Pet Loss Resources
INDIVIDUAL PET LOSS COUNSELORS (SANTA BARBARA)
Eva Von Prooyen, MFT – 805 845-4960 (co-founded pet loss support group in SB with Dr. Lane in 2004)
David Baldwin, PhD – 805 695-8300 – one of the facilitators for SB’s bi monthly pet loss support groups held at Hospice of Santa Barbara.
Marlena Roberts, MFT 805 962-6842 – skilled, compassionate, pet loving cliinican with significant experience with grief and loss.
These three licensed mental health professionals are highly skilled with pet loss and grief issues. They are available for individual counseling if you or a loved one is approaching the loss of a companion animal (to help think/feel through decisions) and to have the support in place when you actually lose your companion. They are also kind and pet loving people.
NATIONAL PET LOSS RESOURCES – HOTLINES (as of 10.12.08)·
Arizona: Companion Animal Association - (602) 995-5885 (24 hr information line about resources in Arizona) http://www.caaainc.org
California: University of California at Davis staffs the pet loss support hotline, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM (PST). The phone number is 530-752-4200 / (800) 565-1526 or you can access pet loss information through www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/petloss/index.htm.·
Colorado: Colorado State University - (970) 297-1242 (M-F 9-5 MT)·
Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline - 607-253-3932 - Tuesday-Thursday - 6-9 PM. Eastern Time. However, for the summer month of August, the hotline is only available on Wednesday from 6-9 PM (but messages can be left and will still be returned) http://www.vet.cornell.edu/public/petloss (In addition to information about the hotline itself, this site lists other hotlines and offers several useful articles on loss, grieving, euthanasia and more)·
Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital Pet Loss Support Services. 24 hour message line (503) 234-2061 (Long distance calls will be returned collect). E-mails can be sent to grief counselor, Director of Pet Loss Support Services, Enid Traisman, MSW at etjournl@teleport .com. www.dovelewis.org·
Iams Company - 888-332-7738 Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, EST - maintains a special toll-free number for grieving pet owners.·
Illinois: Chicago Veterinary Medical Association - (630) 325-1600 or 877-394-2273 (leave voice-mail; calls returned M-F between 7-9 pm; long distance calls returned collect). http://net.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE·
Indiana: Pet Loss Support Group - (317) 898-1051 (Colleen)·
Maryland, Virginia, DC: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine - (540) 231-8038 (T/Th 6-9pm ET)·
Michigan: Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine - (517) 432-2696 (T-Th 6:30-9:30pm ET – leave a message if no one is available and your call will be returned)·
Minnesota: Social Work Services, University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center - 612-624-9372·
Ohio: The Ohio State University Companion Animal Listening Line - (614) 292-1823 - M-F 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm EST, Sat-Sun 10 am - 4 pm EST; voice-mail messages will be returned. (Most hotline volunteers are veterinary students; therefore hours are dependent on volunteer availability and may be more limited during summer months.)·
Pet Loss Phone Support - http://www.petloss.com/phones.htm (Links to university and veterinary hospital hotlines, and also to a variety of counselors and organizations that offer telephone support to pet owners).
Tufts University (Veterinary School) staffs the pet loss support hotline, Monday through Thursday 6-9 PM EST. (508) 839-7966·
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine - (215) 898-4529·
Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine (509) 335 5704 – Outside of WA – toll free: (866) 266-8635. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 7 - 9:00 PM and Saturday 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time
Messages can be left 24 hours a day. All messages will be returned as soon as possible.
BOOKS
You may also want to check with your local library or bookstore for available literature. A few recommended titles are:
FOR CHILDREN:
- The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, Judith Viorst, 1975
- Waterbugs & Dragonflies, Doris Stickney, 1997
- Dog Heaven, Cynthia Rylant, 1995
- Cat Heaven, Cynthia Rylant, 1997
- A Special Place for Charlee, Debby Morehead, 1996
- Geadon’s Gift: Surviving the Loss of Your Pet: Coloring Book, Cheryl A. Underhill and Kathy Ferdon
FOR ADULTS:
- Grieving the Death of a Pet, Betty J. Carmack, RN, EdD.
