Over the years, various cases of dogs consuming their deceased owners have been documented. If this has made you wonder whether your beloved dog would eat your body if you were to suddenly die, continue reading to find out what science has to say.
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Previous studies have revealed that dogs tend to eat the faces and throats of humans, then break the ribs and chew on bones. Researchers believe hunger is often the primary motivation, although some pets don’t wait until their stomach starts growling.
In a 2015 review of 63 cases of dogs eating their owners, less than a day had passed before the partially eaten body was found in about a quarter of the cases. Furthermore, some of the dogs had access to food they wouldn’t normally eat.
But animals can become concerned about their unresponsive human, especially if the death is violent or sudden, and lick their owner’s face seeking comfort. This licking can quickly turn into consumption.
“Dogs descend from wolves. If we have a situation where the owner dies and there’s no food source, what are they going to do? They’re going to take any meat that’s around,” researcher Stanley Coren explained to National Geographic.
“I think we have to come to the conclusion that our pets will eat us. It’s just a fact of life,” said Carolyn Rando, a forensic anthropologist at University College London, in a conversation with the Science website.
Rando suspects that the temperament of an individual dog may be more important than the breed. An insecure and fearful dog that regularly shows signs of separation anxiety may be more likely to become frantic and end up biting and consuming its owner.
So, if you’re concerned about the possibility of your pet consuming you, ask someone to check on you and your animals regularly. “What’s common in these cases is that the person was alone for a long time,” Rando added.
This content was created with the help of AI.
