.

"Dogs underpin the way any household works, they set the routine for the day.

"When you go back into your space, and they're not there, it's very jarring.

"You find yourself doing things like going to put scraps from your dinner plate into their dog bowl, and then you realise the dog bowl is not there, and the dog isn't there anymore."

'Rituals'

Ms Blake Knox said it can be confusing for pet owners to process their grief, due to the lack of "rituals" around a pet's death.

"When a person dies, there are things that happen, but when a pet dies, there aren't those structures," she said.

"It can sometimes feel like there isn't the same closure.

"I know a lot of pet owners say that they downplay how upset they are because they feel like it's a little inappropriate."

Grieving owner holding pet collar (creativephototeam / Alamy Stock Photo)

'Everything to me'

Vicky, whose Jack Russell, Doris, died after 17 years, said it took her two years to recover from the death of her dog.

"She was absolutely everything to me," she said.

"People say, 'You must get another dog', and I say, 'Okay, get another kid then.'

"She was just part of the family; when I sent a Christmas card or a birthday card to somebody it was coming from Vicky and Doris.

"I was miserable because I lost my little pal."

'Just heartbreaking'

Threase, who lost her 14-year-old rescue dog, Coco, on Monday, said she is "absolutely devastated" over the loss of her dog.

"He came to me at a time in my life when I was having a rough time and he was always by my side," she said.

"He followed me to the bathroom, absolutely everywhere – he just was an amazing dog.

"Unless you've actually gone through it yourself, I don't think people really understand what it's like.

"We have another Labrador at home and he's gone around just looking for him the whole time for the last two days. He's just going from room to room, and when I pulled back up in the car yesterday he was walking around the car wondering if he was in there. It's just heartbreaking."

Grave of family's beloved pet with, pet carrier (Zoonar GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo)

Emotional support

Ms Blake Knox said people underestimate how much emotional support animals can provide.

"I spoke to a woman who had Shih Tzus – she had gone through cancer treatment during COVID and she didn't have that much interaction with people and she said she couldn't explain the level of comfort that the dogs gave her during that time," she said.

"They've often been a very stabilising force during difficult periods.

"When they die it brings up a huge amount and I do think if you haven't had that relationship, it can be difficult to understand and relate to."

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