Government launches pilot program to address pet loss syndrome

Participants share guilt and longing as they work through grief

Experts call for systematic support starting from pets' senior years

Choi Eun-hee, 57, poses with her Maltese "Lulu," whom she had raised for 13 years. After Lulu's death, Choi joined a government pilot program offering psychological support for pet loss syndrome. [Provided by Choi Eun-hee]
Choi Eun-hee, 57, poses with her Maltese "Lulu," whom she had raised for 13 years. After Lulu's death, Choi joined a government pilot program offering psychological support for pet loss syndrome. [Provided by Choi Eun-hee]

"I was truly happy during the 13 years I spent with Lulu. But those two days of saying goodbye were just as painful as those memories were joyful — so painful that I thought I could never raise another animal again."

On Sunday, 20 people — 10 who had lost a pet and 10 who were caring for an aging one — filled a classroom at the Seoul Animal Welfare Support Center in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.

This year, the government launched its first pilot program offering psychological support for pet loss syndrome — the grief and depression that follow the death of a companion animal. The program is running in three cities: Seoul, Daejeon and Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province.

Choi Eun-hee, 57, lost her Maltese "Lulu" on Aug. 17. The small 3.5-kilogram dog had been a lively eater and a constant companion for 13 years. Choi took Lulu to the vet every month, but the end came suddenly. A visit for breathing difficulties revealed heart disease, pulmonary edema and a liver tumor. Lulu was hospitalized and received transfusions and appeared to improve briefly, but died three days later.

What weighed on Choi most after the loss was the emptiness of daily life without Lulu. For a period, she could barely manage one meal a day, sinking into severe depression. As a full-time homemaker, Choi had spent every hour of the day with Lulu — feeding the dog each morning, falling asleep side by side each night, for more than a decade.

It was in that state — afraid to wake up, unable to eat, unwilling to do anything, unsure how long it would last — that Choi applied for the pet loss syndrome support pilot program.

"The daily routine I had repeated for 13 years vanished in an instant, and the helplessness was hard to bear," Choi said. "I had no idea how to handle the funeral or what to do with the ashes — everything was new and overwhelming. I had to make one decision after another without even time to grieve. But talking with others who had gone through the same pain gave me real comfort."

Lee Han-du, 37, a working professional who owns a 15-year-old mixed-breed dog named "Hoboki," also attended the program. Hoboki had a ruptured gallbladder a month ago and underwent surgery to remove it. Given the dog's age, Lee agonized over whether putting Hoboki through the operation was the right call. The surgery went well, but the experience left Lee with a lingering dread of eventual loss.

"I always knew the day would come, but I had been avoiding thinking about how to prepare for it," Lee said. "The program helped me think concretely about what comes after — the funeral and life beyond the loss."

Jo Ji-hun, director of a counseling center specializing in pet loss, shared his experience with clients and offered words of comfort to participants. "Recovery does not mean the sadness disappears," he said. "There is no way to pass through grief without pain."

He added that acknowledging longing and carrying it quietly within oneself is part of healthy mourning. "Rather than endlessly blaming yourself for past choices, it is important to accept what has already happened and return to everyday life," he said.

With 6 million pet-owning households, preparing for aging animals becomes a growing challenge

A pet loss psychological support program session is held at the Seoul Animal Welfare Support Center in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on Sunday. [Kim Do-yoon]
A pet loss psychological support program session is held at the Seoul Animal Welfare Support Center in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on Sunday. [Kim Do-yoon]

According to the "2025 Korea Pet Report" published by KB Financial Group's management research institute, about 5.91 million households kept pets as of end-2024, with roughly 15.46 million people — 29.9 percent of the total population — living with a companion animal. As more people form deep emotional bonds with their pets, the care of aging animals and preparation for their eventual loss are drawing growing attention.

Despite the surge in pet ownership, social attitudes that dismiss grief over a pet's death remain widespread. A joint survey by Korea Research and Seoul National University's College of Veterinary Medicine found that 21.3 percent of people who had lost a pet said they received no empathy from family members, friends or colleagues. Some 85 percent reported experiencing emotional or psychological changes after the loss.

Social media is filled with accounts of people hurt by mockery of pet funerals. One widely shared story describes a colleague responding to news of a pet funeral visit with: "There are pet funeral homes? That's hilarious."

"If the depression caused by pet loss is left unaddressed, it can become a social burden," Jo said. "Society should look warmly on owners who cared for their animals to the end, and the government should recognize pet loss as a mental health issue and provide support."

"Hoboki," the mixed-breed dog owned by Lee Han-du, 37. [Provided by Lee Han-du]
"Hoboki," the mixed-breed dog owned by Lee Han-du, 37. [Provided by Lee Han-du]

kido@heraldcorp.com