Grief Resources

A grieving pet owner may experience the same emotions and sense of loss that most people feel after losing a loved one. Many of us could use some help in dealing with our loss, whether that help take the form of an online chat room, a grief hotline, or attending meetings with people who can offer some much needed support at a difficult time. The following list of websites offers a variety of support tools and resources.

Note: The listing of groups, clinics and organizations below does not in any way imply endorsement of those entities by the Susie Spector Foundation.

Please contact us if you know of an organization to add to this list, or if an organization no longer exists or provides assistance, so we can update this page.

California Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Loss Support.

The American Veterinary Medical Association: Coping With the Loss of a Pet.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Pet Loss Support Hotline – Resources for Grieving.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): Pet Loss and Pet Loss Hotline.

San Diego Humane Society: Pet Loss Support Groups & Resources.

California Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Loss Support Resource Guide.

Clinical Psychology Associates of North Central Florida, P.A.: How To Help Your Child Cope With The Loss Of A Pet

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Advice on coping with the death of a pet including advice on helping children and seniors.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB): An extensive list of resources, including links to palliative and hospice organizations, advice on in-home euthanasia and pet loss grief counseling training programs.

PetEducation.com: Pet loss advice on a wide range of species, including birds, fish and reptiles, as well as covering the stages of grief and coping with them.

HelpGuide.org: Extensive advice on coping with the loss of a pet as well as links to pet loss hotlines and bereavement resources.

Pet Partners: Lists of both state and national organizations reachable online or by phone, as well as a comprehensive list of pet loss and bereavement websites.

PetLoss.com: Offers a vast library of menu topics including pet loss forums, poems, Pet loss chat rooms and message boards, illness and disease information sections, links to pet loss groups, pet loss grief counseling by phone and an FAQ section on pet loss and grief.

The Animal Health Foundation: Has a considerable archive of reference articles on pet loss, bereavement and resources.