© 2006 Heathmont Animal Hospital
Made by Serif
Heathmont Animal Hospital
Special Care for Special Friends
PET LOSS
The death of a pet is often a very emotional and traumatic event. Many people may feel more distress over the death of their pet than they do over that of a family member. This can create feelings of confusion and guilt for many people and often people feel they cannot share their grief over the loss of their pet with others.
People have a number of ways of dealing with the stages of grief. For Nelson’s owner, losing her friend and companion of over 17 years had a devastating impact. Part of her process of coping with his passing involved reading stories of animal love and companionship as well as literature on grief. As she found reading helped her, Nelson’s owner has very kindly donated many books, including the series of “Marley & Me” books (adapted to suit adults, teenagers and children) to be made available to our clients in a library at the clinic.
If you have recently faced the loss of a pet, or would just like a good read, please call into the clinic to borrow one of these books. Please also feel free to donate your books to the library.
Points of contact for people suffering from the loss of their pet
Pet Loss Grief Support Resources
Argus Institute
http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/grief.htm
Containing pages with grief resources, including resources for families
with pets,
a recommended reading list and artistic memorial resources.
Tufts Veterinary School Pet Loss Support Hotline
Contains grief literature including articles such as Top 10 Tips on Coping
With Pet
Loss, Explaining Pet Loss to Children and Do Dogs Mourn
Created by pet owners for pet lovers who are grieving over the death of a pet or an ill pet
A pet loss support webpage with articles such as Emotions of Pet Loss,
Defining Quality
of Life, Pre-
Conquering Guilt, Creating a Memorial,
Getting a New Pet and Some
Questions on Loss.
In Memory of Pets
A personal website that has become a non-
contains poems and
pets’ families’ stories.
Association For Pet Loss Bereavement
A non-
and pet loss
and support facilities.
Petplace.com Pet Loss
Search under “Pet Loss” or specific species eg “Dog Loss”
Internet Support Groups
Petloss.com Chat http://www.petloss.com/digichat.htm
Animal Love & Loss Network http://alln.org/alln/chatroom.shtml
Telephone Counselling
Griefline Tel: (03) 9596 7799
Telephone counselling. A free service. Counsellors are happy to talk about pet loss as well as human loss.