Grieving an animal
When an animal we love dies, the grief can be enormous. They were part of our routines, our homes and our hearts, sometimes for more than a decade. And yet the world often doesn't make room for this grief. People may say "it was just a dog" or ask when you'll get another. Your grief is real. It's a birthright to grieve, and you don't have to earn it, whether the one you lost had two legs or four.
Articles
- Grieving Your Companion: what pet loss grief can feel like, and why it often goes unrecognized
- Euthanasia and guilt: making the hardest decision, and the guilt and second-guessing that can follow
- Facing euthanasia as a couple: when two people who love the same animal grieve differently
Download
- Grieving Your Companion brochure (PDF): a printable guide you can keep or share with someone who's grieving
Support beyond this page
- Your veterinary clinic: many clinics can connect you with local pet cremation, memorial and keepsake options. Ask the team that cared for your animal.
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: if your grief has become more than you can carry, call or text 9-8-8, any time.
Working with me
If you'd like support with pet loss, I offer grief therapy in Calgary across from Chinook Mall, and online across Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia. A free 20-minute consult is a gentle place to start.
