- Basic Trope: A character is sad because their pet has died or gone missing.
- Straight:
- Bob's cat Nicholas suddenly passes away, and Bob becomes very distraught.
- Bob is going to the vet tomorrow to have Nicholas euthanized. He finds himself unable to sleep, because...well, his cat isn't going to be around very much longer.
- Alice's dog Boomer runs away, and she becomes worried that he won't return.
- Exaggerated:
- Nicholas is accidentally run over in front of Bob, who was running to save him. He murders the driver without letting him explain that it was an accident, crying the whole time.
- Nicholas dies on Bob's birthday. Bob refuses to celebrate his birthday for the rest of his life, because it reminds him of Nicholas.
- Alice was a horrible owner and clearly disliked Boomer. She's still very sad when he disappears.
- Bob had 5 cats who all died in the timespan of one week. He is Driven to Suicide.
- Alice had 3 dogs, and they all suddenly disappeared one day.
- Downplayed:
- Bob notices that his cat Nicholas is "Head Pressing" Note and immediately knows that something is wrong. As he takes Nicholas to the vet, he worries that Nicholas will not survive.
- Alice's dog Boomer goes missing, but he tends to go wandering a lot.
- Justified:
- Nicholas was 22 years old. Note Of course he was going to die soon.
- Alice let Boomer out to do his business, and she forgot about him.
- Inverted:
- Bob's cat Nicholas mates with his other cat Nicole, and they become parents. Bob is overjoyed.
- Bob is in poor health, and is expected to die very soon. He finds himself constantly worrying about who will care for Nicholas when he dies.
- Alice's dog Boomer returns home after two years. Alice cries Tears of Joy.
- Subverted:
- Nicholas died of old age, which softens the blow for Bob.
- Nicholas was miserable and in a lot of pain in his final days. Bob is relieved that he's no longer suffering.
- Alice Failed a Spot Check; Boomer is sitting on her couch.
- Double Subverted:
- But Bob is still sad that he's gone.
- The dog on the couch is not Boomer; it's a lookalike.
- Parodied:
- Nicholas is obviously sleeping, but Bob still thinks he's dead.
- Alice is Wangsting about Boomer being gone while he's looking through the window, barking non-stop.
- Zig-Zagged: See Downplayed 2.
- Averted:
- Bob dies before his cat does.
- Boomer does not wander off.
- Enforced: The execs decide the work needs a Very Special Episode which deals with the subject of pet loss.
- Lampshaded:
- "Bob has been ridiculously depressed since his cat died..."
- "I Will Find You, Boomer! Even if I have to go to the ends of the Earth!"
- Invoked:
- The Big Bad secretly poisons Nicholas' food while Bob is sleeping.
- Alice neglects Boomer, because she didn't want a dog in the first place.
- Defied:
- Bob goes to great lengths to make sure Nicholas stays in good health.
- Boomer is strictly indoors.
- Alternatively: Alice has a fence installed, so Boomer won't wander off.
- Discussed:
- Conversed: "Poor Bob...saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy."
- Implied:
- Bob's best friend Paul visits, and sees Bob sobbing hysterically into his pillow. Nicholas is nowhere to be seen. When Paul tries to probe, Bob tearfully says, "I don't want to talk about it."
- Alice is seen walking around town a lot more than she usually does, whistling and calling for Boomer.
- Deconstructed:
- Bob refuses to adopt another cat, because he doesn't want to experience losing his beloved pet all over again.
- Alice goes looking for Boomer, and finds out that he was brutally mauled by a pack of coyotes.
- Reconstructed:
- Bob eventually realizes that there are many cats waiting for an owner, and letting them die lonely makes his heart wrench even more.
- Alice and Bob bond with each other over their lost pets. Together, they give each other the strength to move on with their lives.
Back to Lost Pet Grievance
