The grieving process can be difficult for people who have lost a farm pet. For some, the animal has been a member of the family for years. Losing a pet will mean a lifestyle change. To find support in coping with your loss, consult these resources.
Pet-loss Websites
- The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
Articles, pet-bereavement counselors and a chat room will help to support you in the loss of your pet. - Colorado State University’s Argus Institute Grief Resources
Articles, a reading list and comprehensive listings of online memorial sites and commercial memorial resources make this a must-visit site. - Lightning Strike Pet Loss Support
Links, a forum, a chat room and a place to blog about your friend are highlights of this caring site. - Pet Loss Support Page
Author Moira Anderson Allen’s resources-rich pet-loss website - Hoofbeats in Heaven
Free memorial pages, a support group, links and a sister e-mail group at YahooGroups for grieving horse owners
Pet-loss Books
- Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet, by Moira Anderson Allen (Dog Ear Publishing, 2007)
- Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet, by Gary Kowalski (New World Library, 2006)
Good-bye My Friend: Pet Cemeteries, Memorials and Other Ways to Remember, by Michele Lanci-Altomere (BowTie Press, 2000) - The Loss of a Pet, by Wallace Sife (Howell Book House, 2005)
- When Children Grieve: For Adults to Help Children Deal with Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving and Other Losses, by John W. James, Russell Friedman and Dr. Leslie Matthews (Harper Paperbacks, 2002)
Children’s Pet-loss Books
- Fluffy Love: Helping children deal with the loss of a pet, by Donna Shavatt and Eve Shavatt (Bereavement Publications, Inc., 2008)
- I’ll Always Love You, by Hans Wilhelm (Dragonfly Books, 1988); Ages 4 to 8
Remembering Pets: A Book for Children Who Have Lost a Pet, by Gina Dalpra-Berman (Robert D. Reed Publishers, 2001); Ages 4 to 6 - Saying Goodbye to Lulu, by Corinne Demas (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009); Ages 4 to 8
- When a Pet Dies, by Fred Rogers (Putnam Juvenile, 1998); Ages 4 to 8
Pet Memorial Journals
- My Personal Pet Remembrance Journal, by Enid Samuel Traisman (Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital, 1997)
- Paw Prints in the Stars: A Farewell and Journal for a Beloved Pet, by Warren Hanson (Tristan Publishing, 2008)
- The Kingdom of Heart: A Pet Loss Journal, by Patty L. Luckenbach (Spiritual Living Press, 2005)
Pet-loss Support Hotlines
- Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline: 508-839-7966
- University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Helpline: 877-394-2273
- Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support: 866-266-8635
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline: 607-253-3932
- Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline: 517-432-2696
- University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center Pet Loss Support Hotline: 352-294-4005
- University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College Pet Loss Support Hotline: 519-824-4120, ext. 53694