LIVED EXPERIENCES OF CENTENNIAL PET OWNERS

ON COPING WITH PET LOSS

A Thesis Presented to the Senior High School

of the HOLY CHILD College of Davao
Green Meadows Campus

____________________________________________________

In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements

2nd Semester SY 2022-2023

Practical Research 1

____________________________________________________

Molero, Raffi
Monteron, Mikyla
Pelayo, Rio Dominique
Salabao, Gabriella
Sanchez, Carl Jhustine
Yu, Dwight Dwayne

May 2023
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APPROVAL SHEET

This Thesis is entitled “LIVED EXPERIENCES OF CENTENNIAL PET OWNERS

ON COPING WITH PET LOSS” prepared and submitted by RAFFI O. MOLERO, MIKYLA
B. MONTERON, RIO DOMINIQUE C. PELAYO, GABRIELLA SALABAO, CARL
JHUSTINE G. SANCHEZ, and DWIGHT DWAYNE P. YU, in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the subject of Practical Research 1 for 2nd Semester SY 2022-2023 has
been examined and is hereby recommended for approval and acceptance.

DEMIE FHEEN M. EJARA, LPT

Adviser

_________________________________________________________________________

PANEL OF EXAMINERS

APPROVED by the Panel of Examiners of both Oral and Paper Examinations

EDNALOU F. JACOB
Chairperson

RUBBY JEAN T. PODADOR ERENIO L. MELEJOR, JR.

Internal Panelist Internal Panelist

RAULITO D. GRAYAN
External Panelist
_________________________________________________________________________

ACCEPTED in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the subject of Practical Research 1
for 2nd Semester SY 2022-2023.

Geneva B. Zafra, LPT

Research Coordinator

Oral Examination Result: APPROVED

Date of Oral Examination: March 29, 2023
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

TITLE PAGE i

APPROVAL SHEET ii

DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY iv

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study 1

Purpose Statement 2

Statement of the Problem 3

Review of Related Literature 3

Theoretical Lens 6

Significance of the Study 8

Definition of Terms 9

2 METHOD

Research Design 9

Research Locale 10

Research Participants 10

Data Source 11

Research Procedure 12

Research Instruments 13

Ethical Consideration 14

Data Analysis 15

Trustworthiness of the Study 17

REFERENCES 18

CURRICULUM VITAE 20
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DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY

We, the researchers, declare that this manuscript represents our own work. All the

data and texts incorporated in this paper, unless cited and acknowledged as the work of

other authors, are the output and result of our research. Rules in proper citation have been

strictly followed; ethical guidelines have been observed and implemented; technical aspects

adhered to; rules of grammar were employed.

Further, we also declare that this paper has not been previously submitted to this

College or any other institutions as an academic requirement for the granting of a

baccalaureate degree, diploma, or other qualifications.

Geneva B. Zafra, LPT

Research Ethics Coordinator

Geneva B. Zafra, LPT

Research Coordinator
 1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Pet loss is the condition of bereaving a pet animal. Responses to such an

experience may vary depending on the individual, with most cases being comparable to

grieving the death of a human loved one. A study conducted by Eckerd et al. (2016)

comparing the grief following pet and human loss has shown that closeness to the

deceased was the strongest predictor of the severity of grief. Previous research on pet

attachment implies that pets commonly fulfill an attachment relationship for many owners

(Meehan et al., 2017), thus grief can be a common response to this experience and a

considerable amount of challenges may be faced in coping thereof.

Pets are regarded as family members or as children for the reason that they exhibit

human-like feelings of love (Arahori et al., 2017), and people may choose to care for

animals because it brings them happiness and strength, especially if they are busy with

their jobs. In addition to the family, emotional support can begin with pets like dogs and

cats. In support of this, a number of studies have shown that owning a pet does indeed

have positive effects on people's mental and physical health (Bao & Schreer, 2016;

Matchock, 2015; Utz, 2014).

