Resources for Grieving
Losing a beloved pet is a deeply emotional experience that profoundly affects our well-being. Pets are integral family members, offering companionship and unconditional love and this can make their absence overwhelming. The pain of their loss, which can be often underestimated, can lead to feelings of sadness and isolation and even difficulty coping with daily life. Grieving may involve automatically searching for them around the house or experiencing waves of sadness triggered by reminders. Healing requires time, understanding, and permission to grieve and having support during this time can be a huge help. Finding closure might involve creating memorials or channeling grief into helping other animals. Ultimately, the trauma of losing a pet is a testament to the immense love and joy they brought into our lives, and with time, their memory can be carried in our hearts.
Provides helpful resources for pre-loss bereavement, helping children cope, quality of life, conquering guilt and much more.
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)
This is a unique organization that provides free services to anyone bereaving for a beloved pet. Their chat rooms are facilitated by specially trained pet bereavement counselors and they also offer personal E-mail assistance.
Provides a space for virtual memorials and a grief support community.
Marty Tousley is an experienced bereavement counselor who created this resource which provides courses in grief healing as well as articles and book lists for adults and children.
Pema is an American born Tibetan Buddhist nun whose teachings offer a beautiful path through grief and life in general.
I recommend starting with her book When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice For Difficult Times
If you enjoy her teachings, I also recommend Welcoming The Unwelcome and How We Live is How We Die