Sharing life with a companion animal allows you to truly experience love. Our animals provide unconditional love, companionship, and affection. Your relationship with them is unique and special. Whether your pet dies, is lost, or must be placed in a new home, the end of that relationship can be devastating.
Feelings of grief over the loss of a pet are normal and natural. There isn't any right or wrong way to grieve for a lost friend, and each person reacts individually. Grief may be long-lasting, and it can manifest itself in many ways.
Saying good-bye and remembering your pet can help lessen the pain. Sometimes, talking and expressing your feelings can help. You might benefit from writing a eulogy, poem, or song for a memorial service for your lost pet.
To help you take the first step in dealing with your grief over the loss of a pet, we have provided some resources below:
Tufts University Pet Loss Support hotline: (508) 839-7966. Voicemail messages are returned on Wednesday during the summer. http://vet.tufts.edu/petloss/
Cornell University Pet Loss Support hotline: (607) 253-3932 http://www.vet.cornell.edu/org/petloss/resources/
University of Illinois @ Urbana – Champaign, College of Veterinary Medicine C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Hotline: 877-394-CARE (2273) http://vetmed.illinois.edu/CARE/
Washington State University Hotline: 1-866-266-8635. Messages can be left 24-hours per day. Messages left during the summer will be returned Monday through Thursday and Saturday. E-mail: plhl@vetmed.wsu.edu http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/outreach/pet-loss-hotline
