Coronation Street viewers were subject to some tough scenes on Wednesday's episode of the show, when Evelyn Plummer's pet dog Cerberus died after experiencing kidney failure.
Fans were left "sobbing" and a "mess" during the heatbreaking scenes where Evelyn and Tyrone said their goodbyes, calling him a "good boy" and their "best friend", before he was tragically put down. "Watching the sadness of Cerberus’s last moments has had a huge effect on so many," says Lianna Champ who is a grief and bereavement expert with over 40 years’ experience. "It brings home the fragility of life with a pet." The scenes could have been particularly triggering for those viewers who have previously experienced the grief of losing a pet. "If we have lost a pet, either recently or a long time ago, the scenes with Cerberus can bring everything to the forefront "It’s very human to feel the sadness of our losses even some time after we have experienced them.
By allowing ourselves to feel our sadness in the moments our memories nudge us, we are having a natural and healthy emotional experience.
It’s only when we can’t lift ourselves from sadness over a long period of time that we need to seek some help." Lianna explains that losing a pet is a specific sort of pain that shouldn't be underestimated. "It’s never 'just a dog' or 'just a pet', as the animals become much-loved members of our family.They provide a never-ending source of unconditional love.
Read more on ok.co.uk