Final answer:
The loss of a pet is often made worse by the emotional attachment owners have to their animal companions, leading to profound grief.
Step-by-step explanation:
The loss of a pet for many owners is made worse by emotional attachment. The companionship provided by pets, along with the emotional bond that forms between humans and their animals, deeply affects individuals when dealing with the death of a pet. Unlike financial burdens which can be quantified, the sense of emotional loss is profound and often leads to deep grief, similar to the emotional reactions of loss to the death of loved ones. Viewing death as a loss significantly impacts the psychological and social well-being of individuals. This concept reflects the broader understanding in the United States that death is often seen as a loss, a source of grief rather than a natural transition.