Get Pet Loss Grief Support

Everyone grieves differently—there’s no deadline for healing after the loss of a beloved pet. But understanding the common emotional tasks of mourning can help you feel less lost in the process. Below is a gentle, flexible timeline based on William Worden’s Four Tasks of Mourning, adapted specifically for pet parents. Task 1: Accept the Reality of the Loss Timeframe: Days to Weeks You may still expect to hear their paws on the floor or reach for the leash without thinking. Accepting that your pet is truly gone isn’t about being “okay” with it—it’s about slowly acknowledging their physical absence while holding space for your heartbreak. “Sometimes I still catch myself calling their name. It’s a habit—and a piece of my heart.” Task 2: Feel the Pain of Grief Timeframe: Weeks to Months Grief can be raw and unpredictable—sadness, guilt, anger, even relief. You may cry easily, or feel numb and disconnected. These feelings are normal. This stage can be especially hard because society doesn’t always understand how deep the pain of pet loss can go. “I never imagined how quiet the house would feel without them. The silence hurts.” Task 3: Adjust to Life Without Your Pet Timeframe: 1 to 6 Months (and ongoing) This is where you start to build a new routine. Maybe you wake up without a walk to take, or return home to a quiet house. It’s not about “moving on”—it’s about slowly finding your way in a world that feels different without them. “I’m not the same without her, but I’m learning how to live with the ache.” Task 4: Stay Connected While Moving Forward Timeframe: Often Begins Around 3–6 Months and Evolves Over Time Love doesn’t end when life does. This task is about keeping a healthy, meaningful bond with your pet while allowing yourself to move forward. You might find comfort in rituals, memories, or ways to honor their legacy. “I light a candle for him every Sunday night. It’s our quiet moment together.” There’s No Right Pace—Just Your Pace Grief doesn’t follow a schedule. You may move back and forth between tasks, or experience them all at once. What matters most is making space to grieve fully and finding support along the way. If you’re not sure where you are in your journey, that’s okay. The important thing is: you’re not alone, and healing is possible. Ready to Feel Understood and Supported? Join one of our pet loss support groups—a safe, compassionate space where you can share, listen, and heal alongside others who truly get it. Attend as many sessions as you need. Cancel anytime. Start healing today. Join a Support Group or Learn More

Group support is available through subscription plans that give you access to every session offered – at least 6 sessions a month. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. Because grief is not linear and your needs may shift over time, we encourage staying for at least 3 months. Many of our clients remain in group support for 6–12 months, finding comfort, growth, and continued connection in the community as they learn how to live without their pet while honoring their memory.. To support the common emotional tasks of mourning, we offer three plans for group support: Monthly Walk: $54 Three-month Journey: $144 (save $18) Six-month Path: $264 (save $60) Your healing matters. Stay as long as you need.

Group support is great for those who want to talk, listen, and heal with other pet parents on a similar journey and are seeking connection with a community of people that understand. One-on-One Support is perfect for anyone needing private, focused support to navigate loss or anticipatory grief when they may not feel comfortable in the group setting or just need extended time to process their grief. Many of our pet parents utilize both services. To support this, all of our group support members receive 10% off individual sessions.

Anticipatory grief is an experience that occurs before a loss. It can include fear or anxiety in anticipation of the impending loss of a loved one, including pets. This is a normal response among pet parents with older pets or pets with a terminal illness. Some pet parents may have Anticipatory Grief for weeks, months, or even years. Symptoms of Anticipatory Grief can include: Reoccurring thoughts/fear of losing your pet Frustration/lack of patience Intense and/or mixed emotions Sense of guilt/doubt Constantly being alert or on guard Difficulty concentrating or making decisions Disrupted sleep and/or appetite

Grief is “a reaction to any form of loss that encompasses a range of feelings from deep sadness to anger. The process of adapting to a significant loss can vary dramatically from one person to another, depending on his or her background, beliefs, relationship to what was lost, and other factors.” (Mastrangelo & Wood, 2016) Losing a pet is one of the hardest things we go through in life and the grief reaction is as strong, if not stronger, than the experience of losing a significant human. Symptoms include (but are not limited to!): Shock and disbelief, feeling numb, even denial that the loss occurred Sadness, despair, loneliness, and emptiness Guilt, regret, shame, anger, and resentment Anxiety, helplessness, insecurity, fear Physical symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, sickness, weight loss or gain, aches and pains, night sweats, heart palpitations, feeling faint or lightheaded, and insomnia.

We would love to partner with you to support your clients. If you would like to learn more about providing a warm handoff to pet parents after a loss or to compliment your care for the pet parent of an aging or ill pet, please email contact@petlosscommunity.com.

Please email contact@petlosscommunity.com for the latest news on this!