The ritualised memorialisation of companion animals around the world
Keywords:
animal companions, pet loss, memorialisationAbstract
AbstractPets or companion animals are a feature of many households and people are increasingly considering animals to be family members. After a companion animal dies, many people now wish take this new view of human-companion kinship into account and seek a way of meaningfully marking the death of their companion. This article outlines differing forms of memorialisation rites and practices for companion animals from around the world, and discusses some implications for those who provide medical, psychological and veterinarian services.
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