“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would have it no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.”
Grief is a natural response to loss. For many of us, the death of a beloved pet is every bit as devastating as the loss of a human family member — and that grief deserves the same respect, patience, and support.
Grieving the loss of a pet is a deeply personal experience. There is no correct timeline and no correct way to feel. We all grieve in our own way and in our own time.
The guides below were created to help individuals and families cope with this process. Our team is also here for the conversations that come before a loss — quality-of-life assessments, hospice-style comfort care, and gentle euthanasia when the time comes — and for the grief that follows.
Grief support guides
These full-length guides cover the grieving process for adults and children — what's normal, how to cope, and when to seek more support.
- Grief Support for Pet Owners
The emotions of pet loss, coping strategies, dealing with guilt, memorializing your pet, and helping surviving pets.
- Helping Children Cope with Pet Loss
Honest, age-appropriate ways to prepare children for euthanasia, support their grief, and help them remember their pet.
- Euthanasia
What to expect, quality-of-life decision support, and aftercare options — for the conversations that come before a loss.
Pet loss support resources
These organizations offer pet-loss hotlines, counseling referrals, and support groups. For our full list of trusted links, see Helpful Websites for Pet Owners.
- AVMA: Guidelines for Pet Loss Support Services
The American Veterinary Medical Association's overview of pet-loss support.
- Pet Partners: Pet Loss Counseling and Support in California
Counseling and support service referrals across California.
- Tufts University: Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Loss
Thoughtful answers from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
- PennVet: Grief Support and Social Services
University of Pennsylvania veterinary social work resources.
- spcaLA
Local Los Angeles resources, including guidance for grieving families.
Questions about anything here? Contact our team — we’re glad to help.