By Dr. Jane Greer
In this traumatic and unprecedented time of the global pandemic, we are surrounded by so much loss of life. In the United States alone many more than 90,000 people have died, and that number grows every day. With that in mind, it may seem that the loss of a pet pales in comparison to the death of a human loved one, and therefore people think they don’t have a right to experience or express their heartbreak. But for many, pets are among their most loved ones, and saying goodbye can be devastating, even, or more so, during this time of isolation and widespread sadness. Sports couple Hope Solo and her husband Jerramy Stevens recently talked about the loss of their dog, Conan, after he was tragically shot. Solo posted about it on social media, saying, “We’re broken-hearted to share that Conan passed away from blood loss last night. He fought up until the very end. We’re crushed. Just a dog running through the woods, trying to make his way home.”
