Pet Loss Resource Center

Resources designed to help you and your family cope with the loss of your companion animal. Remember, grieving a pet is natural and will vary from person to person.

In her Tedx Talk, Dr. Sarah Hoggan shares her thoughts and experience with pet loss and grief. As an emergency veterinarian, Dr. Hoggan has a deep understanding of the topic and provides another perspective on the bereavement and healing process.

Pet Loss Support Hotlines

Nikki Hospice Foundation Pet Loss Support Helpline 707.557.8595
Iam’s Pet Loss Support Resource Center 888.332.7738
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 800.946.4646 pin #140-7211. This is a 24-hour line for Stephanie LaFarge, PhD. Leave your number and they will return your call.

Many universities and veterinary programs offer pet grief hotlines, operated by veterinary students.

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine 540.231.8038 Tuesdays & Thursdays 6pm – 9pm EST
Tufts University 508.839.7699 Monday-Friday 6pm – 9pm EST
Cornell University 607.218.7457 Monday & Wednesday 6pm – 9pm EST; Saturday 12pm – 3pm EST
Iowa State University 888.478.7574 Weekdays 6pm – 9pm CST

Pet Loss Support Groups

Human Animal Bond Trust Providing weekly gatherings for individuals grieving the loss of a pet companion since 1988, the Human Animal Bond Trust provides group facilitated by a licensed therapist via Zoom every Thursday evening from 6:30pm – 8pm at no cost to participants. The Trust also offers referrals for individual grief counseling and music, art, or movement therapy; and provides educational seminars for veterinary professionals and the public.

The CSU Argus Institute Offers in person grief support groups at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins, the Community Grief Center in Greeley, and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. Additionally, they offer individual pet grief counseling and mental health resources.

Michigan State University Pet Loss Support Group Run by the Veterinary Social Work Services, the group meets remotely on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 6:30pm – 7:30pm EST.

Helpful Reading on Pet Loss for Children

When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers
Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
My Cat is Blue by Sarah Sommer
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Helpful Grief and Loss Reading for Adults

Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet by Moira Anderson Allen
The Grieving Child: A Parent’s Guide by Helen Fitzgerald
To Dance with the White Dog by Terry Kay
Pet Loss and Human Bereavement by William Kay, et al.
Animals as Teachers & Healers by Susan Chernak McElroy
A Final Act of Caring: Ending the Life of an Animal Friend by Mary Montgomery
Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children by Herbert Neiburg & Arlene Fischer
It’s Okay to Cry: Warm, Compassionate Stories that Help You Find Hope and Healing After the Death of a Beloved Pet by Maria Luz Quintana, el at.
How Do You Tell the Children: A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children and Teens Cope When Someone Dies by Daniel Schaefer & Christine Lyons
The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping with the Grieving Process When a Pet Dies by Wallace Sife Ph.D.
My Personal Pet Remembrance Journal by Enid Samuel Traisman

Additional Online Resources

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement is a nonprofit group dedication to helping people through bereavement and the loss of a pet with extensive resources.

The Animal Love and Loss Network is a Facebook Group.