Pet Loss Support Resources
Pet Loss Support Phone Hotlines
- Lap of Love Pet Loss Resource Line – 855-352-LOVE (5683)
- Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline– 508-839-7966
- Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Support Line– 630-325-1600
- Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline– 607-218-7457
Support Groups
Virtual Support Group
- Lap of Love Pet Loss Support Group
- VetVine Pet Loss Support Services
Weekly Chatroom
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement chat room
Individual Counseling
For local and regional support group offerings, check with your local Humane Societies and Veterinary Colleges. Also review the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement directory.
You can also search the internet for grief or pet loss counselors in your area. If you find a grief counselor, reach out and ask if they are comfortable with counseling for pet loss.
Books for Adults
- When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healingby Alan Wolfelt
- Pet Loss: A thoughtful Guide for Adults and Childrenby Herbert Neiburg and Arlene Fischer
- Goodbye My Friend: Grieving the Loss of a Petby Mary and Herb Montgomery
- The Loss of a Petby Wallace Sife
- Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Loveby Lorri Greene
- The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Lossby Russell Friedman
- Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Petby Moira Anderson Allen
- Coping With the Loss of Your Petby Christine Lemieux
- My Personal Pet Remembrance Journalby Enid Samuel Traisman
- Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Griefby Coleen Ellis
Books for Children
- When a Pet Diesby Fred Rogers
- The Tenth Good Thing About Barneyby Judith Viorst
- Dog Heavenby Cynthia Rylant
- Cat Heavenby Cynthia Rylant
- I’ll Always Love Youby Hans Wilhelm
- Healing Your Grieving Heart for Kids by Alan Wolfeldt
- Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas
- Goodbye Mousieby Robbie Harris
- The Fall of Freddie the Leafby Leo Buscaglia
For a more extensive list, including genres such as memoirs, short stories, religious themes, and journals, see the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Recommended Reading List.
Booklets and brochures
- Downloadable (free) articles and booklets on euthanasia and griefby Veterinary Wisdom
- Educational Enclosuresby Veterinary Wisdom (buy)
- Booklets and wallet cardsby The Center for Loss and Life Transition (buy)
- Booklet (buy): Goodbye My Friend: Grieving the Loss of a Pet by Mary and Herb Montgomery
- Booklet (buy): Coping With the Loss of Your Petby Kathleen Ayl
- Brochure (buy): AVMA brochure on pet loss and grief
Suicide Prevention
- If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, self-harm, or harming others, call 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org
