http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/11/04/does-a-bear-sulk-in-the-woods/ a site for dog lovers Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:13:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/11/04/does-a-bear-sulk-in-the-woods/comment-page-1/#comment-10263 Jenifer Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:57:24 +0000 http://www.ohmidog.com/?p=14353#comment-10263 As a long-time (58 years) horse and dog guardian I can affirm animals have a rich emotional life some of which they gift us with. I am surprised that the researchers are puzzled at grief because it seems so obvious that the real purpose of grief is to bring together a community, however small. Enhanced cohesiveness in a community IS important from the survival viewpoint of that community. Grief in individuals allows them to process and eventually (not always) move past the event. No different in animals than in our own elaborate funereal rituals. As a long-time (58 years) horse and dog guardian I can affirm animals have a rich emotional life some of which they gift us with. I am surprised that the researchers are puzzled at grief because it seems so obvious that the real purpose of grief is to bring together a community, however small. Enhanced cohesiveness in a community IS important from the survival viewpoint of that community. Grief in individuals allows them to process and eventually (not always) move past the event. No different in animals than in our own elaborate funereal rituals.

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