Without a doubt, the worst part of being a pet parent is knowing that we’re likely to outlive our furry friends.
Some people like to wait some time before getting another pet, perhaps so they don’t feel as though they’re replacing their previous pet or moving on too quickly. Others, however, find that giving a new pet a forever home can help them cope with their grief of losing a pet.
According to a new study by MetLife Pet Insurance, nearly three in four American pet parents say that having another pet has helped them cope with the grief. One in 10 have brought home a new pet within four weeks of their previous pet’s death, but a further one in three decide to wait for at least a year.
More than 40% get a new pet before the loss of their current pet, something that could help with anticipatory grief. More than half of the pet parents who did so said that it went well, but just under 20% reported that the older pet found it difficult to adjust to the new arrival.
For four in 10 people, the decision to get another pet wasn’t intentional and happened due to circumstances. But for almost one third the decision was in order to provide companionship for their aging pet – and for just over 10% it was to ensure that the home always had a pet.
There are lots of different ways to help cope with the loss of a pet, and getting another one is something that can work for a lot of people. But as many pet parents can attest to, it’s not humans who feel the loss of their pet, either. Three in five pet parents have seen signs of grief in surviving pets.
Among the most common dogs people choose to be their next pet after a loss are mixed breeds, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds, while the most common cats are mixed breeds, domestic shorthairs, and domestic longhairs. Interestingly, one in seven pet parents opted for a pet of a different species when choosing their new animal.
Read next: Tips for coping with the death of a pet or seven things nobody tells you when your pet dies
