Wiley is a therapy wolf-dog who helps veterans returning from war with PTSD. He provides therapy and care through a program called Warriors and Wolves.
But while Wiley has to remain tough for the veterans he helps, there are moments where he, too, is feeling down.
In the video below, you’ll see Wiley lying on the grave of his late grandmother. He appears to be sobbing and having a hard time catching his breath. While there’s a chance that he doesn’t understand the exact situation, many believe that he can sense that his grandmother is gone.
When dogs form a special bond with someone, they can become very depressed when that person all of a sudden disappears from their life. Dogs can also sense when things are wrong.
According to the American Kennel Club, it’s not unusual for dogs to grieve the loss of a person they’ve bonded with who is no longer present. While they may not understand death, they do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who’s no longer part of their daily lives.
“My definition of grief is that a surviving animal shows distress through behavior that is markedly divergent from his routine,” says Barbara J. King, professor emerita of anthropology at the College of William and Mary and the author of “How Animals Grieve.”
Wiley’s owner said that he has never done this before and hasn’t done it since.
