Tell us: how were you affected by grief over a pet?

We would like to hear about what your pet meant to you. Photograph: Dmitry Marchenko/Alamy

Grief over the death of a pet could be as chronic as that for a human family member, according new research published in the academic journal PLOS One.

According to the study, grieving pet owners can suffer from prolonged grief disorder (PGD) – although currently only those grieving the loss of a person can be diagnosed.

This mental health condition, brought about by the death of a loved one, can last months or even years, and often involves intense longing and despair, problems socialising and going about daily tasks.

We would like to hear from those who have experienced the death of a beloved pet. What did your pet mean to you and your family? How were you affected by your loss?

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