Losing a pet is as traumatic as losing a relative, according to a poll.

More than a third of owners believe the death of their pets to be as emotionally difficult as that of a relative.

Some 3,000 dog and cat owners took part in the poll, which showed just how highly they value their pets, with 34 per cent equating the experience to the loss of a friend and one in 20 even admitting they felt more bereft at the death of a pet than that of a family member.

Dogs really did prove to be a man’s best friend, with owners listing the death of theirs as the most harrowing, possibly due to the strong bond between dogs and owners.

Lee Mooney, head of pet insurance at Co-operative Insurance, which carried out the research, said: “In today’s society, pets often have a central role in the household and our research clearly shows that their loss can have a significant effect on owners.”

More than half of animal owners grieve for more than two months on the death of a pet, and 16 per cent are still mourning at least a year later, while 31 per cent of owners felt they could never replace their lost pet, with a huge 70 per cent unable to welcome a new pet immediately after bereavement.

Others swiftly replaced their pet due to a need for love and companionship, a notion Lee Mooney backs: “People increasingly lean on their animals for emotional support, with animals providing a constant presence in the home, helping to alleviate anxiety and loneliness.”

Animal behaviourist Roger Mugford said: “There seems to be a fundamental need for animal companionship, which works because our pets do not answer back, do not criticise, they make us laugh and give us unconditional love. Pets are great anxiety-relievers and without them, many people feel lost.”