Grief: Death of Animal Companions

Grief: Death of Animal Companions

From Practicing Stoicism by Tanner Campbell

February 8, 2026 · 12 min · Season 1 · Episode 6

About this episode

In this episode, Tanner Campbell discusses the grief associated with the death of animal companions and how Stoicism can help navigate this emotional experience.

I am a public philosopher, it is my only job. I am enabled to do this job, in large part, thanks to support from my listeners and readers. You can support my work, keep it independent and online, at https://practicingstoicism.com/pledge. In this episode, I address a subject many people struggle with deeply: the death of animal companions. I explain why I prefer that term over “pets,” and why I felt compelled to speak about this topic at all, despite rarely discussing my own past relationships or personal losses. I share the context of leaving a long-term relationship and the difficult Stoic choices that followed, including continuing to help care for my dog, Jupiter, after I left. I do this to make one thing clear from the outset: this episode is not an exercise in emotional detachment. I care deeply about animal companions, and I understand the strength of the bonds we form with them. From there, I describe what makes their loss so painful. Animal companions are a constant presence in our daily lives. When they are gone, future moments feel diminished in a way that is both sudden and enduring. I argue that to deny this sadness, or to suggest that grief itself is inappropriate…

People in this episode

Host: Tanner Campbell

Topics covered

  • grief
  • animal companions
  • Stoicism
  • loss
  • emotional response

Keywords

  • grief
  • animal companions
  • Stoicism
  • loss
  • emotional detachment
  • death
  • relationships

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