The love people share with their pets transcends the veil of death, and history suggests
it always has. Archaeological finds across the globe have found individuals buried with or near a
pet, as well as evidence that different civilizations believed dogs were Psychopomps, or guides
that helped a person to the afterlife. This belief can be seen in the canine appearance of the
Egyptian god who helped souls in their journey to the afterlife, Anubis. The Aztec god Xolotl was
also depicted in a canine form and known to guide the dead through the many levels of the
underworld. Even the Celtic Goddess of War and Death, the Morrigan, was said to take on a
canine form.
It seems the human-dog bond is so strong that early civilizations across the globe all
found comfort in their presence during times of uncertainty. Canine companions have stood by
us in the face of death long enough to become fixtures in religions and legends, which is why
we take great pride in standing by them during their end-of-life journey.
Sources:
https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-Anubis
