You are not alone!
There are many, many resources for people suffering from pet loss bereavement. The lists below are just a start. Know that you are not alone, and many people care about you! We know what it is like, since many of us have been where you are now. Please explore the links below for support groups, chaplain contacts, crisis centers, and articles to reassure you during your time of pain. Or, you can post your story on our blog, or on any guest book on any page of this site. We want to hear what you are going through, and WE CARE ABOUT HOW YOU ARE FEELING.
Keep a few things in mind:
1. The heart knows no difference between losing an animal companion and losing a human companion. You hurt deeply because you love deeply. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed about the depth of your grief. It is very normal (and it says a lot about your willingness to love other sentient beings).
2. Some people do not understand your pain unless they have been through grief over an animal friend themselves. Forgive them, for they do not know. But, there are many more of us who do have an idea of what you are going through! Let insensitive comments roll off your back, and contact someone who cares. You will find them using the links below.
3. Know that there is no magic amount of time for getting over your grief. Some people take hours or days, and some take weeks, months or years. Keep finding support for your grief, keeping working through it, and keep helping others. The more you deal with it in healthy ways, the stronger you will become. Take charge of your grief, and your grief work will help you to grow in ways you never thought possible. Keep sharing, keep growing, keep healing... but most of all, keep loving!
4. Learn how to help others through their grief. As a side benefit, helping others will help you, too. There are tons of articles on how to do this, listed below.
To contact an independent interfaith Animal Chaplain in your area, click here.
- For tips on how to help children with pet loss grief, click here.
Free Sources of Support
Click to choose.
Pet Loss and Grief Counseling Phone Numbers
- Staffed by the University of California-Davis veterinary students, Weekdays 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. PT ( 530) 752-4200
- Staffed by the University of Florida veterinary students, Weekdays 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET, ( 352 ) 392-4700 then 1 and 4080
- Staffed by the Michigan State University veterinary students, Tuesday - Thursday 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.ET, ( 517 ) 432-2696
- Staffed by the University of California-Davis veterinary students, Weekdays 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. PT, ( 916 ) 752-4200
- Staffed by the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association veterinarians and trained volunteers; leave a voice mail message (long distance calls returned collect). Calls returned 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. CT ( 630 ) 603-3994
- IAMS Pet Loss Support Resource Center ( 888 ) 332-7738, Staffed by the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET, ( 540 ) 231-8038
- Staffed by the Ohio State University veterinary students Monday, Wednesday & Friday 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. ET, ( 614 ) 292-1823
- Staffed by Tufts University veterinary students Tuesday & Thursday, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET, (508) 839-7966
- Staffed by the Iowa State University veterinary students, Weekdays 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. CT, (888 ) 478-7574
- Staffed by the Cornell University veterinary students, Tuesday - Thursday 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET, ( 607 ) 253-3932
- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 24 hours Stephanie LaFarge Ph.D., ( 800 ) 946-4646 pin # 140-7211 and leave your number.
- University of Illinois veterinary students. Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7-9 pm Central Time; www.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE/ (217)244-2273 or toll-free (877)394-2273(CARE)
- Pet Loss Hotline, Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/index.htm; staffed during the semester on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 6:30 - 9:00 PM, and Saturday 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time. (509) 335-5704
- Companion Animal Association of Arizona, 602-995-5885 Staffed by volunteers who have lost a pet and have been trained in bereavement support. All calls are returned collect. (See website resources for more information). www.caaainc.org
Bereavement Web Sites
- The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement - Probably the best site out there, with loads of resources. www.aplb.org/
- PetsEverlasting - Petseverlasting.com is a pet loss community where you can always find an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on. www.petseverlasting.com
- Companion Animal Memorial Fund - The Companion Animal Memorial Fund at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine was established to help veterinarians take an active role in expressing compassion by memorializing clients' pets and at the same time contributing to research that benefits other companion animals. www.cvm.uiuc.edu/advancement/camf.html
- Chance's Spot - Chance's Spot is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals who have suffered the loss of a dearly loved pet. At Chance's Spot, we believe that pets are an important and engaging member of the family whose loss results in the same grieving process as would losing anyone close to us. We understand that the feelings generated when a pet dies are real and deserve the same respect as if it where any other family member. Our mission is to advance this notion to the general public and to support an increase in the respect and reverence that is given to the topic of pet loss. www.chancesspot.org
- Grief Healing - Information, comfort and support for anyone coping with or anticipating the loss of a loved one, whether that is a person or a cherished animal companion. Includes useful articles on various aspects of loss (including pet loss), recommended book lists, inspirational writings and poetry, and categorized links to dozens of other helpful resources. Hosted by Marty Tousley, APRN, BC, FT, certified hospice bereavement counselor and pet loss counselor. www.griefhealing.com
- Grief Healing Discussion Groups - Safe, anonymous, online place where the bereaved can share their stories of loss and ask questions to learn more about the normal grieving process. Includes a forum for Loss of a Pet. Sponsored by Hospice of the Valley and moderated by certified hospice bereavement counselors. www.hovforum.ipbhost.com
- Grief and Loss Help - Find assistance and resources for facing life's challenges and losses, including pet loss. www.griefandlosshelp.com/
Thank-you to the the Denver Dumb Friends League for much of the following information. Please support them generously!
Denver Dumb Friends League/Humane Society of Colorado, Quebec Street shelter, 2080 South Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80231, (303) 751-5772, www.ddfl.org, The Buddy Center™, 4556 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO 80109, (303) 751-5772 Hours Map
(These links are to pamphlets and articles on other sites. Each article cites a source. Please support the author's businesses when you can.)
