Having a dog as a pet is arguably one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do—any dog owner will agree. They greet you happily at the door when you get home from work, snuggle you when you’re sad, and are just the ultimate companion.

The only downside to owning a dog is…well…losing that dog. It’s very unlikely a dog will outlive their human, so chances are, you’re going to be around when the dog passes. And the thought of that is very, very sad, to say the least.

In fact, it’s even sadder than we ever thought. A new study found that losing a dog can be just as difficult as losing a loved one, like a parent or spouse, if not more so.

Actually, we think we kind of knew that already! Sigh.

The study found that we give off the same kinds of chemicals responsible for making us feel connected with someone as we do with humans that we do with dogs. And for anyone who has ever lost a loved one and a dog, you know that that’s true.

But what makes it harder? The thing is, when a family member or loved one passes away, people feel as though they need to support and help you, which of course is lovely and needed.

But that’s just something you can come to expect, not to mention all of the articles, videos, voice recordings, whathaveyou, of how to grieve the loss of a loved one. While it’s a very unfortunate event, it’s a common one that many people have to face, so there’s many a resource out there to help you grieve.

While many people also deal with the loss of a pet, for some reason, this can go by the wayside. “Oh, I’m so sorry about your dog—are we still on for dinner Friday?”

It’s not that people don’t take the death of a pet seriously—it’s just that it’s sometimes not taken quite as seriously as the loss of a human. No one delivers you food in the same way they might if you lose a loved one. Nobody really checks in with you weeks after it’s happened, the way they would if your parent died.

Of course people know that it’s hard to lose a pet, but it’s just simply not treated in the same way—and that can make it extra difficult to deal with your feelings, especially since, as the study mentioned, you’re giving off those same chemicals.

According to psychologist Julie Axelrod, another reason the loss of a dog is so rough is because you’re losing that source of unconditional love and companionship. There’s a sense of comfort that only a dog can bring you, and when the dog is gone, there feels like there’s a void.

Additionally, guilt can also play a role in these feelings. A lot of the time, we’re forced to make the decision for our pet—and sometimes the hardest decision is the right one. But that doesn’t make it less hard.

We hope not, but have you ever lost a dog before? How did you finally move on? We wouldn’t wish the feeling on anyone!