Pet Loss Support Resources

The death of a cherished animal companion often leaves pet owners feeling isolated or misunderstood in their grief. However, there are many resources available to help pet owners through this difficult time. Below is a listing of some of the support groups, hotlines, counselors, books, and websites that are locally available. Pet Loss Support Hotlines * Pet Loss Support Hotline: (800)565-1526 or (530)752-4200 Monday-Friday 6:30-9:30pm * Grief Recovery Hotline: (800)445-4808 Companion Animal Loss Counselors * Betty Carmack, R.N., Ed.D. San Francisco (415) 334-5036 * Cecilia Soares, D.V.M. Walnut Creek (415) 932-0607 * Christine Kenworthy, R.N., Ph.D. San Mateo (650) 737-1883 * Ferol Larsen, Ph.D. Palo Alto (650) 326-6896 Pet Loss Books for Children * Helping Children to Cope with Separation & Loss Claudia Jewitt, 1992 * Cat Heaven Cynthia Rylant, 1997 * Dog Heaven Cynthia Rylant, 1995 * Angel Pawprints ed. Laurel Hunt, 1998 * Angel Whiskers ed. Laurel Hunt, 2001 * Snowflake in My Hand Samantha Mooney, 1983 * The Fall of Freddy the Leaf, Leo Buscaglia * The Tenth Good Thing About Barney Judith Viorst, 1975 * When A Pet Dies Fred Rogers, 1988 * Lifetimes Mellonie & R. Ingpen, 1991 * Goodbye, Friend Gary Kowalski, 1997 * "Oh, Where Has My Pet Gone?" Sally Sibbet, 1991 Pet Loss Books for Adults * Grieving the Death of a Pet Betty Carmack, R.N., Ed.D., 2003 * Preparing for the Loss of a Pet Myrna Milani, 1998 * Blessing the Bridge Rita Reynolds, 2001 * The Loss of a Pet Wallace Sife, 1999 * Grief Recovery Handbook John James * Pet Loss and Human Emotion Cheri Ross & Jane Baron-Sorenson, 1998 * Losing A Best Friend A collection of articles compiled by the San Francisco SPCA, 415-554-3050 * Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children Herbert A. Nieburg & Arlene Fischer, 1982 * When Your Pet Dies: How To Cope With Your Feelings James E. Quackenbush & D. Graveline, 1985 * Maya's First Rose Martin Scott Kosins, 1992 * Coping with the Loss of a Pet Christina M. Lemieux, 1992 * Living Through Personal Crisis Ann Kaiser Stearns, 1984 * Companion Animal Loss and Pet Owner Grief M.A. Rosenberg * Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet Moira Anderson, M.Ed., 1996 * On Death and Dying E. Kubler-Ross * How to Survive the Loss of A Love Harold Bloomfield * When Only Love Remains: The Pain of Pet Loss Emily Sturparyk * Goodbye My Friend, Your Aging Pet, and A Final Act of Caring all by Mary & Herb Montgomery Web Sites * www.petloss.com * www.pet-loss.net * www.cvma.net * www.superdog.com/petloss.htm * www.deltasociety.org/dsn000.htm * www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/changes