Pet Loss Resources

Overview

Veterinary clients find it helpful when veterinarians offer them pet loss support resources.  There are a variety of resources on the internet, however many of them are out of date and no longer in service.  CAETA created this list of references that will be reviewed quarterly so veterinarians can always have a trusted source of up-to-date information to offer their clients.

 

On this page you will find resources organized into the following sections:

  • Pet Loss Support Phone Hotlines
  • Support Groups
  • Weekly Chat Room
  • Individual Counseling
  • Books for Adults
  • Books for Children
  • Other Recommended Reading
  • Resources for Professionals
  • Booklets and brochures to offer veterinary clients
  • Ideas for Memorialization

Pet Loss Support Phone Hotlines

National Resources

Local Resources

For local and regional phone hotlines, check with your local Veterinary Colleges and Humane Societies.

Support Groups

Virtual Support Group

 

In-person

For local and regional support group offerings, check with your local Humane Societies and Veterinary Colleges.  Also review the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement directory.

Weekly Chatroom

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement chat room

Individual Counseling

Check with your local Veterinary College, as they may have a counselor or social worker available for individual counseling.  Local Humane Societies may also have a list of referrals.  Otherwise, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement has a list of local counselors that can be a springboard for researching a counselor or social worker that you are confident in recommending to pet guardians.

You can also search the internet for grief or pet loss counselors in your area.  If you find a grief counselor, reach out and ask if they are comfortable with counseling for pet loss.

Books for Adults

  • When Your Pet Dies:  A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing by Alan Wolfelt
  • Pet Loss: A thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children by Herbert Neiburg and Arlene Fischer
  • Goodbye My Friend: Grieving the Loss of a Pet by Mary and Herb Montgomery
  • The Loss of a Pet by Wallace Sife
  • Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Love by Lorri Greene
  • The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss by Russell Friedman
  • Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet by Moira Anderson Allen
  • Coping With the Loss of Your Pet by Christine Lemieux
  • My Personal Pet Remembrance Journal by Enid Samuel Traisman
  • Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief by Coleen Ellis

Books for Children

  • When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers
  • The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
  • Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
  • Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
  • I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm
  • Healing Your Grieving Heart for Kids by Alan Wolfeldt
  • Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas
  • Goodbye Mousie by Robbie Harris
  • The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia

  • Forever Friend: A children's guide and activity book for saying goodbye to a special dog by Mary Gardner and Coleen Ellis
    Forever Friend: A children's guide and activity book for saying goodbye to a special cat by Mary Gardner and Coleen Ellis

Other Recommended Reading

The above list is just a small sample of books you may find helpful.  For a more extensive list, including genres such as memoirs, short stories, religious themes, and journals, see the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Recommended Reading List.

Resources for Professionals

  • Pet Loss and Human Emotion by Cheri Barton Ross
  • Connecting with Grieving Clients: Supportive Communication for Fourteen Common Situations by Laurel Lagoni and Dana Durrance
  • Companioning You! A Soulful Guide to Caring for Yourself While You Care for the Dying and the Bereaved by Alan Wolfelt

Booklets and brochures to offer veterinary clients

Ideas for Memorialization

See the Pet Loss Support Page

Review Status

The CAETA team last reviewed this page December 2022.