You are not alone
In Fall 2022, I was sought after to be a teaching assistant in a new course offering at the University of Windsor: On Death & Dying. Students joined me in a virtual classroom for a weekly class discussion to share their experiences with the weekly material. It was of no surprise to me when students brought into our discussions grieving for their pets, and the challenges that come when some beings (human and non-human) are regarded as not grievable. When we grieve for those beings, this act alone challenges their general status in society and allows the integral role they play in our lives to be fully embraced. For this reason, I encourage you to explore the topic of death, dying, grief, and loss with the animals in your life.
All links are clickable with the exception of the books.
Pet Loss Support Groups
Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre
Robbie Dean Family Counselling, in partnership with the OSPCA, offers a free virtual gathering facilitated by a certified grief support counselor on the second Tuesday of each month.
Ontario Pet Loss Support Group
They offer pet grief support through phone support, meetings, and Facebook. Virtual meetings are scheduled on Saturday’s at 4:30pm.
Memorial Resources
A free service to memorialize your best friend.
According to the artist Alinah Azadeh, when we create memory objects, we “use our hearts, hands, and minds to create small objects that help us to both separate from and honour the things we choose to make our memory objects about” (Craftspace, n.d.). The goal of this creative exercise is to honour the loss of your loved one (in this case, our pets) through the process of binding and wrapping symbolic objects.
Books & Reading Materials
Blog Posts
Helping Children Understand Pet Loss - Click here
Books for children
Dog Heaven by Cynthia Ryland
The book is written from a Christian perspective and is about an ideal place created for dogs who have passed. The author also wrote and illustrated a book called Cat Heaven.
The Rainbow Bridge by Adrian Raeside
This book tells the story of a child who loses his pet.
I'll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm
This book tells the story of a family grieving their dog, Elfie. It also includes instructions on how to make a picture frame to hold a photograph of a loved one. This creative exercise provides an opportunity for the reader to honour their pet, and subsequently their bond.
The Invisible Leash by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Using the same bonding technique as written in the Invisible String, the authors guide the reader through the experience of the loss of a beloved animal by exploring the bond we have with our pets after they are gone.
Books for adults
The grief recovery handbook for pet loss by Russell Friedman
Based on a specific recovery method, this book addresses how losing a pet is different from losing a human loved one and guides the reader on how to cope with this specific loss.
Losing my best friend by Jeannie Wycherley
This book offers practical advice about navigating pet grief from one grieving person to another.
The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice from Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups by Dolan-Del Vecchio and Ken and Nancy Saxton-Lopez
Written by licensed social workers and family therapists who have led pet loss therapy groups, it is a good tool to assist those going through the stages of grief and those in mourning.
Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet by Gary Kowalski
This book provides advice on how to cope with the loss of a pet through a spiritual lens. The book uses storytelling and poems.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Told from a dog’s perspective. This book is a good reminder of how special an owner/pet relationship is. A good book for further in the healing journey.
The Last Walk by Jessica Pierce
The author draws on the last year of the life of her own treasured dog, Ody, to present practical, medical, and moral issues that pet owners confront with the aging process and death of their pet. This book is best to read to help prepare your pet for the aging process and to help them die with dignity.