Do Pets Absorb Bad Luck?
When Loss Feels Too Much to Bear
After losing a beloved dog, one grieving owner shared that a friend told her, “He protected you — he took the bad luck instead.”
She had been in a minor car accident on the same day her dog’s health declined.
The thought was meant to comfort her — that her pet had absorbed the misfortune meant for her family — but it also left her conflicted.
Behind that emotion lies an old belief found in parts of the Philippines and across Southeast Asia: that animals, especially pets, can act as spiritual guardians, taking on the negative forces that might otherwise harm their humans.
The Filipino Belief: Pets as Shields of Energy
In Filipino folk spirituality, in certain regions, there’s a saying that when a pet dies suddenly or grows ill after a stroke of family misfortune, it’s because the animal has absorbed the “bad juju” — the sickness, accident, or spiritual imbalance that was meant for someone else in the home.
It’s a worldview rooted in animism and Catholic syncretism, where life, luck, and spirit intertwine.
To many Filipinos, animals aren’t just companions; they are vessels of energy, protectors who live in the same spiritual ecosystem as people.
So when a dog passes after a family accident, people may say, “He took it for you.”
It’s not meant to burden the owner with guilt, but to honor the pet’s loyalty — even beyond life.
Between Comfort and Conflict
For those who grieve, this belief can feel both comforting and painful.
Comforting — because it gives meaning to loss, transforming tragedy into sacrifice.
Painful — because no one would ever want their pet to take their place.
But that’s the dual nature of folk spirituality: it’s not about literal exchange, but about symbolic protection.
It expresses what words cannot — that pets love us so deeply we imagine them guarding us even from the unseen.
A Universal Thread of Love
Even outside the Philippines, similar beliefs exist.
In parts of Japan and Mexico, people say animals “take away” bad dreams or illness; in Celtic folklore, dogs guard souls on their journey to peace.
Across cultures, the message is the same: the bond between humans and animals transcends the physical.
Finding Meaning Beyond the Belief
Whether you accept the superstition or not, the truth it hides is simple — your pet’s love was complete.
You didn’t trade lives; you shared one.
And if imagining that your dog shielded you from harm brings comfort, let that belief hold you gently, not weigh you down.
For many, creating a handmade memorial sculpture or portrait becomes part of this healing — a way to honor that protective bond through art and remembrance.
In the Filipino belief, when a pet passes after tragedy, it’s said the spirit was strong enough to guard its family even in parting.
Rational or mystical, that story tells us something universal:
Love protects. Love transforms. And love — like a loyal pet — never truly leaves.
👉 Explore our collection of handmade pet memorial sculptures — each piece created to honor the guardianship, loyalty, and love that remain beyond the Rainbow Bridge.
