Extended suicide with a pet.
The combination of the killing of a pet and a suicide is a perplexing scenario that is largely unexplored in the literature. Many forensic psychiatrists and psychologists may be unaccustomed to considering the significance of the killing of a pet. The subject is important, however, because many people regard their pets as members of their family. A case is presented of a woman who killed her pet dog and herself by carbon monoxide poisoning. The purpose of this article is to provide an initial exploration of the topic of extended suicide with a pet. Forensic mental health evaluations may have a role in understanding the etiology of this event and in opining as to the culpability of individuals who attempt to or successfully kill a pet and then commit suicide. Because the scientific literature is lacking, there is a need to understand this act from a variety of perspectives. First, a social and anthropological perspective will be presented that summarizes the history of the practice of killing of one's pet, with a focus on the ancient Egyptians. A clinical context will examine what relationship animals have to mental illness. A vast body of existing scientific data showing the relevance of human attachment to pets suggests that conclusions from the phenomena of homicide-suicide and filicide-suicide are applicable to extended suicide with a pet. Finally, recommendations will be proposed for both clinical and forensic psychiatrists faced with similar cases.
McKnight Brain Institute, PO Box 100256, 1149 Newell Drive L4-100, Gainesville, FL 32610. cooke@ufl.edu.
Brian K
BK
Cooke
D000818:Animals; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000523:psychology / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000523:psychology*; D000076144:Egypt, Ancient; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D057805:Pets / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology*; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D013405:Suicide / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States