Grief support for owners with pets diagnosed with cancer

Saying good bye to our beloved pets brings unbearable grief and sorrow into our lives, and for many, the deep sense of
loss can be quite paralyzing and debilitating. We have been given only a brief moment to enjoy the happiness, sweetness,
laughs, unconditional friendship, loyalty and love that our pets bring into our lives, and we often ask ourselves during the
dark times of mourning whether the brief moments of joy and companionship are worth the heartbreaking moment of
having to say good bye. One should then remember our pets' wagging tails, purring sounds and eyes lit up with excitement
just to say hello to us whenever we came home - and there should be no more doubt that our pets loved us and that we
really mattered to them, even if it was for a very brief moment. Saying good bye will undoubtedly create deep wounds within
our hearts. But with the love and support of our families and friends, time will eventually mend our broken hearts and
remembering the happy moments we shared with our beloved pets will bring some comfort to us.

Should you find yourself unable to cope with the death of your pet, below is a list of pet loss support websites, groups, chat
rooms and hotlines across the United States.

Toll free hotlines
ASPCA Pet Loss Support Hotline
(877) 474-3310

Grief Recovery Hotline
1-800-445-4808 (M-F 9am-5pm PST)

Iams Pet Loss Support Center
1-888-332-7738 (M-F 8am-5pm)

Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline
517-432-2696 Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Eastern time)

Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline
607-253-3932 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday throught Thursday evenings (Eastern time)

Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline
508-839-7966 (no hours stated on their web site; call for more information)

University of Florida Pet Loss Support hotline
352-392-2235 Leave a message and someone will call you back within 24 hours weekdays; weekend calls are returned on
Monday

Chatrooms
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement Chat Room (www.aplb.org/chat/chat_petloss.php)

Rainbow's Bridge (http://rainbowsbridge.com/Grief_Support_Center/Grief_Support_Home.htm#chat)

Websites
Pet Loss Support Page (www.pet-loss.net)
Chance's Spot (www.chancesspot.org)
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (www.aplb.org)
The Humane Society (www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/coping_with_pet_death.html)
Pet Loss: Understanding Grief in Children (www.aplb.org/support/children_and_pet_loss.php)
Pet Loss Resource Guide (www.dogfencediy.com/library/pet-loss-resource-guide)

Useful handouts from the Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Helping Children Cope with the Serious Illness or Death of a Companion Animal
Coping with the Loss or Death of a Companion Animal
Difficult Decision-Making
Do Companion Animals Grieve?

Grief Support Groups for Pet Owners

GRIEF SUPPORT