Sad but another example that animals do feel grief

[NowVoyager]

It's easy to dismiss those of us who believe our pets or other animals are capable of feeling and expressing a full range of emotions, as goofy, sentimentalists.

Dogs have been found to refuse to leave a dead mate, I've seen Sandhill cranes stand guard over the body of a dead mate. Was holding a magnificent Blue and Gold macaw as an infertile egg was removed from her nest and then set her on a perch next to her mate and the two of them keened and displayed what definitely grief, not hostility, over the removal of the egg.

But here is yet another example of an animal, a female dolphin, displaying grief, carrying the body of her dead offspring.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...st_read_module

[lilly]

When I was a child my brothers dog was hit by a car. A neighborhood dog that was his buddy refused to leave the corpse.

When My youngest went to college in Washington his grumpy cat "Dear ole dad", went into a decline. When he returned for the summer, the cat sulked and showed how angry he was, and then forgave him. My sons animals adored him. as did mine.

My own German Shepherd came back in spirit after I had him euthanized for a spinal injury. Twice. Not an visual illusion or optical fluke. Broad daylight.

[NowVoyager]

I believe that there's more than this physical / mortal life, for us and our animal companions. Just as I believe we meet the souls we're meant to meet, be they in human or animal form.

And I think that bond can be so strong that not even death can break it. We comfort each other in life, why would it not make sense that the desire to reach out to those we loved and have been part from, to comfort them?

Three weeks to the day from helping our sweet Alison cross the Rainbow Bridge, hubby and I stopped in a Hobby Lobby (crafting store on steriods) and I went to the "80% off" area. In all the clutter I saw only this tiny enameled figurine of a Dalmation.

Our Alison.

For those who doubt they'd say I wasted almost $3.00 on a little dust catcher. For those who believe, it was a reminder that our sweet girl is just away for the time being, until the time is right to be together again.

[Mama Alanna]

After Tasha was put to sleep, Kirk wandered through the house making the most mournful calling sound. "Haroooo? Harooo?" He had never made that sort of cry before. He cried and called for about 3 weeks, then gradually stopped. I've always wondered if it would have helped him to see her body.

They were never the sort of buddy-buddies that you see in pictures, where one is sleeping on top of the other, but they did have a respectful truce for the most part. Each of them claimed a particular spot on the upstairs landing, Tasha on the left and Kirk on the right, and when we came home they would both be there waiting.

[Feather]

As our cats died we let them see the body of most of the ones that were gone. The one or two that they didn't see they called for more and longer. I heard the four that were gone call for their mama, Mouse, the night that we had to put Mouse down. After that I didn't hear them again. I do think that those five got together and convinced Misty to come in our house. There is no other way I can think of that would make her come in here the first time I saw her when she'd been visiting neighbors for weeks. She always refused to go in their houses, but she walked in ours with no prompting at all.

[sandyd]

Geese too. Had a mated pair and the female died. Male sat on her until the bugs finally bit him enough he moved a few feet away. Then he allowed me to cover her body.

Then he wouldn't leave me alone! At the door honking! Got him a purty young female who thought he was a nasty old man. But he left me alone following her around.

The ducks and chickens don't seem to mind as much unless they have really buddied up with each other. Had a mom and son (hen and rooster) who were close and died within days of each other. Otherwise, they seem do manage to go on without their flock mates just fine.