However, with the millions of people who develop close bonds with their pets and

experience their death at some point during their lives, it is surprising that the topic of pet

loss has not received much attention in recent studies. Many people in today’s society have

pets that play important roles in their lives, and the number of owners who are likely to

experience grief as a result of their death is enormous. For instance: In the United States,

there are approximately 377.8 million companion animals, the majority of which have

shorter life expectancies than humans. On a similar but more specific note, studies on
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coping with pet loss exist; however, these are more scarce and deal mostly with

psychological implications and recommendations for mental health practitioners rather than

lived experiences of owners on how they dealt with that grief in their way.

The experience of Generation Z (or centennials) on coping with pet loss is an

interesting case along the same lines. The American Pet Products Association (APPA,

2022) noted that Generation Z has the smallest percentage of pet ownership at 14%, which

follows that there can be a lack of international studies considering their lived experiences.

Moreover, there is a lack of local studies, and as aforementioned, an overwhelming amount

of the previous international studies on this topic deal with implications rather than personal

experiences. This is where this study may help.

This research adopted a qualitative approach and aims to understand the lived

experiences among centennial pet owners in Davao City. It will be conducted through

interviewing the affected individuals. Interviews will be done through Zoom meetings and

other online platforms. All interviews will be audio-recorded and professionally transcribed

in full. The results of this research will be used as an instrument for awareness to the

general public, particularly those who view pet loss as disenfranchised grief, on why the

topic of dealing with pet loss may be more difficult for centennials than it appears due to

their lived experiences, as well as an instrument to provide relief and support to those

struggling with coming to terms with the burdens of pet loss.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this qualitative research is to explore the personal experiences of

individuals belonging to Generation Z in Davao City who have lost their pets by causes of

death, with a specific focus on how they coped with their grief. Accordingly, this study seeks

to identify potential strategies that could be helpful to others who are going through similar

experiences. Through this research, the researchers aspire to offer valuable insights and
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support to affected individuals, such as the best possible ways to deal with the faced

difficulties.

This study will also recognize, raise awareness, and focus on the need for additional

research on pet loss, particularly among members of Generation Z. The researchers

believe in sharing the results of this study with others, especially those who are not

particularly fond of animals, in hopes of making known the deeper implications of pet loss

and overcoming the grief thereof.

Statement of the Problem

In order to identify and interpret the lived experiences of centennial pet owners on

coping with pet loss, the following questions can be asked:

1. What are centennial pet owners’ lived experiences on dealing with pet loss?

2. What coping strategies did the participants employ to deal with the grieving process?

3. What insights can the participants share about these experiences?

Review of Related Literature

In relation to this study, this section provides different literature related to the nature

of pet loss, experiences on coping with such loss, and other relevant information. The

chosen pieces of literature are included for their accuracy and relevance to the study.

Furthermore, these readings were taken to establish a better understanding and insight into

the topic.

Pet Loss as a Disenfranchised Grief

A study by Spain et al. (2019) suggests that many grieving pet owners experience

disenfranchised grief: the loss has not been identified as “legitimate” and the bereaved

cannot comment on such grief. If a bereavement is deemed illegitimate, it can bring

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psychological effects on the bereaved, including stress and reduced quality of life.

Additionally, recognizing grief makes patients more likely to experience positive changes

such as post-traumatic growth. This study explored the association between

disenfranchised grief and post-traumatic growth in bereaved family members of pet owners,

and overall it showed that disenfranchised grief can lead to inhibiting post-traumatic growth

after losing a pet. It has also shown that post-traumatic growth, grief intensity, and

disenfranchised grief have a rather complex relationship.

Packman et al. (2014) examined the bereaved people's grieving responses after

losing their pets, wherein they compared, analyzed, and reported on U.S. and French

Canadian responses to open-ended questions on their online pet loss survey. Then, they

looked at how much pet loss would be depicted in the data as a grieving process that was

denied rights, and then checked to see whether there were any similarities between the two

samples' sorrowful expressions. Accordingly, four main themes emerged from the study: the

absence of validation and support, the severity of loss, the dynamics of having a pet as a

human companion, and enduring ties, which gives a clearer view on the nature of pet loss.

There are usually easy ways to convey pain, and pet loss is frequently a disenfranchised

grief.

