Graduation Letter from My Dog

Abstract

Coping with pet loss will be difficult for these pet owners without support or guidance.
The pet market has seen increased prosperity as people’s living conditions have improved. Taking the Chinese market as an example, by the end of 2018, the number of pets had surpassed 100 million (Chen, 2019). Approximately 10 million pets die each year, based on an estimated death rate of 8-10%.
When pets reach the final phase of their lives, both the pets and their owners have to deal with a variety of challenges. For instance, the communication between pets and owners decreases due to the illness, causing owners to be overwhelmed with worry and anxiety. When it comes to saying goodbye, it can be an extremely emotional and vulnerable moment. Anger, guilt, disbelief, and depression are all emotions people may experience. When all these complex emotions collide, it is difficult for pet owners to handle practical issues as well as mental or ethical challenges. Furthermore, they usually cannot get the appropriate support from people around them after pet loss. Thus, it is not only the pet itself but also the owner who needs to be taken care of when it comes to death.
The project first took broad research on pet loss through literature review and context research. After creating a journey map of pet loss experience, different design opportunities were identified in different phases. Considering personal preferences and feasibility, the opportunity of communication between dog owners and vets was selected to be further explored. Vets always play an important role in the experience of pet loss. Many dog owners find themselves in the dilemma between the quantity of life and quality of life. They usually rely on their vets to make medical decisions. Also, vets are the primary source of emotional support to help people get through of pet loss.