- Saying Good-Bye to the Pet You Love, A Complete Resource to Help You, Dr. Lori Green and Jacqueline Landis.
- Pet Love, Betty White, William Morrow and Company, 1983
- When Your Pet Dies: How to Cope with Your Feelings, Quackenbush and Graveline, Simon and Schuster, 1985.
- Angel by My Side: The True Story of a Dog Who Saved a Man and a Man Who Saved a Dog, Mike Lingenfelter and David Frei.
- Goodbye, friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet, Gary Kowalski, 1997
- Pet Loss and Human Emotion: Guiding Clients Through Grief. Falconguide Ser., Cheri B. Ross and Jane B. Sorensen.
POEMS
(For copies of these poems, please go to: http://www.shivascenter.org/poems.html)
- The Rainbow Bridge, Author Unknown
- Ten Commandments ~ For Pet Owners ~, Jack Kinner
- The Journey, Author Unknown
- In this House, Author Unknown
- An Angel In the Post Office, posted on the Internet
- The Stone with Your Name on It, Dr. T. J. Dunn, Jr.
- Thank You Annie, Author Unknown
- Waterbugs and Dragonflies, Doris Stickney
- Making Peace - Pearls of Wisdom for Grieving Pet Owners, Dr. Trish Lane
- But it’s just a Dog, Anonymous, Taken from the Internet
- Out of the Mouth of Babes, Anonymous: Taken from the Internet
Discussion Groups
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Chat Room
http://www.aplb.org
Chat room for pet loss, MWF 8-11PM (ET), Sunday 2-5PM (ET); Chat Room for Anticipating Pet Loss, Thursday 8-10PM (ET)
Chance's Spot Pet Loss Support Discussion Group
http://groups.msn.com/ChancesSpot-PetLossSupport
More than Just a Pet
http://groups.msn.com/MorethanJustAPetCopingwithyourloss/
Pet Grief Support
http://groups.msn.com/PetGriefSupport/
PetsEverlasting.com
http://petseverlasting.com/index.htm
Offers a variety of resources, including a tribute section, chats and a forum, as well as links to a variety of products.
Stairways to Heaven
http://groups.msn.com/StairwaystoHeaven
NOTE: These groups are the result of a quick search on MSN; if you're looking for a discussion group, you might also try Yahoo! Groups. Search on "pet loss."
Tribute Sites
Angel Cats
http://angelcats.faithweb.com
Cat memorial site in the UK. (Lots of popups, unfortunately.)
Dogheaven
http://www.dogheaven.com
A memorial/tribute site. This site charges a fee for posting memorials (portions go to charity), but also offers a number of useful (free) resources.
Heaven's Playground Pet Memorial
http://www.forpetloversonly.com
A site where pet owners can post memorials and tributes; plus a discussion forum, poetry, sympathy e-cards, and links.
ILovedMyPet.com
http://www.ILovedMyPet.com/
Offers a free online memorial listing for three months, and charges a small fee for longer (or large) listings. All profits go to humane associations.
In Memory of Pets
http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/tributes.php
Light a Candle
http://www.dotsphinx.com/lightacandle/
An interesting site where you can light a "virtual candle" in memory of your pet.
Pet Memorial Website
http://www.mypet-memorial.net
A place to post free memorials, photos, tributes, stories, etc.
Pets4Ever
http://pets4ever.moonfruit.com
A free site where you can post photos and stories about your pet.
Pet Reflections
http://petreflections.net/
A virtual "quilt" where you can post a "patch" memorializing your pet.
PetsEverlasting.com
http://petseverlasting.com/index.htm
Offers a variety of resources, including a tribute section, chats and a forum, as well as links to a variety of products.