When their pets are put to euthanasia, pet owners frequently feel complex and

profound grieving reactions. This is what Barnard-Nguyen et al. (2016) suggested in their

study. They aimed to pinpoint the pet owners who are experiencing the most grief and offer

veterinary advice during the euthanasia process. According to the paper, 409 pet owners

chosen by convenience samples whose animals had been put unconscious in the previous

year participated in a survey. In addition, the three grieving reaction subtypes of sorrow,

rage, and guilt were examined to determine the characteristics associated with each. The

findings shed more light on the complexities of grieving following the euthanasia of a pet,

thus building upon the nature of pet loss as a largely disenfranchised grief.
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Coping Strategies for Pet Loss

Pet owners who have lost a pet may use a range of coping mechanisms to get over

their grief as suggested by Dunn et al. (2005). While certain coping techniques may not be

healthy for the owner, others may be beneficial and encourage personal development as a

result of the occurrence. Isolation is one of the maladaptive coping mechanisms. Due to

the disenfranchised nature of pet bereavement, this may be used. On the other hand,

bereaved people are more likely to have positive outcomes when they are given social

support during their time of grief. Reaching out to the pet owner's veterinarian, counselor,

or additional resources (such as support groups or pet loss support) is likely to be beneficial

for grieving pet owners who do not just have their loved ones as their support systems.

Similar to this, support networks or organizations offer a setting where grieving pet owners

may meet, discuss, and comfort one another (in person or virtually) in order to process their

feelings. Through the normalization of the grieving process, communities of support enable

pet owners to see their emotions as normal, with little to no difference from those that other

people in similar situations experience. Often group members will express that they are

relieved that they are not “the only one upset by the loss of my pet.”

Following the loss of a pet, continuing bonds (CB) are an effort to retain emotional

attachment or connection, and as such, indicate a continuation of that attachment and an

effort to cope with grief. Habarth et al. (2017) found in their research that bereaved pet

owners frequently employ continuous bonds, such as gazing at photos, remembering fond

memories, speaking to the deceased, and maintaining their items.

Self-compassion and increased self-soothing coping activities may reduce social

limitations and psychosocial effects, most notably depression, in the context of pet loss.

Bussolari et al. (2018) investigated self-compassion in the context of grief which followed

after the death of a companion animal in a recently bereaved sample, and they addressed

the social contexts and individual differences in self-compassion and the use of continuing
 6

bonds. Future research was recommended, but this study already shows the positive

effects of self-soothing coping in the context of pet loss.

Theoretical Lens

To shape the hypotheses of the study, and consider its aims and scope, a few

theories are used in this study that encompass relevant elements explaining the current

context. These are (a) the Health Theory of Coping and (b) the Transactional Model of

Stress and Coping.

Health Theory of Coping

The Health Theory of Coping, developed by Stallman (2020), offers a new

understanding of coping reactions. It categorizes coping strategies as either healthy or

unhealthy based on their likelihood of adverse consequences, overcoming the limitations of

previous theories on coping reactions.

The healthy coping categories include self-soothing, leisure or distraction activities,

social support, and professional support. Using these methods is expected to be soothing

and relieve tension, both of which are beneficial to one's health. Thus, these coping

strategies have a low likelihood of adverse consequences. On the other hand, the

unhealthy coping categories include negative self-talk, hazardous behavior, social

withdrawal, and suicidality. This tactic has a high likelihood of adverse consequences and

might be detrimental to one’s mental well-being.

This theory is clinically helpful in stigma reduction, suicide prevention, and treatment

of physical and psychiatric illnesses. It offers a new understanding of coping reactions that

can inform research and practice in mental health and other related fields. It can also be

applied to this study because it provides insight into the various coping mechanisms

individuals may possibly use to deal with the emotional effects of losing a pet. By
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understanding the different coping mechanisms, the researchers can identify which

strategies are most effective and which are not. Those who lose their pets may find support

and sorrow in this theory, which will be of assistance to them. It will be devastating to lose a

pet, so they will need support when they are at their lowest. This study will aid pet owners

who have experienced pet loss in easing their sorrow. Owners of pets go through grieving

processes. As everyone's reaction to losing a pet differs, it is crucial to comprehend the

factors that cause this.

