Do Animals Grieve?

I read an article posted 2 years ago about a dog who stopped eating because she didn't see her master coming home. He died in the hospital, and the dog had no idea why he was not showing up. The wife noticed the depressed dog and took her to the grave of her husband. The visit somehow made the dog realize that her master won't come back any more.

The article reminded me that dogs, or animals for that matter, grieve for something or someone they have connection with. I remember my childhood friend who asked my help to bury his six pups who died hours after they were delivered. The mother was crying and started digging the grave to remove her pups whom she probably thought were still alive.

The author contacted Dr. Fox, a graduate of the Royal Veterinary College, London, and holds doctoral degrees in medicine and ethology/animal behavior from the University of London, England. He said that some dogs grieve while others don't. Just like other people who show no evident of grief, there are also dogs who just go on with their lives like nothing happens.

Is it safe to call it grief? Find out the rest of the interview by clicking HERE.