Pet Loss and Bereavement
Central Vermont Humane Society

The Rainbow Bridge: Pet loss and Bereavement

Our relationships with each of our pets is as unique as each of our relationships with the various people in our lives, and the loss of a beloved animal companion is possibly one of the hardest, most painful situations we’ll encounter. Memorializing our pets is a means to preserve memories and honor our animal companions, but just as important, it helps us process our loss. Wallace Sife, Phd,  founder of the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) tells us that “Rituals can focus, center, and calm us, and convert something painful into something less painful.”

The grieving process can be difficult for people who have lost a 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

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)
  • Grieving the Death of A Pet, by Betty J.Carmack

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
  • Jasper’s Day, by Marjorie Blain Parker
  • Saying Goodbye to Lulu, by Corinne Demas
  • The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst

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

Online chat rooms: Chats are typically moderated by trained volunteers or therapists. The Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) is one group offering chats on a regular schedule.

Here are some things that you can do to honor the memory of your pet:
Conduct a memorial service with family and friends
Light candles
Plant flowers or trees, or create a memorial garden
Create a memorial plaque, photo collage, scrapbook or diary
Make donations to your local animal shelter, other animal-related organizations or other meaningful causes in honor of the memory of your pet
Submit a pet obituary to the local newspaper

Talk with friends and family
Seek one-on-one guidance from a therapist or counselor



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