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

Understanding the cause of stress and finding appropriate solutions are the focal

points of the work of Lazarus & Folkman (1984). According to this theory, stress felt by an

individual is essentially a system of appraisal, response, and adaptation. Appraisal is

defined as an emotion that comes from an individual's evaluation of themselves. Lazarus &

Folkman posit that there are two classifications of appraisal: primary and secondary. In the

primary appraisal, the affected individual will determine whether the situation requires

attention and whether it is relevant. If it is relevant, they will determine if it is beneficial or

harmful. The secondary appraisal is where they assess their ability to handle the issue.

Balancing the situational demands (e.g. risk, uncertainty, difficulty, etc.) is one way that the

theory claims can aid in determining the solution, in addition to perceived resources viz.

social support, knowledge, etc.

Accordingly, this theory sees problem-focused approaches as including both

attempts to solve the issue head-on and reframe it in a more agreeable manner. The study

claims that often, individuals try to alter their relationship with the issue in order to lessen

the stress it creates; by using an emotion-focused approach, which includes strategies like

denial. Although it may not alter the problem's fundamental nature, it may alter how the

issue impacts the individual.

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It is assumed that the typical response to stress and method of coping with it is

adaptable, and that affected individuals attempt to manage it by reevaluating their actions.

Participating in the primary and secondary evaluation processes is a driving response that

indirectly alters the results of their appraisal. The expected outcome of the reevaluation is

that they either stop feeling stressed or at least change their coping mechanisms. Since this

theory deals with the emotional effects of losing a pet, it can relate to this study. It is helpful

because it clearly demonstrates how people feel and think, as well as the ways on how to

deal with the loss in these circumstances and in the presence of these appraisals. Pet loss

is extremely difficult and must be handled properly. This theory discusses assessment

techniques that can be beneficial to people when they are grieving the loss of a pet.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to contribute new data on the issues pertaining to the lived

experiences of centennial pet owners of Tugbok District, Davao City on dealing with pet

loss. The result of this study will be valuable to the following:

Centennial Pet Owners. The research aims to bring awareness on the deeper

implications and subjective nature of dealing with pet loss, and to offer valuable insights on

coping that may help hasten the grief recovery process for grieving pet owners belonging to

Generation Z. Aside from that, it is hoped that this study will be a voice for centennial pet

owners, making their experiences noticed and heard in society.

Future Researchers. The findings will be a helpful source to use in their studies that

will either validate or repudiate their research related to the topic mentioned in this study.
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Definition of Terms

Centennials. In this study, it refers to an alternative term for Generation Z, the

generation of people born between 1997 and 2012 who comprise approximately 30% of the

world’s population.

Coping. In this study, it is defined as a strategy used by any individual to help

effectively manage difficult emotions in the face of stress and/or trauma. This study also

commonly refers to this term in phrases such as “dealing with” or “coming to terms with”.

Pet Loss. In this study, it is defined as the condition of bereaving a pet animal,

whether caused by natural death or otherwise. Death due to pet diseases may fall under

the category of “natural death”, while “otherwise” in this case refers to unnatural causes

such as pet euthanasia.

CHAPTER 2

METHOD

This chapter presents the description of the research method and procedure of the

study, which includes the research instruments. The research will be in a qualitative

research design. The second chapter will also explain the study’s research design,

research respondents, the procedures done to collect the needed data, and the statistical

data gathered, reviewed, and interpreted by the researchers.

Research Design

The researchers shall use a qualitative phenomenological approach in order to

explore the lived experiences of centennial pet owners on coping with pet loss. According to

Creswell (2007), a phenomenological study describes the meaning for several individuals of

their lived experiences of a concept or phenomenon. It focuses on describing what all

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participants have in common as they experience a phenomenon (e.g. “grief is universally

experienced”). This type of approach is best suited for the study since it deals with the

subjective experiences of the affected individuals. This design has strong philosophical

underpinnings and typically involves conducting interviews. The researchers shall make use

of open-ended research questions to unravel the participants’ experiences.

