Bianca lived with Erberson for 17 years Personal Archive The death of a pet can cause pain as intense as the loss of a family member. Although this suffering has been minimized for a long time, experts say that mourning a pet is legitimate and deserves to be welcomed. To g1, psychologist Kelly Almeida, a specialist in psychoanalytic clinical care, points out that the relationship between humans and pets has changed and, therefore, the absence of the pet causes profound changes in routine and emotional state. ? Join the g1 Sorocaba and Jundiaí channel on WhatsAp "Today the pet is also part of the family. It is an emotional bond that is not defined by blood ties, but by the quality of the relationship built. When it dies, pain, longing and the feeling of emptiness arise", he explains. According to the psychologist, grief can awaken feelings such as sadness, guilt, internal conflicts and even difficulty in resuming day-to-day activities. In some cases, the loss can contribute to depression. "For a long time this pain was not validated. People heard that it was 'just a pet'. Today we understand that this loss is significant and deserves to be recognized." Lilica and Zola, dogs owned by owners from Sorocaba (SP) Personal Archive Serious diagnoses Kelly explains that the grieving process often begins even before the animal's death. According to her, when the pet receives a serious diagnosis, owners start to live simultaneously with the fear of loss and the hope of recovery. "Grief starts much earlier. The person lives with the fear of losing the animal at any moment, but they also have the hope that it will get better", he says. This was the case with the dog Bianca, a 17-year-old pinscher, who accompanied Erberson Ohama for most of his life. She was diagnosed with a bladder tumor on June 14. The animal underwent several medical treatments and died on July 1st. "She was my companion. She slept with me, she was like a daughter", he says. Erberson Ohama and his dog Bianca Personal Archive According to Eberson, Bianca came to the family as a puppy and, even after spending a few years living with his grandmother, she never stopped recognizing him: "Every time I went to visit her, she would party and even pee with so much joy. When my grandmother could no longer take care of her, she came home and stayed with me until the end." After her death, the owner chose to cremate the dog and hold a farewell ceremony. For him, the ritual was a way of honoring those who had been part of the family for so many years. "She was important to me like the other one who is still with me. They are like children. Just as we say goodbye to a family member, I believe they also deserve this respect", he says. Erberson Ohama, Bianca's guardian, kept the urn with the dog's ashes and other objects with images of the animal Personal Archive After the ceremony, he received an urn with Bianca's ashes, a letter, a souvenir with the marks of the dog's snout and paw, a plaster heart with the paw print and a small jar with a tuft of hair. The memories remain stored at home. Erberson chose to hire the wake and cremation service for his partner Bianca; in addition to the ashes, he received a stamp with the animal's snout and paw. Personal Archive The guardian also takes care of Bianca's sister, who was born in the same litter. He says that, the night before the dog's death, his sister stayed for a few minutes licking her companion. Watch the video below. Afterwards, he chose to take her to the wake, in an attempt to help her understand her sister's goodbye: "I hope she understood that her sister is gone." Dog licked her sister the night before her death and owner sees gesture as farewell READ ALSO: Pet market on the rise: owners invest in well-being and boost economy in the interior of SP After losing dog to leishmaniasis, resident creates awareness project: 'Repaying the love she gave to us' After homeless man asks for help in a note, dog with 'bug' on his neck receives treatment and recovers in the interior of SP The psychologist also highlights that offering affection, care and quality of life to the animal during the period in which the animal undergoes veterinary treatments can bring comfort to both the pet and the family. Furthermore, talking to the animal and allowing yourself to experience the farewell, when that moment arrives, can help in dealing with the loss. "This bond is built over years. Love, affection and care remain part of this story, and recognizing this is also part of the process of emotional reorganization after loss", he concludes. Bebel, Messi and Apollo, cats owned by psychologist Kelly Almeida Personal Archive Rituals help with mourning In the expert's opinion, farewell ceremonies, cremation or wakes for animals can be important to help with the process of accepting the loss. "Each person will experience this moment in a different way, but it is important to have a farewell ritual, to end that cycle. These rituals help to symbolize the loss, offer space to express the pain and begin the process of mourning", he states. She also advises that keeping all the animal's objects exposed for an indefinite period of time can make this process difficult. "It's not healthy to constantly relive the absence through the bed, the food bowl or the collar. But this also depends on each person's time. There is no rule." When to adopt another animal? A common question after a loss is the right time to receive a new pet. For Kelly, there is no set deadline, but it is important to understand that a new animal does not replace the previous one. "Each relationship is unique. The new pet does not come to replace the one that died, but to build a new story. First you need to work through the mourning and understand that that bond was unique", he explains. According to her, when a person feels prepared, the arrival of a new birthday