Anyone who has lost a pet, or an animal they cared for, will know that grief can creep up in the most unexpected moments in your day. Whom do you talk to in those moments? “Often, there is no one to understand the pain. And you bottle up your emotions fearing the risk of being a burden on your friends,” says psychologist and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) practitioner Gayatri Ayyer.

Gayatri Ayyer with her 10-year-old golden retriever, Nino. PIC COURTESY/GAYATRI AYYER