In accordance with the nature of this research design, the nature of the phenomenon

is investigated and described as consciously experienced by the participants, free from

presuppositions and preconceptions. The experiences gathered and compiled from the

participants will then be summarized and undergo thematic analysis. The investigated

intentionality of the concept shall be presented with their implications to the assumed

affected members of society.

Research Locale

The study will be conducted among centennial pet owners residing in Tugbok

District, Davao City, located in an urban area. The said congressional district has a

previously recorded, relatively high projected population of 135,944 for 2020 (City

Government of Davao, 2021).

Research Participants

The research participants are 10 individuals within the aforementioned locale who

are born between 1998 and 2008. Additionally, participants are qualified and selected on

the basis that they must have experienced and dealt with pet loss at least once in the past.

Individuals who do not have a pet or have not experienced pet loss are not qualified for

participation.

Due to the low estimated rate of pet ownership among Gen Z at 14% (APPA, 2022),

considerable care must be taken in finding participants to be interviewed, and the ratio of
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pet owners to non-owners will be tallied. Purposive sampling will be used to determine

participants for the study. According to Robinson (2014), purposive sampling is the

intentional selection of respondents based on their ability to unravel a specific theme,

concept, or phenomenon. As utilized in qualitative and mixed methods research, this

sampling involves an iterative process of selecting research subjects rather than starting

with a predetermined list of the population being studied.

Data Source

This study will use in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGD)

through video conferencing. The sources of data in this research are the responses given

by the participants, who are the centennial pet owners that have experienced dealing with

pet loss at least once in the past. The participants are from the aforementioned locale.

Similarly, they expressed a willingness to share their experiences, particularly the

challenges, triumphs, and realizations of centennial pet owners in dealing with the

emotional challenges of coming to terms with pet loss.

The IDI of six participants and the FGD of the other four participants will be

conducted at their most convenient time. All the processes will be done through video

conferencing. Creswell (2008) stated that the researcher must use a data recording

protocol to record information during observations and interviews. As a result, in this study,

the researchers shall use a smartphone application and video conferencing application

recorder to record the participants' conversations and points of view, which will then be

transcribed for analysis.

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Research Procedure

In collecting data for this research study, the researchers will adhere to the standard

procedure and health protocols established by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the

management of infectious diseases.

The researchers will seek recommendations from relevant pet organizations or

groups to obtain access to potential study participants who are centennial pet owners so as

to expedite the process of finding potential participants. Once the researchers receive

recommendations for qualified centennial pet owners, the participants will be informed

about the study via email or other online communication channels, and their willingness to

participate will be sought.

To tailor the data collection methods to the demographic of centennial pet owners,

virtual interviews may be used instead of in-person interviews. This approach will provide

participants with the flexibility to participate at their most convenient time and minimize the

need for travel and face-to-face interaction.

The respondents will be given a comprehensive overview of the research project so

that they could be as objective as possible, though there is no specific method for

controlling objectivity. The informed consent document will explain to the prospective

research subject the purpose of the study, the procedures, including the subject's time

commitment, the risks and benefits of the study, and the confidentiality of their information.

The participants will be given the option of participating in the study or declining at any time.

Furthermore, prior to the interview, the researchers will provide the respondents with

an informed consent form that guarantees the confidentiality of their responses. The

respondents must sign the form before the interview to signify their willingness to participate

in the research study. Respondents who are willing to share their thoughts and insights on

the study's topic are included in this scenario. Signed informed consent forms will be kept

by the researchers. Anonymity and confidentiality will be guaranteed. In this way, the
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participants also reciprocated with honest and dependable responses. Moreover, virtual

interviews will be performed in an environment that is free of noise and other potential

distractions. As a result, the participants were able to freely give their honest comments

without being interrupted. The participants were aware of this criteria, thus they sought out

a location in their homes that met it prior to the IDI and FGD.

The researchers will use a smartphone application and video conferencing

application recorder to record the participants' conversations and points of view for this

study, which will then be transcribed for analysis. After the interview, the researchers will

transcribe the data, sort and arrange the participants' responses, and conduct a thematic

analysis. The information gathered will be saved in an Excel file on a password-protected

flash memory data storage device. Hard copies of the transcripts, including the signed

consent form and instrument paper containing participant feedback, will be kept in a sealed

envelope and stored in a locked cabinet to which only the researchers will have access.

