Grief Counseling For Pet Loss

Losing a pet or caring for a terminally ill pet is a devastating loss. Our pets are part of our family and play a huge role in our overall well-being. People often feel like they can’t share their grief over the loss of a pet with others, thinking their friends or family won’t understand the magnitude of the pain. In addition, the loss of a pet triggers other losses we’ve experienced in our lives, which compounds the sadness.

After the death of a pet, it is not unusual to feel overwhelming sadness, depression, inability to sleep or eat, “forgetting” the animal is dead and looking for them around the house, etc. Some people are quick to want to get another pet, while others need lots of time before bringing another animal into their lives. There is no “right way” to grieve, but talking about the loss and processing it with a therapist is a good place to start.