Anger may temporarily ease the pain only to prolong a difficult situation. Many caretakers assume responsibility for everything in their animals' lives, including diet, exercise, grooming, vet visits, and so on. When something goes wrong, whether the owners have had anything to do with it or not, they are likely to feel responsible and perhaps, guilty. If you must euthanize a sick or injured pet, this can cause a tremendous amount of guilt. Guilt drags people deeper into pain, and causes them to focus on their supposed failings rather than on the reality of their loss.
Guilt has few benefits.
It is useful only if it prompts you to correct an error. In regard to pet loss, this mechanism is a way of avoiding the anguish that comes with the realization that death is inevitable. Denial can surface when you resist the idea of getting a new pet. Bringing a new pet home is the ultimate admission that your old pet is gone. Denial can bring temporary relief, allowing you to manage powerful emotions initially too painful to bear all at once.