Research Instruments

The study will utilize IDI and FGD through video conferencing. The sources of data

in this research are the responses given by the participants, who are the centennial pet

owners that experienced dealing with pet loss at least once in the past.

The main purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand the

different challenges, triumphs, and realizations of centennial pet owners in dealing with the

emotional challenges of coming to terms with pet loss. Specifically, it sought to answer the

following questions:

1. What are centennial pet owners’ lived experiences on dealing with pet loss?

Probed Questions

1.1. When did you first meet your pet?

1.2. How long did you live together with your pet?
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1.3. Can you describe the relationship that you had with your pet?

1.4. When your pet passed away, how did you learn about it?

1.5. What experiences did you go through to deal with the situation?

1.6. Can you share with us the hardest part of dealing with the situation of pet loss?

1.7. How long did it take you to come to terms with this challenging situation?

2. What coping strategies did the participants employ to deal with the grieving process?

Probed Questions

2.1. Can you enumerate the resources you used to cope (for example, social

support)?

2.2. Which coping mechanism was the most helpful?

2.3. How did your available resources affect the way you handled the situation?

2.4. How did you feel after trying to cope with the situation?

2.5. Were you eventually able to overcome the challenges?

3. What insights can the participants share about these experiences?

Probed Questions

3.1 What valuable lessons have you learned from your experiences?

3.2. How do you believe these experiences affected you as a person?

3.3. What advice can you offer to those struggling to come to terms with pet loss?

Ethical Consideration

In this study, the researchers considered ethical principles to make sure that the

participants’ rights and well-being are protected. The purpose of the study will be conveyed

to the participants clearly and they will be provided with an opportunity to seek clarification if

needed. Informed consent will be taken from each participant before proceeding with data

collection. To maintain confidentiality, the researchers will take measures to protect the
 15

privacy of the participants. Any possible harm to the participants will be minimized to the

best of the researchers’ abilities. Findings will be reported accurately and without bias, and

they will not be used in any way that could harm participants or support unfavorable

stereotypes.

Data Analysis

Figure 1. The flowchart for the thematic analysis procedure. (Creswell, 2017)
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The data analysis of this study is anchored on the Creswell (2017) method of

thematic analysis by following the steps shown in Figure 1. The first step is to organize and

prepare the raw data for analysis. This involves transcribing interviews, typing field notes,

and sorting and arranging the data into different types depending on the sources of

information.

The succeeding step is to read or look at all the data. In this part, the recorded audio

files from the IDI video conference will be played three to four times to understand the

participants' thoughts and feelings clearly. Moreover, the researchers will extract the

significant or core ideas the participants were saying. The researchers will note the tone of

the ideas as well as the impression of the overall depth, credibility, and use of the

information. These ideas are represented in statements or phrases coming from the

transcript to form a whole meaning of the experience. Thus, the transcript will be reread to

identify a significant statement from it. These statements will be written separately for each

participant, coded as page number and line number.

Coding is the process of organizing the data by bracketing chunks of text and writing

a word representing a category (Rossman & Rallis, 2012). Likewise, the significant

statement or phrases from the text were the basis for the formulation of meaning. To

formulate meaning, the researchers create more general restatements of the essential

phrases. Then, the formulated meanings will be coded given that they are represented by

the same category.

The next step is to generate a description and themes. The researchers will use a

coding process to generate a description of the setting or participants as well as categories

and themes for analysis. The formulated meanings will be organized into clusters of themes

which will further shrink into emergent themes. Moreso, the phenomenon will be described

exhaustively. In this stage, all the theme clusters, emergent themes, and formulated

meanings will be combined into a description to create an overall structure. The findings are
 17

reduced to avoid repetitions and to make a clear and concise description of the

phenomenon.

The final step is representing the description and themes. The created themes will be

given to the participants to validate the findings using member checking. This step will be

done to elicit the representativeness of the emerged phenomenon with their experience.

