ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how continuing bonds (CB) can be a source of positive coping after the death of a companion animal (CA) and a means for bereaved owners to stay connected to their CA in a healthy way. It discusses the human—animal bond and grief, disenfranchised grief, social constraints, and CB. The depth of responses to CA loss is often based on the strength and longevity of relationships individuals had with their pets. The bereavement literature has focused on the function of a “continuing bond” in relation to coping and adaptation following the death of a loved one. The use of CB theory regarding CA loss was not reported in the professional literature until 2009. In order for bereaved CA owners to disclose their emotions and the depth of their loss, a safe place where empathic bridging occurs must be provided. Research and clinical practice highlight that bereaved CA owners want to maintain continuous and meaningful ties with their CA.
