A compassionate guide for families navigating difficult decisions and grief. 
Losing a beloved companion is one of the hardest experiences faced by pet parents. You are not alone, and support is available at every stage. 

 

Compassionate End-of-Life Care 

The Beloved Pet Euthanasia and Hospice 

Dr. Jennifer Cushing 

Email: info@belovedpethome.com 

 

Phone: 781-281-8126 

At Home Veterinary 

Text or call: 508-653-4300 

 

Email: Hello@athomevet.net 

Say Goodbye at Home 

Dr. Susan Holt 

Email: sholtdvm@saygoodbyeathome.us 

Phone: 508-375-1234 

Website: https://www.saygoodbyeathome.us 

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We are here for you. ​​

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Grief Support Specialists 

 

Lap of Love — Pet Loss Support 

 

Phone: 855-933-5683 

• Pet loss counseling and grief support 

• Virtual resources and compassionate guidance 

• Support for anticipatory grief and after loss 

 

Petworks Grief Counseling 

Phone: 508-647-7387 

• Certified grief specialists offering emotional support 

• Help processing anticipatory or long-term grief 

• Virtual sessions available from home 

 

Final Gift Pet Memorial Center — Grief Support 

Phone: 

800-477-5044 

Email: 

Info@finalgift.com 

Website: 

Petparentgriefsupport.com 

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A Gentle Reminder 

Grief looks different for everyone. 

There is no right or wrong way to mourn. Seeking support is a sign of love and strength. If you need help deciding where to begin, please reach out to our team. 
 

With compassion and care, the Ally Veterinary Team 

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Common Questions

The death of a beloved pet...

The bond we form with our pets is unique and personal, and so is the grief we feel when they die. All of us experience and cope with loss just a little differently.

We can experience a wide range of emotional and physical states: shock, sorrow, anger, fatigue, guilt, insomnia, loss of appetite, and loneliness. Others may feel simply empty. All of these things are normal. What's important is that you allow yourself to grieve as much or as little as you need and for as long as you need.

Talk with others. Share your precious memories. Seek support from family, friends, and caring people. Finally, the day will come when thoughts of your beloved pet will only bring you smiles.

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But suppose my pet didn't die...

The Pet Loss Support Helpline is available not only for people facing decisions regarding euthanasia and the death of their pet. Any situation in which you find yourself separated from your pet can be devastating. The Helpline can be a resource for those who are forced to give up their companion animal for various reasons, including relocation, allergies, or financial constraints. Occasionally, animals stray from their home, never to return to their original family. What makes these experiences so sad is the lingering questions and lack of closure. You are left wondering:

• Is my pet safe?

• Is someone caring for my pet?

• Will my pet ever return to me?

• Did I do the right thing?

 Volunteers at the Helpline (508-839-7966) can help you work through these and many other unanswered questions.

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How do I tell my children?

Children grieve very differently than adults. A child's perception of death varies as a function of age, level of maturity, and personal experience. Understanding your child's level of emotional and cognitive development will better enable you to explain what it means when a pet dies or leaves home for any reason. Using statements such as "put to sleep" or "passed on" have very different meanings for children, and we suggest that you avoid these confusing euphemisms.

To help your child understand the permanence of death and the grief involved with the loss, keep the following suggestions in mind:

• Always be honest with your child.

• Encourage your child to talk about their feelings.

• Allow yourself to be honest with your own feelings.

• Alert your child's teacher or daycare provider to the recent family sadness.

• Read a book with your child that addresses pet loss.

• Allow your child to grieve with the family. Show them by example that it is appropriate to be sad and to cry.

• Emphasize the fact that nobody is to blame for the death/loss of your pet. Children tend to think in concrete terms and often wonder if they are somehow responsible.

• If possible, give children an opportunity to say goodbye. This will allow for a sense of closure.

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When hope is not enough...

Although our hope would be for our animal companions to live a long, healthy life and die curled up in a peaceful sleep, illness or injury may instead cut short the time you always expected to have together. Often we are faced with the heartbreaking decision of choosing the time, place, and method of our pet's death when it becomes clear that they are suffering or when other needs predominate. Choosing to end the life of your pet can be one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do. Thinking about saying goodbye and the subsequent loss is sometimes so painful that you are unable to make any decision at all. 

You don't have to figure it all out on your own. Get help from your veterinarian, pet loss counselors, and others who have gone through similar experiences. There are no right answers: do what feels right for you.

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Do animals grieve?

We may never know if animals feel the loss of other animals the same way we do. However, their actions make it clear that they do respond to the absence of their companions. You may see changes in their eating and sleeping habits; they might appear depressed or may constantly search for their missing friend. Many will need time and extra attention from loving owners to adjust to their new life. While we may not know the depth of their grief, we can help them get through the experience as they also help us.

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