Trustworthiness of the Study

The accuracy of a research study, data, and findings is referred to as its

trustworthiness. There are several methods for determining the credibility of an

investigation, but the simplest is to apply the four tenets proposed by Guba and Lincoln

(1982). They proposed that in qualitative research, credibility, dependability, transferability,

and confirmability should be used instead of quantitative counterparts. Since then, most

scholars have used and expanded on these four trustworthiness tenets.

Credibility. To ensure the credibility of this study, consistency and accuracy will be

practiced during the IDI, which will be conducted virtually with centennial pet owners.

Furthermore, during this phase, all their responses will be recorded without taking into

account the researchers’ own biases or opinions. This confidence can be placed in the

validity of the research findings.

Dependability. To ensure the study’s dependability, the raw data and analyses

obtained will be saved by the researchers so that they can be examined by others for future

confirmation. In terms of ethics, the researchers’ top priority is the confidentiality of the

participants. Before the interview, the participants shall receive an email with the study’s

content and research questions. Before the study, the participants will be verbally

re-informed about the study’s framework and ethical codes, and their consent will be

obtained through voice recording.

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Confirmability. A detailed description and evidence of the process of virtual

interviews, data analysis, and data interpretation will be conducted to determine the degree

of this criterion. This ensures that the study’s findings would be based solely on the

participants’ actual responses rather than the researchers’. Furthermore, recording,

note-taking, and the researcher’s journal will be provided for all conducted interviews which

can be retrieved at any time from the platforms used. Recordings shall be done using

cellular phones.

References

Arahori, M. et al. (2017). Owners’ View of their Pets’ Emotions, Intellect, and
Mutual Relationship: Cats and Dogs Compared. Behavioural Processes, 141(Pt 3),
316-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2017.02.007

Bao, K. J., & Schreer, G. (2016). Pets and Happiness: Examining the
Association between Pet Ownership and Wellbeing. Anthrozoös, Vol 29(2) 283-296.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2016.1152721

Barnard-Nguyen, S., Breit, M., Anderson, K. A., & Nielsen, J. (2016). Pet Loss
and Grief: Identifying At-risk Pet Owners during the Euthanasia Process.
Anthrozoös, 29(3), 421-430. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2016.1181362

Bussolari, C., Habarth, J. M., Phillips, S., Katz, R., & Packman, W. (2021).
Self-Compassion, Social Constraints, and Psychosocial Outcomes in a Pet
Bereavement Sample. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 82(3), 389–408.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222818814050

City Government of Davao (2021). Socioeconomic Indicators.

https://cpdo.davaocity.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2021-SEI.pdf

Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five
Approaches, 2nd Ed. Sage Publications, Inc.
https://revistapsicologia.org/public/formato/cuali2.pdf

Dunn, K. L., Mehler, S. J., & Greenburg, H. S. (2005). Social Work With A Pet
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key. Death Studies, 40(5), 275-282, https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2016.1139014
 19

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Packman, W. (2017). Continuing Bonds and Psychosocial Functioning in a Recently
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 20

DWIGHT DWAYNE P. YU
Blk 17 Lot 6 Mt. Everest St., Crestview Homes,
Ula, Tugbok District, Davao City
09959780457
yudwightdwayne@gmail.com

Personal Information
_________________________________________________________________________
Sex : Male
Date of Birth : July 15, 2005
Place of Birth : Brgy. Asturias, Jolo, Sulu
Age : 17
Civil Status : Single
Citizenship : Filipino
Height : 1.66m
Weight : 44kg
Religion : Roman Catholic
Languages/Dialect : English, Filipino, Tausug
Father's Name : Walter W. Yu
Mother's Name : Marie Joy P. Yu

Educational Background
_________________________________________________________________________
Senior High : Holy Child College of Davao - August 2022 – Present
Green Meadows Campus, Davao City
Secondary : AB Simpson Alliance School Inc., - May 2022
Zamboanga City
Elementary : Notre Dame of Jolo for Girls, - March 2018
Jolo, Sulu
 21

CARL JHUSTINE G. SANCHEZ

Purok 8-A Brgy. Tacunan, Tugbok District,
Davao City
09810691017
scarl3964@gmail.com

