Is this normal?

I can't cry anymore. Did I not love them enough?

No. How much you cry does not show how much you loved them. Many people feel numb at first. Some cry later, and a few never cry.

For: The first month　1 owner asked about this

A real example

In 2015, researchers in Japan surveyed 95 university students who had a painful pet loss. 70.6% said thinking of their pet hurt. 32.6% said memories brought tears.

Research, 関西学院大学人間福祉学部Read the original

What others said

「I put my dog down last month, and I have no tears left.」

Shared online (reworded)　Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026

What people do in different places

Share stories about the pet in an online groupUS | Cornell animal hospital, once a month

Chat in writing with a trained volunteerUK | Blue Cross webchat, open every day

Sources

Kwansei Gakuin University, Human Welfare: Developing a leaflet for people who experienced pet lossResearch, 関西学院大学人間福祉学部

Cruse Bereavement Support: Crying and griefOrganisation, Cruse Bereavement Support, 25 May 2023

RSPCA: How to cope with the loss of a petOrganisation, RSPCA

Bunshun Online: Sayoko Hamano on the stages of pet lossNews, 文春オンライン, 25 Oct 2024

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: Grieving for a pet takes many formsOrganisation, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, 11 Jun 2019

Cornell Chronicle: Grieving pet owners find community and comfortNews, Cornell Chronicle, 4 Feb 2025

Blue Cross: Pet loss supportOrganisation, Blue Cross

1 post from an owner online: reworded and anonymised, showing only the platform, region and month. We keep the original link privately.

Updated 25 Oct 2026. This page updates daily from owners’ posts.

A real example

What others said

What people do in different places

Sources

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