PLC was started after we saw just how much people hurt after losing a pet... yet they had nowhere to go.
Meet the Founders
Dr. Monica Tarantino (vet)
Dr. Lisa Lippman (vet)
With special thanks to our advisor
Dr. Katie Lawlor (Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology)
Hi Friends,
Welcome to PLC.
Our names are Dr. Lisa Lippman and Dr. Monica Tarantino and we started Pet Loss Community in 2021 after seeing just how isolated and alone pet parents across the country feel after losing a pet.
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Losing a pet is devastating, yet so many pet parents feel isolated as they process this grief.
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We're determined to change that.
We created Pet Loss Community to be a place where pet parents who are struggling with loss and grief can find support, encouragement and a way through their pain. If you have lost a pet or are anticipating this loss in the future, we would be honored if you would join us in this community. We are here to show you that you are never alone.
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With Gratitude,
Dr. Lippman and Dr. Tarantino
Meet the Support Team
We're here to help. Meet our team of Grief Support Specialists and Group Facilitators.
Jessica Bryan, MSW, LCSW
Jessica is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 14+ years of experience in mental health through community-based services and private practice. Jessica has worked with children and adults experiencing grief and other significant challenges and has a passion for partnering with others during difficult life transitions. She has assisted clients with making those tough end-of-life decisions and provided support through the grieving process. Jessica has a life-long love for animals and has personally experienced the impact of stress and overwhelming emotions associated with the loss of beloved pets.
Tom Favale, DVM, LMSW
Tom is a small animal veterinarian and licensed social worker. He worked with pet owners as a veterinarian in the Chicagoland area for over 30 years and as a crisis counselor at his county’s health department before moving into academia, teaching, and counseling in 2020. As a veterinarian, he appreciates the strength, significance, and duration of the human-animal bond. As a social worker, Tom provides a safe, compassionate, and empathic space to those who will or have experienced pet loss, allowing supportive grieving through the telling one’s own story.
Liz Wang, LMSW
Liz is a compassionate social worker and devoted dog mom, fluent in Mandarin and English. With a veterinary social worker background and personal experience with pet loss, Liz understands the profound bond between people and their pets. She provides culturally sensitive support and a safe space for healing, helping clients navigate grief with resilience and hope.
Lisa Musca, LSW, MSW
Lisa is an experienced pet loss counselor and veterinary social worker, who has worked in the fields of academia, veterinary medicine, social work, as well as psychiatry and therapy over the last two decades. As a veterinary social worker, Lisa has worked with families and individuals facing difficult treatment and end-of-life decisions for their pets. She believes it is a privilege to be present for the human at “the other end of the leash” as they honor and grieve their beloved companions. As a dedicated “dog mom,” Lisa has personally experienced and worked through the difficult emotions associated with losing one’s best friend, and is passionate about helping others as they navigate the challenges of the pet loss journey.
Kelley Davis, LMSW, VSW
Kelley is a Veterinary Social Worker specifically trained in the human-animal bond and grieving process associated with the profound impact of pet loss. She works in a critical care animal hospital where she provides compassionate support to pet owners struggling with anticipatory grief, those receiving difficult diagnoses and supporting clients before, during and after euthanasia. Kelley believes an empathic approach leads to healing and offers support in a safe space. As a lifelong pet owner, she understands first-hand the deep bonds that we share with our animals and the tremendous pain of losing them. She's devoted much of her life to helping rescue dogs, and lives with her family and their 3 rescue dogs in New York.
Haley Engelman, LMSW, VSW
Haley is a veterinary social worker currently based in Knoxville, TN. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in 2023, where she specialized in addressing grief and compassion fatigue, supporting veterinary professionals, and developing creative solutions to animal welfare needs. As a licensed master social worker (LMSW) and certified Compassionate Bereavement Care (CBC) provider, Haley is deeply passionate about building community, fostering connections, and advocating for the human-animal bond. She currently resides with her beloved rescue pup, Sicily, and enjoys exploring nature and discovering new places.