Pet loss in Singapore: understanding anticipatory grief and the role of advance care planning

Abstract

With a shorter lifespan and a likely euthanasia decision, pet owners are likely to experience anticipatory grief (AG) for their companions. Because of the strong emotional connection between pet owners and their companions, it is common to refer to pet owners as paw-rents. However, there is little known about AG for pets and resources to aid grieving paw-rents are scarce. This study aims to qualitatively explore the experience of paw-rents with aging pets and identify the core elements of a tailored advance care planning (ACP) to aid paw-rents through this AG process in Singapore. Semi-structured interviews were conducted through purposive sampling of 8 paw-rents with aging pets. Grounded Theory approach was utilised, and the family caregiver anticipatory grief (FCAG) framework was used as a reference. During data analysis, thematic analysis was performed, from which two dimensions were identified: (i) Present and (ii) Future Dimensions, which paw-rents oscillate. Additional findings suggest that (iii) Fostering Awareness, (iv) Pre-euthanasia talks, (v) Online Flexibility, and (vi) Adaptability through revisions are essential for an ACP to aid paw-rents’ AG. These results contribute to understanding AG for pets in Singapore and may aid veterinary organisations in the creation of an ACP for pet loss.