Coping With the Loss of a Beloved Pet
It’s not always easy to get past this type of grief. Some people can do it alone, but others need help. There is nothing wrong with needing someone to talk with to help you put the loss into perspective.
You DO need to feel the pain of the loss, but you also have to find a way to go on with your life, and maybe even to love another pet in honor of your departed furry loved one.
The most important thing is to realize you are not alone in the way you are feeling, and you are not abnormal to have such a strong reaction to the loss of your pet. There is nothing to feel ashamed of or embarrassed about. It’s important to let yourself feel the loss, and then find a way to honor the memory of your special pet.
While I am not a licensed grief therapist, I have been where you are and I know how bad it feels. I can tell you through my own experience that this pain will pass, and you will heal. It just takes time.
Below are some places you can visit online for help and understanding, along with a list of books that may help you to get through the loss a little easier.
Online and Phone Support
- Pet Grief Support Hotline: 602-995-5885
- Pet Loss Grief Support Website: www.petloss.com
- Pet Loss Tips: www.pet-loss.net
- Pet Grief Support: www.caaainc.org/petgriefsupport.htm
- The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement: www.aplb.org
- Lightening Strike Pet Loss Support: www.lightning-strike.com
- Rainbow Bridge Grief Support: www.rainbowsbridge.com
- Pet Bereavement Support: www.petbereavementsupport.com
- Cat and Dog Help: www.catanddoghelp.com/animals/bereavement.php
- Grieving the Death of a Pet: healgrief.org/grieving-death-pet/
Books About Pet Loss
- Loving and Losing Our Cat Companions. Author Rita Reimers
- When Your Pet Dies
- Goodbye, Friend
- Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates
- Healing Pet Loss
- The Pet Loss Companion
- I Lost My Best Friend Today
- There Are No Sad Dogs in Heaven
- Animals in the Afterlife
💜 Need Additional Support?
If you’re struggling and would like someone to talk to, I offer a short 20-minute consultation ($75) to help you process what you’re going through and explore next steps.
