Beyond Stages: The Real Science of Pet-Loss Grief

For research buffs and pet grief practitioners.. this specific podcast is for you. Pet-loss grief isn’t a tidy staircase. Emerging research shows it moves in pulses—shaped by attachment, social support, rumination, culture, and continuing bonds—rather than a simple “five stages.” In this episode of Strides To Solutions, Esther Adams unpacks what linear models miss, how non-linear patterns better reflect lived experience, and why anniversary reactions are normal, not setbacks. Join our supportive Equestrian Grief facebook community at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/equestriangriefKeywords: pet loss grief, non-linear grief, attachment, continuing bonds, disenfranchised grief, research. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit esthernava.substack.com