Grief Counselling
Grieving the death of our companion animals can be overwhelmingly painful and feel just as heartbreaking as grieving the loss of a family member or friend. It is important to take the time to grieve and to experience your emotions.
Our compassionate team can help with resources to help you after the loss of a companion animal.
How Our Pet Loss Support Group Can Help
We would be honored to support you in your grief over the loss of your beloved cat. Our grief counselling services can help you process your loss, and provides tools for a healthy mourning process. We provide support and guidance in the following areas:
Self-Care
We will help you take care of yourself during this difficult time.
Although it can be difficult to face, it's important to give yourself time to mourn. You may want to suppress the grief and keep up appearances, but your to-do list can wait and your friends and family will understand if you need some time to heal.
Be kind and gentle to yourself, and remember that sadness is not a weakness, but a part of life. Suppressing your feelings will only increase stress, anxiety and anger in the long run.
Memorialization
We will help you find a way to honor your lost loved one.
Finding a way to honor your departed pet is an important part of the healing process. Memorializing your pet can help bring you closure, and provide a sweet reminder of all the good times.
Did your pet have a beloved toy? A personalized collar or a favorite spot to curl up? Reflect on these details and take the time to create a little memorial just for them.
Communicating with Children
We will help you talk to your kids about grief and loss.
While it may seem kindest to lie to your children about the death of your cat, consider it an opportunity to teach them a valuable lesson about mortality and the grieving process.
Pet loss can show your children what your family does when something sad happens, and that grief and loss are normal parts of life. They can and should grieve, but it's also okay to eventually move on and feel happy again.
Requesting Support
We will help you talk to friends and family about your loss.
You may encounter people who are insensitive to your loss because they don't understand it. They may diminish how you feel (intentionally or not) and suggest you should "just get a new cat".
We will help you navigate conversations about your loss with the people in your life, and give you tools to politely but firmly insist on your right to process your loss in your own way.
Pet Loss Hotline
The Pet Compassion Careline is staffed 24/7 exclusively by Master's and Ph.D. level clinicians. For more information, call (855) 245-8214.
Pet Loss Support
Pet Loss Support offers a place for you to work through the grief process. For more information call (425) 641-0080 or email petloss@seattlehumane.org
Virtual Pet Loss Support Group
Groups take place virtually on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, from 10 am to 12 pm. RSVP to petloss@seattlehumane.org with VIRTUAL PLSG in the subject line.