AIBU to wonder why Paul O’Grady does this?

[Xmasgetaway]

The part of his Sunday evening radio 2 show where he reads out all the messages from people about their dead pets.

As soon as he starts, I don’t even have to listen to the whole message and I’m off crying. I have to turn it off or down until he’s finished.

It’s not even good, cathartic crying.
It’s just horrible hearing about these cats, dogs etc dying after a long illness, or suddenly, or what a good and loving pet they were………

I may be biased as my first ever dog died a few months ago, very young and it was the worst day of my life, but even before this happened, the messages would set me off……

Anyone else feel this way?

I think he does it to honour people’s memories of their much-loved family members.

It’s the sort of grief that’s not well understood socially and it’s lovely this is a space pet lovers can share their memories publicly.

I understand why you find it upsetting but I don’t think that’s the same as it not being a lovely thing?

Bereaved owners take great comfort in this. Paul O'Grady is a great animal lover, and pet grief is very real, as you know yourself, but sadly not taken seriously enough. If you are finding it too difficult to hear then please turn it off. We all have only so much we can cope with on certain topics, and if its too much for you then you need to be kind to yourself and listen to something else whist this feature is on. I'm sorry for your loss, I've been there.