LOSING YOUR PET AND BEST FRIEND LEAVES AN EMPTY SPACE IN YOUR HEART.
Coping with Loss
- Take time to acknowledge and understand your grief
- Understand that your grief is different from everyone else’s, and that is ok
- Understand you will experience grief-related stress
- Give yourself permission to grieve
- Express your grief
- Take care of yourself
- Talk with someone who has also lost a pet
- Keep a grief journal
- Memorialize your deceased pet
- Turn to God with your grief
- Create a plan to move forward with your life
Adapted from:
Help for Those Who Have Lost a Pet – Written for PetsLiveOn.com By Don Harold Lawrence
Immediate Help
- PetFriends 24/7 Hotlines: 856-234-4688 & 800-404-PETS (7387)
UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITALS
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, New York Pet Loss Support Hotline: 607-253-3932 6:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time Every Monday and Thursday
- Michigan State University (MSU) , College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline: 517-432-2696 – Hours: Tues-Wed-Thurs 6:30pm -9:30pm EST
- Tufts University
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine(Massachusetts)
Pet Loss Support Hotline: 508-839-7966
6:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time
Monday through Friday & 24 hour voicemail - University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Social Work Helpline: 865-755-8839 Monday through Friday 9-6 pm. You may also email atvetsocialwork@utk.edu
- Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Hotline: 866-266-8635 – Local: 509-335-5704 Phones are staffed during the semester: Monday-Thursday, 7 pm-9 pm and Saturday 1pm-3 pm Pacific Time.
Other Resources
- ASPCA Grief Counseling HotLine: 877-474-3310 – Open 12:00 pm to 12:00 am daily.
- PetFriends 24/7 Hotlines: 856-234-4688 & 800-404-PETS (7387)
UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITALS
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, New York Pet Loss Support Hotline: 607-253-3932 6:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time Every Monday and Thursday
- Michigan State University (MSU) , College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline: 517-432-2696 – Hours: Tues-Wed-Thurs 6:30pm -9:30pm EST
- Tufts University
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine(Massachusetts)
Pet Loss Support Hotline: 508-839-7966
6:00pm-9:00pm Eastern Time
Monday through Friday & 24 hour voicemail - University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Social Work Helpline: 865-755-8839 Monday through Friday 9-6 pm. You may also email atvetsocialwork@utk.edu
- Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Hotline: 866-266-8635 – Local: 509-335-5704 Phones are staffed during the semester: Monday-Thursday, 7 pm-9 pm and Saturday 1pm-3 pm Pacific Time.
OTHER RESOURCES:
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Veterinary Medicine, C.A.R.E.
- Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Website
- Veterinarians.com Resources for the loss of a pet.
OTHER LISTINGS THAT MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE:
- National Suicide Prevention Life Line: 800-273-8255
- Companion Pet Loss Helpline Illinois: 217-244-CARE (2273)
