Why Does Gen Z Experience 'Pet Grief' More Intensely Than Past Generations?

The loss of pets is causing profound distress. Is this about changing family structures or deeper emotional connections?

How has a pet's death affected you compared to human loss?

I don't know if gen z experience pet grief more or less than anyone else. When I lost my cat when I was a kid, I was devastated. I think most people who have had pets would feel the same, especially if you have to put a pet down. Seeing them take their last breath is horrible and I hate living through that. But that's a big part of life and it's something we need to accept in order to overcome it.

Plus, I consider a pet a part of the family, so there will be grief there.

The profound grief from losing a pet often reflects shifting family dynamics, pets are now seen as emotional companions or even “fur children.” For many, their loss feels as intense as human death due to unconditional love and daily presence. With pets, it’s often the silence—the empty bed, the missing routine, that hits hardest. There’s less closure, fewer spaces to mourn openly, yet the ache lingers just as deeply.