Abstract
ABSTRACT There is a well-established culture of bereavement after human loss in Africa. However, bereavement after pet loss has not been previously evaluated. This study aimed to assess pet bereavement among pet owners in Ghana. It involved a cross-sectional survey: an online structured questionnaire was administered to 390 pet owners in Ghana. The Pet Bereavement Questionnaire was used to measure the bereavement experience after pet loss. Results indicated that the majority (76.4%) of pet owners had experienced relatively strong bereavement in the form of grief, guilt, and anger. The level of pet bereavement was not significantly related to the gender (p = 0.260), employment status (p = 0.462), or marital status (p = 0.387) of the owners but was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with their age (p = 0.041) and type of animal kept (p = 0.002). In conclusion, pet bereavement among pet owners in Ghana is a significant issue. Critical care and attention should be given to owners who suffer the loss of their pets.
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