Grief is the natural response to loss. Each of us grieves differently, but we all grieve…
Sometimes others don’t understand the pain of pet loss and this can make the death of your pet especially hard. Learn more about pet loss and grief from the articles we’ve collected here in the Veterinary Wisdom® Resource Center. We also keep an updated list of free pet loss help lines for those who would find talking to someone on the phone helpful.
Articles
- What Normal Grief Looks and Feels Like
- Five Facts about Grief
- Five Ways to Bounce Back from Grief
- Five Comforting Conversations to Help You Cope With Pet Loss
- Five Ways to Help Yourself (and Others) through Pet Loss
- There is Help for a Broken Heart
- Why You May Want Additional Support
- How to Memorialize Your Pet
- Why Grief Feels Different When Your Pet Dies Suddenly
- A Dangerous Villain: Guilt
- The 3 H’s of Coping with Holiday Grief After Your Pet Has Died
- The Good, the Bad, and the Holidays
- Self-Help Remedies for Healing Grief
- Pets, Divorce and Getting through Grief
- Helping a Pet Grieve for a ‘Buddy’
Free eBooks (Download PDF)
Recommended Books/Audiobooks
Pet Loss
- Goodbye Friend by Gary Kowalski
- Journey Through Pet Loss – Audiobook by Deborah Antinori
- When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering, and Healing by Alan Wolfelt
For Kids
- A Special Place for Charlee by Debby Morehead
- Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
- Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
For Parents
General Grief and Loss
Counselors
Marty Tousley, CNS-BC, FT, DCC (Distance Credentialed Counselor)
GriefHealing.com
TousleyM@aol.com
The Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital
ArgusInstitute.colostate.edu
argus@colostate.edu
Online Pet Loss Resources
ASPCA
www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/end-life-care
Pet Loss Helplines
Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Pet Loss Helpline
630-325-1600
www.chicagovma.org/pet-loss-support/
Cornell University Pet Loss Support Line
(staffed by Cornell veterinary students, Wednesdays 6-9pm EST; Sundays 12-3pm EST)
607-218-7457
www.vet.cornell.edu/about-us/outreach/pet-loss-support-hotline
Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline
6-9 EST Mon-Fri; 24 hour voicemail (staffed by trained student volunteers)
508-839-7966
vet.tufts.edu/petloss/
Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital
970-297-1242 (leave a voicemail and someone will return your call)
csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/diagnostic-and-support/argus/Pages/default.aspx
Suicide Prevention
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, self-harm, or harming others, call 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Other Resources
Join our Pet Parent Facebook Group
Products
- Capture the Love ClayPaws Gift Kits
- Large Capture the Love ClayPaws Gift Kits
- ClayPaws HoofPrint Kit
- Paw Print Urns
While World by the Tail, Inc. does our best to screen and offer counselors and resources of the highest quality and standards, we do not endorse or accept responsibility for the individuals or organizations listed here. The use of internet or telephone pet loss support resources are not intended to replace consults with local physicians, veterinarians, or qualified mental health professionals.
**These resources are updated frequently. We check to be sure the numbers and links we provide you with are the most current we can. If you find that a link or a number does not work, please let us know so we can correct it! –Last updated 6/8/2021
