There's a name for grief we don't feel like we're allowed to have or that is not acknowledged by society, it's called disenfranchised grief. It's what I've felt this week in the wake of the loss of Esther The Wonder Pig. I never "met" Esther and yet feel the deep sorrow as the result of her passing. I'm sure many of her 1.5 million followers do too. Disenfranchised grief is what you may feel for a patient of yours that dies, an animal that gets adopted from your shelter or a research animal you've had to euthanize. It's legitimate grief  and this episode will help you understand it and yourself more.