Pet Loss Syndrome After Saying Goodbye to Pets
Animal Trainer Kang Hyung-wook Also Says "Delayed Grief... Haven't Overcome It"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] "Sunsim?" On the 31st of last month, in episode 3 of tvN's 'Canada Check-in,' Lee Hyori casually exclaimed this upon seeing a brown-furred dog.
At a beach in Vancouver, Canada, she unexpectedly encounters a dog that resembles her pet dog 'Sunsim' and cannot take her eyes off it. Sunsim was a pet dog Lee Hyori raised for 10 years since 2010 and crossed the rainbow bridge (a euphemism for the death of a pet) in 2020. Saying, "It really looks alike," and "The fur color is exactly the same," Lee Hyori eventually bursts into tears.
After wiping her tears, Lee Hyori says, "Even after several years, if you just touch on certain points... (tears come). Why did Sunsim come all the way here, so far away..." she says playfully but cannot hide her longing for Sunsim. She mentions 'Pet Loss Syndrome' and confesses, "I don't think it's something you can overcome. You can't overcome it."
On the 31st of last month, in episode 3 of tvN's "Canada Check-in," Lee Hyori shed tears after encountering a puppy that resembled her late dog "Sunsim," who crossed the rainbow bridge. / Screenshot from tvN broadcast
Go Insook, a friend accompanying Lee Hyori, comforts her by saying, "It's not easy to bury it in your heart. Wherever you go, Sunsim is there." Like fate, the next morning Lee Hyori encounters a dog resembling Sunsim again on the beach. Although she did not cry as much as the previous day, Lee Hyori shows her affection for Sunsim by petting the dog.
Pet Loss Syndrome refers to the mental difficulties such as grief, helplessness, and depression experienced after the death of a pet. While there is sadness from the death itself, guilt and remorse for not being able to take better care of the pet in cases of accidents or illness also contribute to Pet Loss Syndrome.
Dogs and cats, which make up the largest proportion of pets, have a lifespan of about 15 years, shorter than humans, so most pet owners experience losing their pets first. As the number of pet owners increases domestically, it has been found that many people suffer from Pet Loss Syndrome. Animal trainer Kang Hyungwook and chef Lee Yeonbok have also revealed that they experienced Pet Loss Syndrome.
After a pet crosses the rainbow bridge, the mourning period usually lasts about 2 to 3 months, and if depression and grief persist for more than a year, professional counseling or treatment may be necessary. Severe symptoms of Pet Loss Syndrome can worsen into social withdrawal or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Last May, Kang Hyungwook appeared on 'You Quiz on the Block' and admitted that he had not overcome Pet Loss Syndrome. Referring to his pet dog 'Daol' who crossed the rainbow bridge, he said, "I am postponing the sadness. I have not overcome (Pet Loss Syndrome). It's not something you just grieve over and cry a few times and then it's over."
However, he advised pet owners, saying, "Dogs really like their owners," and "Think of them as dogs who cannot speak a word but trust only you and follow you, and always look at them with a heart that wants to help. You will have the experience of becoming someone's everything." Then he added, "There will also be a considerable sense of responsibility and burden. If you are not prepared for this, it is better not to start."
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