Pet Loss
The Humane Society’s advisory group, HSSCM Friends Furrever, has put together the following resources for helping with pet loss. If you have additional suggestions or resources you’d like to be considered for addition to this page, please email here.
Resources for Parents
Sesame Street Communities website on grief (click here)
When Someone Very Special Dies (coloring book, pdf download)Download Rules for When Your Child (or partner) is Upset (pdf download)DownloadComforts of Home Counseling in Battle Creek – family and child grief counseling (click here)
Resources for Adults
Support Groups (Virtual)
Michigan State University – Zoom grief support group for pet loss (click here)
University of Tennessee – Zoom grief support group for pet loss (click here)
Our Favorite Books
When Your Pet Dies by Jamie Quackenbush
Going Home, Finding Peace When Pets Die by Jon Katz
Heart Dog: Surviving the Loss of Your Canine Soul Mate by Roxanne Hawn
Supportive Websites
Chance’s Spot – includes email support and online forums (click here)
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (click here)
Additional Projects and Activities
Create a journal (written word, collage, photos, paintings or drawings) and detail the years of joy spent with your pet, your favorite memories, your pets likes/dislikes, along with the emotions you are currently experiencing
Create photo collages and hanging the images in a prominent place in your home
Put your pet’s cremains in a special urn, or plant a perennial or ornamental shrub where they are buried
Have memorial jewelry made with the pet’s photo or paw print
Put your pet’s ID tag from their collar on your key ring or necklace
Send cards (with your pet’s photo) to friends and family letting them know of the loss
Things to Remember When Helping Others
From a local church guide to helping others through the death of a loved one, “Learning to Be a Comfort in the Valley of Grief”:
Be Compassionate. Call your friend, or send a pet loss card. Cards are available in many places, including at your local Hallmark store or on Etsy.com. Write a personal note on the card.
Be There. A grieving person may need companionship. Be there with them, even to just sit and keep them company. Cry with them, smile with them, pray with them.
Be as listener, not a talker.
Validate what they are feeling and going through. Refrain from saying things like “they’re in a better place,” “you’ll get over it,” “it’s just a dog/cat,” “just get another dog/cat,” “just move on…,” “how are you doing” (not good, likely! Don’t make them vocalize it!), “what actually happened?” (details are none of your business and could create prolonged hurt. If your friend wants to discuss it, they will), “call me if you need anything” (they may not be comfortable asking for help. You call and check in with them!).
Purchase a gift card to a local greenhouse or nursery, and suggest your friend select a plant or flower to keep in their home/plant to remember their pet.
Consider making a memorial donation to your local rescue or humane society in the name of their pet and have a card sent to the family. Some humane societies also have memorial bricks and memorial tiles available for purchase.