Mom tears up after watching 3-year-old toddler grieve the loss of the family dog he grew up with

There isn't anything easy about experiencing grief at a young age. Some argue that it teaches you resilience, compassion, and empathy in ways we don't even realize, but what about the trauma and separation anxiety that it brings along? Losing someone, especially very young in life, is a painful experience that leaves an unbearable void that teaches us the gravitas and the depth of love through absence. On a related note, a woman, Erin Sullivan, who goes by @patty_mowgli_shenzi on Instagram, captured her 3-year-old son grieving the loss of their family dog, and the moment speaks volumes about the bond they shared.

After their family dog passed away, Sullivan, perhaps, knowingly put their picture on the refrigerator at a low level, so that her son could reach it easily. Her son, deeply impacted by the loss of their pet, and possibly, his four-legged 'best friend,' sat on the ground, staring at the picture, as if waiting for the dog to return. When Sullivan moved the camera closer, she saw her son struggling to hold back tears, and communicating with the picture, without uttering a single word. The little boy and his dog undoubtedly shared a precious bond, as seen in glimpses shared by Sullivan in the video. "I miss their relationship," she wrote in the caption.

Just like Sullivan's son, countless others who experience the loss of a pet often feel lonely and stressed out. Though every child is different and has different ways of mourning, as per VCA Animal Hospitals, most may experience sleep disturbance, anxiety, unexplained anger, and impaired concentration at school. Besides, another study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has claimed that children can develop mental health issues following the loss of a beloved animal companion. The demise of a pet is possibly their first encounter with death, and this explains why, in most cases, the incident impacts them with such intensity. However, talking to your kids about how they're feeling and comforting them by validating their emotions can help them cope with the situation better.

Meanwhile, Sullivan's video showcasing a child's raw emotions after losing his pet received an overwhelming response on social media. Echoing the sentiments, a user, @lindzalicia, commented, "What a sweet and beautiful idea to put your dog’s picture on the refrigerator at a level where your son can see it anytime he wants." Similarly, another user who goes by @lorrainet_x revealed, "I'm 28 and still grieve my childhood dog from when I was 4/5. It's not easy, but you'll go on with all that love in your heart to help so many other animals live a happy and full life." @kyberling revealed, "I lost my first dog at 30. I'm not sure if there's ever a good age to deal with that grief. Hang in there, little guy!"

On the other hand, @silverbeowulf confessed, "I'm thinking about my kids and just couldn't leave a picture there...because it would make the heart hurt more. We miss our cats and remember and grieve without pictures. We all do what we think is best for our kids." @secondgenerationgenetics said, "It’s that juxtaposition of loss that teaches us what love is. You have to want it badly enough to create and sustain it. @van3ssa_b3navid3s shared, "Our daughter went through the same thing. The best thing we did was order a pillow with our pet's picture on it. She takes it everywhere."

You can follow Erin Sullivan (@patty_mowgli_shenzi) on Instagram for more animal-related content.