Condolence Cards
1-2-3 Greetings: Electronic Pet Loss Condolence Cards
http://www.123greetings.com/pets/loss_of_pet/index.html
Free electronic pet loss condolence cards.
Free Online Pet Loss Condolence Cards
http://www.comfortpets.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=6
In Memory of Pets
http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/sympathycards.php
You can order printed sympathy cards from this site.
Paws Passed
http://www.pawspassed.com/ecards.php
Offers free pet loss e-cards.
Pet Loss: Tracks in the Sand
http://members.fortunecity.com/sandtracker/
General Information
Angel Animals
http://www.angelanimals.net/welcome.html
While not specifically a "pet loss" site, this site focuses on animals and spirituality, and offers an interesting selection of articles. (It also has some pet loss resources.)
Animal Love and Loss Network
http://www.ALLN.ORG
An organization of pet loss counselors and professionals; offers links to support groups, plus a chat room.
Animals in Our Hearts
http://Animalsinourhearts.com
Offers links, articles, an audio-book, tips on helping a friend or loved one cope with loss, and a variety of other animal-related resources.
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
http://www.aplb.org
An association of pet loss counselors and professionals. The site offers links, articles, a bookstore, and directories of counselors and pet loss support groups.
Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine
http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/
Sponsored by Colorado State University, this site provides a number of excellent articles on pet loss, plus additional resources for more help. (Formerly "Changes: The Support for People and Pets Program".)
AVMA Guidelines for Pet Loss Support Services
http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/pet_loss.asp
This page will be useful to anyone interested in setting up a pet loss support group.
Cat Lullaby
http://www.myspace.com/fredmooltenandfriends
Hear a lullaby inspired by the death of a beloved cat; the lyrics can be found at http://bluesandfolk.com/lyrics.htm (scroll down to "Cat Lullaby).
Coping with the Death of Your Pet
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/coping_with_the_death_of_your_pet/
Pet loss material from the Humane Society of the United States. Sadly, no longer the resource it used to be.
Coping with the Loss of a Pet
http://www.homevet.com/bonding/loss.html
An article covering grieving, the five stages of mourning, how to explain pet loss to a child, and reasons for euthanasia.
DogDied.uk.com
http://www.dogdied.uk.com
A helpful UK site dealing with pet loss, with forums, articles, memorials and more.
"Dr. Cookie's" Pet Loss Page
http://www.dr-cookie.com
Hosted by Dr. Stefanie Schwartz, veterinarian and behaviorist; click on the "Pet Loss" link on the left.
Emotional Trauma
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/grief_bereavement.htm
A good, generic guide to causes, symptoms and coping strategies for emotional trauma, including loss.
Equine Protection Network - Cemeteries and Crematories for Horses
http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/saveamericashorses/cremations.htm
A state-by-state guide to facilities that handle burials or cremations for horses.
Explaining Pet Loss to Children: Six Do's and Don'ts
http://tinyurl.com/q35sa
FidoFinder.com
http://www.fidofinder.com/
A site where you can register a missing pet, along with useful tips for finding a lost pet.
Grief Healing
http://griefhealing.com
An excellent resource from pet loss counselor Marty Tousley. It offers an extensive collection of Marty's articles and columns on grief, plus other resources. The one downside is that it is graphics-intensive and can take a long time to load (but it's worth the wait).
GriefWorksBC
http://www.griefworksbc.com/
A Canadian resource site for grief in general, including lots of links and a database of grief counselors on Canada.
Having to Say Goodbye
http://www.landofpuregold.com/loss.htm
A (long) page of pet loss tips and resources from a golden retriever site. A key resource is a state-by-state guide to pet loss resources and support groups; click on the map to find resources in your state. In addition to links, poetry and basic tips, this page offers an extensive list of books for adults and children. Also graphics-heavy and slow to load.
Healing and Inspirational Poetry
http://www.petloss.com/poems/poems.htm
Links to dozens of poems on pet loss and related topics.
