Dogs Grieve Too: Sadie’s Farewell to Her Best Friend

Grief isn’t something reserved for humans alone — animals, too, can feel the deep pain of losing a loved one. Jeremy May, president of Elements Cremation, Pre-planning & Burial in British Columbia, Canada, witnessed this truth firsthand through a dog named Sadie.

Sadie had spent 13 devoted years by her owner’s side. When he suddenly passed away from a heart attack earlier this year, she was there with him in his final moments.

“After the paramedics were unable to revive him, Sadie lay beside him and kept placing her head under his hand,” May recalled in an interview with The Dodo.

The man’s family was crushed by his sudden passing — and Sadie, too, sank into her own heartbreak. For the 10 days leading up to the funeral, her grief was unmistakable.

“She stopped eating, wouldn’t sleep alone, and spent her days waiting at the window and the door, expecting him to come back,” May explained.

A Final Goodbye

The widow decided to bring Sadie with her to the service, and May knew immediately that the dog deserved to mourn just as any other family member would.

Sadie was welcomed into the chapel, where she was given the chance to say goodbye.

“The dog was as significant as a spouse or a child, so it was important that we made space for her,” May said. “When Sadie approached the casket, you could feel the grief ripple through the room. There wasn’t a dry eye anywhere. It was one of the most moving moments I’ve ever seen.”

That farewell didn’t just touch the guests — it gave Sadie the closure she needed. After returning home from the funeral, she ate two full meals, her appetite and spirit returning for the first time since her loss.

Healing for Both Pet and Family

The powerful moment also provided comfort to Sadie’s grieving family, reminding them they weren’t alone in their sorrow. Yet May noted that not every funeral home would have allowed an animal inside to say goodbye, even under such circumstances.

He hopes Sadie’s story sparks change.

“If anyone still questions whether dogs truly feel grief, this experience should erase that doubt,” May said. “Our pets need closure, too. They understand loss — and they suffer it deeply.”