"Grief, I've learned, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go."— Jamie Anderson
Everyone grieves differently
When you lose a pet, you may wish to be present through every bit of the process. We support that decision completely and will do everything in our power to make that time peaceful for you and your pet.
But you may not want to be there at all. Sometimes the emotions — frequently combined with external circumstances — simply make it too much. We support that decision equally. This does not mean that you love your pet less, or are any less devoted to them. Everyone grieves and copes differently, and you have to allow yourself the grace to do what you need to do.
our grief counselor is our grief counselor. She is available to support families before, during, and after the euthanasia process — helping with the emotional weight of decision-making, guiding children through the experience, and providing grief resources afterward. She also leads our monthly pet loss support group.
To our knowledge, having a grief counselor available directly to clients is something only two or three veterinary hospitals in the entire country offer. We are proud to be one of them.
Pet Loss Support Group
We hold group pet loss support meetings in our conference room at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month. If you would like to share your feelings, or simply sit and listen and know that you are not alone, you are invited to join us. This group is led by our grief counselor.
Please see the calendar below for upcoming meeting dates.
Aftercare follow-up
Our social worker calls every family the day after a euthanasia appointment to check in and offer support. The crematorium we work with also has a 24-hour support line available to families.
Grief is not linear and it does not have a timeline. Whether you reach out the next day or months later, we are here.
Additional resources
If you are struggling, you do not have to wait for the next support group meeting. A few resources that may help:
- ASPCA Pet Loss Hotline: (877) 474-3310 — free, confidential, staffed by trained counselors
- Pet Loss Support Page at iams.com — articles and community forums
- Your regular veterinarian — most practices are happy to talk through grief with established clients