“Getting Rid of the Dog”: Adult Recall of a Childhood Experience
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Abstract
Dog relinquishment is common practice across Australia and in many other countries. The psychological impact of dog relinquishment is an under-researched area. While a few studies have shown that the dog relinquishment experience can be emotionally distressing and cognitively challenging for adults, nothing is known about the impact of the experience on children. This paper reports on the recollections of 10 adults, who in qualitative interviews in Western Australia, described their childhood experience of dog relinquishment. The findings suggest that children experiencing dog relinquishment feel powerless and voiceless, having no influence or say in what happens to their dogs. The experience can be cognitively and emotionally distressing, especially for children who are close to their dogs. Getting rid of a child’s loved dog can damage the parent-child relationship. In addition, the thoughts and feelings associated with losing their dogs in this way can remain long after the event.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1069 | 265 | 26 |
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“Getting Rid of the Dog”: Adult Recall of a Childhood Experience
In: Society & AnimalsSearch for other papers by Mary E. Edwards in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Eyal Gringart in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Deirdre Drake in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Dog relinquishment is common practice across Australia and in many other countries. The psychological impact of dog relinquishment is an under-researched area. While a few studies have shown that the dog relinquishment experience can be emotionally distressing and cognitively challenging for adults, nothing is known about the impact of the experience on children. This paper reports on the recollections of 10 adults, who in qualitative interviews in Western Australia, described their childhood experience of dog relinquishment. The findings suggest that children experiencing dog relinquishment feel powerless and voiceless, having no influence or say in what happens to their dogs. The experience can be cognitively and emotionally distressing, especially for children who are close to their dogs. Getting rid of a child’s loved dog can damage the parent-child relationship. In addition, the thoughts and feelings associated with losing their dogs in this way can remain long after the event.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1069 | 265 | 26 |
| Full Text Views | 106 | 12 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 150 | 23 | 5 |