Hospice Care and Information for Pets
http://www.spiritsintransition.org/
In Memory of Pets
http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/
An extensive collection of links, book references, and other resources for pet loss.
Interfaith Animal Clergy
http://www.animalclergy.com/
A resource for clergy, chaplains, and others helping people deal with the bereavement of pet loss.
Lightning Strike Pet-Loss Support Page
http://www.lightning-strike.com/frame_pet-loss.htm
One of the oldest pet-loss sites on the web, with an eclectic selection of resources and links. Now offers pet loss support blogs!
Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets
http://www.pethospice.org/index.html
A site dedicated to "Promoting the right to make personal choices concerning a terminally ill companion animal, maximizing quality of life and informing the veterinary community and the public about the value of hospice care."
Paws of the Heart
http://www.pawsoftheheart.com
Though the resource pages of this site are designed primarily for the Virginia area, other pages offer a wide range of poems, articles and other tips for grieving. Definitely worth a visit.
Perpetual Pet
http://www.perpetualpet.net
The only site I've been able to find on freeze-drying pets.
Pet Animal Preservation
http://www.pet-animalpreservation.com
OK, now I've found TWO sites on freeze-drying...
Pet Hospice Care
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/pethospice/
A new discussion group focusing on pet hospice care and bereavement.
The Pet Loss Grief Support Website & Candle Ceremony
http://www.petloss.com/
Offers information on "The Rainbow Bridge" in several different languages, plus a Monday evening worldwide candle ceremony for pets. Also offers a chat room, translations of the ceremony, poetry (see above), articles, books, links to online support groups (on AOL, Compuserve, and GEnie), links to telephone support, an article on grief writing, and links to other resources.
Pet Loss Resources
http://catanddoghelp.com/animals/bereavement.php
Pet Loss: Understanding Grief in Children
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/grief-children.html
The Pet Professor
http://www.thepetprofessor.com
Though not specifically a pet loss page, this site is loaded with useful information and great pictures.
Millies Ministries Veterinary Chaplaincy
http://www.veterinarychaplaincy.org/id18.html
Offers prayers, support and counseling for pet owners.
NW Pet Support
http://www.nwpetsupport.com
"Your Complete Guide to Animal Care Resources in the Northwest"
Super Dog's Pet Loss: A Reference to References
http://www.superdog.com/Coping-.html
Links to books, online resources, counselors, cemeteries, urns and markers, poems, tributes and more.
Tigger's Memorial Page
http://mysite.verizon.net/deborahlb/PetLoss.htm
Lots of links to comforting poems and messages.
Time to Let Go
http://www.messybeast.com/euth.htm
Good article on euthanasia, and on how to determine when the time is right.
Treegivers
http://www.treegivers.com/program.html
Plant a tree in memory of your pet
Veterinary Chaplaincy Services
http://veterinarychaplaincy.homestead.com/
Designed to help veterinarians and other professionals deal with "compassion fatigue" relating to pet loss.
Pets in Heaven
All Creatures Do Go to Heaven... Especially Pets
http://www.all-creatures.org/ach
The presentation on this site can be a bit off-putting -- lots of bold, different size fonts, etc. -- but I found the verses and translation details very interesting and worth exploring.
Animals in Heaven: Proof that Animals Go to Heaven
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/w/w_lasalle/ A number of useful scripture references on the topic.
Creatures in Heaven
http://www.creatures.com/
A site that offers books, videos and music as well as information on scripture and whether pets go to heaven.
Do Animals Go to Heaven?
http://www.eternalanimals.com
A number of loss-related resources, plus health tips and other info, and a book and articles dealing with the "pets in heaven" issue.
Scripture and Animals
http://dogshavesouls.com/scripture.html
Do pets go to heaven? Some comforting Bible verses.
Will Mr. Pooper Go to Heaven?
http://www.annerobertson.com/MrPooper.pdf
Short PDF file discussing scriptures regarding pets; comforting.