Welcome to Pets & People - the support network for grieving pet owners...
Loving animals is an important part of being human
Losing an animal friend can feel as devastating as losing a human loved one...
Share the loss of your pet with a therapist who will understand and support you...
Our 24 / 7 Pet Loss Support Line
Australia: 1300 431 450 NZ: 0800 114 421
PLEASE NOTE: This is a toll free number, but once connected with professional, the counselling rates will vary according to the service provider.
Understanding grief & loss
Reactions to grief can be manifested many different ways - some of which might be...
- feelings - of anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, guilt
- thoughts - such as confusion, preoccupation and disbelief
- physical reactions - like sleep disturbances, empty sensation in stomach, breathlessness or tightness in the chest
- behaviour - such as crying, sighing, hyperactivity, inability to concentrate, social withdrawal
These are only some of the ways that grief is manifested and everyone's experience will be unique to them and their loss.
Unfortunately, the grief associated with the loss of a pet is often the most misunderstood. Family and friends often mean well, but can sometimes dismiss your pain and distress...
You are not alone...
Pets and People was founded by Dr Michael O’Donoghue and Penny Carroll to provide a supportive process to help people through the grief experienced with the loss of a companion animal.
Counselling can help...
Not all counsellors specialise in grief and even less deal with the grief associated with Pet Loss. But help is at hand.
Our aim at Pets and People is to help connect pet owners with qualified and experienced pet loss counsellors who are ready and willing to support people in this difficult time. We have compiled a list of resources, both paid and complimentary, to help you work through your grief.
Testimonials
"The cat in the card I received looks identical to Mitchell, my cat who has recently passed away. The resemblance was so strong that I thought it was Mitchell!"
Recommended Pet Loss & Grief articles
Changes to the Way We View Pet Loss and Grief
Loss of life is never easy to deal with. Unfortunately, I have had to deal with more than I would care to in both animal rescue and veterinary medicine. Times have changed, and most people no longer consider their dogs and cats pets. Rather, they are family members or “babies”. We care for our “furry […]
A Tribute For Your Pet
By NICK BARNETT Most of us have lost at least one pet that we really loved. How do we handle it? And what about when it’s not us but a friend who’s the bereaved one – what do you do then? A friend of mine, Kathy, recently lost her Abyssinian kitten. I knew Kathy was fond of […]
How Do You Know When it is Time for Euthanasia?
How to know when it is time to say goodbye? This decision is the hardest part of owning a pet, our pets and companions have put their trust in us, and we must decide when enough is enough. I believe there are several important questions to ask yourself: Is the pet still eating and drinking? […]
Does Counselling Help When You Have Lost A Pet?
Pet Loss and Grief Counseling The loss of a pet can be for some people, a devastating and misunderstood experience. It is not unusual, if you are feeling bereft and distressed if you have recently experienced the loss of your pet. Those who have never bonded closely with an animal and experienced their unconditional love […]
Board game helping Children with Pet loss
Aultman game wins over kids experiencing loss By Cheryl Powell Beacon Journal medical writer POSTED: 12:00 p.m. EDT, May 05, 2010 CANTON: Dealing with the death of a loved one is hardly child’s play. But a Northeast Ohio hospital is marketing a new board game designed to help children share their emotions in a nonthreatening […]
The Traumatic Loss of a Pet Under Sudden and Violent Circumstances can Leave an Owner Feeling Powerless.
Grief over the death of a beloved pet can be devastating Ellie advises a reader who can’t recover from the death of a dog/best friend, killed by a pitbull in its owner’s presence. By: Ellie Advice, Published on Thu Mar 14 2013 Q: Last September, I lost my 3-year-old dog/best friend in a […]
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Loss
Am I going mad? If you have regarded you pet as a friend, family member, beloved companion, then it is not unusual to be very distressed at the death or impending death of a pet. Who can I talk to when he/she dies? Talk to someone who understands the bond you had and who also […]
Follow us on Facebook
Pets and People