Personal Information
_________________________________________________________________________
Sex : Male
Date of Birth : February 2, 2004
Place of Birth : Davao City
Age : 19
Civil Status : Single
Citizenship : Filipino
Height : 1.7m
Weight : 55kg
Religion : Roman Catholic
Languages/Dialect : Filipino
Father's Name : Lenito D. Mosquite
Mother's Name : Jeanette G. Sanchez

Educational Background
_________________________________________________________________________
Senior High : Holy Child College of Davao - August 2022 – Present
Green Meadows Campus, Davao City
Secondary : MATS College of Technology, - 2022
Davao City
Elementary : Dumanlas Elementary School, - 2017
Davao City
 22

GABRIELLA SALABAO
Brgy. Los Amigos, Tugbok District,
Davao City
09923958870
gabriellasalabao18@gmail.com

Personal Information
_________________________________________________________________________
Sex : Female
Date of Birth : October 18, 2006
Place of Birth : Lupon, Davao Oriental
Age : 16
Civil Status : Single
Citizenship : Filipino
Height : 1.6m
Weight : 45kg
Religion : Roman Catholic
Languages/Dialect : Bisaya
Father's Name : n/a
Mother's Name : Jenita Salabao

Educational Background
_________________________________________________________________________
Senior High : Holy Child College of Davao - August 2022 – Present
Green Meadows Campus, Davao City
Secondary : Calinan National High School, - June 2022
Davao City
Elementary : Calinan Central Elementary School, - April 2018
Davao City
 23

MIKYLA B. MONTERON
Phase 2 Atis St., Barangay Sto. Niño,
Tugbok District, Davao City
09098177884
mikyla.monteron30@gmail.com

Personal Information
_________________________________________________________________________
Sex : Female
Date of Birth : March 30, 2006
Place of Birth : Sunshine Maternity
Age : 17
Civil Status : Single
Citizenship : Filipino
Height : 1.5m
Weight : 39kg
Religion : Roman Catholic
Languages/Dialect : Bisaya
Father's Name : Ven L. Monteron
Mother's Name : Marilou B. Monteron

Educational Background
_________________________________________________________________________
Senior High : Holy Child College of Davao - August 2022 – Present
Green Meadows Campus, Davao City
Secondary : Santo Niño National High School, - June 2022
Davao City
Elementary : Imelda Elementary School, - April 2018
Davao City
 24

RAFFI O. MOLERO
Blk 2 Lot 26 Residencia del Rio,
Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City
09156271833
raffimolero@gmail.com

Personal Information
_________________________________________________________________________
Sex : Male
Date of Birth : February 6, 2005
Place of Birth : Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao
Age : 18
Civil Status : Single
Citizenship : Filipino
Height : 1.66m
Weight : 49kg
Religion : Islam
Languages/Dialect : English, Filipino
Father's Name : Darwin S. Molero
Mother's Name : Melba Florevic O. Molero

Educational Background
_________________________________________________________________________
Senior High : Holy Child College of Davao - August 2022 – Present
Green Meadows Campus, Davao City
Secondary : Notre Dame of Cotabato, - May 2022
Cotabato City
Elementary : Notre Dame University Elementary - March 2017
Training Department, Cotabato City
 25

RIO DOMINIQUE C. PELAYO

Blk 9 Lot 1 Southe Pointe Homes
Catalunan Grande, Davao City
pelayorio1@gmail.com
09493091238

Personal Information
_________________________________________________________________________
Sex : Female
Date of Birth : March 28, 2006
Place of Birth : Brokenshire Hospital, Davao City
Age : 17
Civil Status : Single
Citizenship : Filipino
Height : 1.8m
Weight : 38kg
Religion : Roman Catholic
Languages/Dialect : Bisaya
Father's Name : Nelson D. Pelayo
Mother's Name : Bona C. Pelayo

Educational Background
_________________________________________________________________________
Senior High : Holy Child College of Davao - August 2022 – Present
Green Meadows Campus, Davao City
Secondary : Holy Cross of Mintal Inc., - 2022
Davao City
Elementary : Holy Cross of Mintal Inc., - March 2018
Davao City