Although pet loss and bereavement is not the focus of this website, it is nonetheless a related topic and area of professional intervention that is worthy of mention.
The following is a list of Canadian resources, support groups, counsellors and other programs that may be of interest to you as you grieve the loss of your animal companion.
NOTE: This website is not a substitute for the careful investigation and evaluation by the individual of a resource's merit and legitimacy. Users must exercise normal care and caution when consulting any resource listed on our website. This list is for informational purposes only.
List under development.
The following is a list of counsellors, psychotherapists and other helping professionals who offer pet grief and loss support as part of their practice. May be a fee for services.
Angie Rupra, MSW, RSW / Pet Loss Program (Pet Vet Hospitals)
Provides a combination of free services (support during and after euthanasia, 24-hour message line, email support, monthly support group, and short-term counselling) as well as fee-for-services (long-term counselling). Also offers public education: pamphlets, newsletter, in-house library, World Pet Memorial Day, workshops and trainings. Located in Mississauga, ON.
Phone: 1-866-226-8079 x55
Email: angie.rupra@petvethospitals.ca
Web: http://valuewebdesigners.com/pet_loss_program.htm
Bronwyn Dickson, MSW, RSW
Pet loss and animal bereavement support services and resource materials. Also psychotherapy services for women. Located in Toronto, Ontario.
Phone: (416) 999-7416
Email: info@dicksonpsychotherapy.com
Web: http://www.dicksonpsychotherapy.com/pet-loss.html
Canadian Centre for Pet Loss Bereavement (CCPLB)
Counselling, support, on-call crisis support, coaching and mentorship, consultation, seminars and training. Resource materials. Telephone support across the country, and local support in Ontario and British Columbia.
Phone: 1-866-276-7655
Email: info@petlosssupport.ca
Web: http://www.petlosssupport.ca
Centre for Human and Animal Healing
Shiri Joshua, M.A. - Vancouver, BC
Animal and human Reiki, psychotherapy and counselling, pet grief and loss counselling, training, seminars, and guest speaking.
Phone: 1-778-319-PETS (7387)
Email: info@shirijoshua.com
Web: http://www.shirijoshua.com
Daybreak Counselling Services
Laurel Horn, M.A. - Vancouver area, BC
Counselling and consulting services for animal owners, veterinarians and staff. Addressing grief and loss, long-term illness and injury, life transitions, stress, anxiety or depression related to pets. Resource materials.
Phone: (604) 802-6959
Email: lhorn@telus.net
Web: http://www.daybreakcounselling.com
France Carlos, Anima-Thérapie
Pet loss and bereavement psychotherapy in Montreal, QC. Sessions may be accompanied by a therapy animal, if desired.
Phone: (514) 323-5659
Email: animatherapie@videotron.ca
Web: http://www.makisoft.net/animatherapie
Pet Loss Counselling
Anne Papdopoulos Mulders - Winnipeg, MB
Resources, information, and counselling.
Email: pet-loss@shaw.ca
Web: http://www.members.shaw.ca/pet-loss
Ruth Shell, M.A., RCC
Counselling for individuals, couples and families. Pet grief and loss. Sessions may be accompanied by Lucy, the "comfort spaniel" if desired. Located in Vancouver, BC.
Phone: (604) 681-7175
Email: ruth@ruthshell.com
Web: http://www.ruthshell.com
The following is a list of pet loss support groups and related services that are often free of charge.
Halton/Peel Pet Loss Support Group
Peer support offered. Confidential telephone and email support, monthly support meetings, and resource materials.
Phone: Mississauga (905) 272-4040; Oakville (905) 842-2252; Burlington: (905) 637-5233
Email: petloss@sympatico.ca / misspets@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.mississaugapets.com/petloss.htm
Kindred Spirits Pet Loss Support Group / Spiritual Directions
Pet loss support group facilitated by Straja Linder King, MA, ATR-BC, grief counsellor, educator and art therapist. Located in Calgary, AB.
Phone: (403) 210-2802
Email: strajalk@shaw.ca
Web: http://www.spiritualdirections.com/Strajabio.html
Pacific Animal Therapy Society - Pet Loss Support
Telephone support line in Sidney, BC (lower Vancouver Island).
Phone: (250) 389-8047
Web: http://members.shaw.ca/patspets/pet_loss.htm
Pet Loss Program / Pet Vet Hospitals
Provides a monthly support group. Also offers support during and after euthanasia, 24-hour message line, email support, short-term/long-term counselling, and public education resources. Coordinated by Angie Rupra, MSW, RSW. Located in Mississauga, ON.
Phone: 1-866-226-8079 x55
Email: angie.rupra@petvethospitals.ca
Web: http://valuewebdesigners.com/pet_loss_program.htm
Pet Loss Support Calgary
**Will be dissolving as of December 31, 2008
Phone: (403) 246-0091
Email: info@petlosscalgary.org
Web: http://www.petlosscalgary.org
Pet Loss Support Group of Ottawa-Carleton
Pet loss support group.
Email: orangepekoe@rogers.com
Web: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/2625/index.html
Pet Loss Support Hotline (Ontario Veterinary College)
The Pet Loss Support Hotline is run by a group of University of Guelph students trained to listen and support you through your grief. They provide a non-judgmental forum in which you can express your feelings and concerns about the loss of your pet. The line also offers information about pet loss, euthanasia, and the memorialization of your pet.
Phone: (519) 824-4120 x53694
Web: http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/petloss/
Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta - Paws to Remember
Confidential telephone support, support meetings, and resource materials.
Phone: (780) 480-1949
Email: pettherapysociety@telus.net
Web: http://www.pettherapysociety.com/pawstoremember.html
Canadian and international pet loss resources
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
Argus Institute Pet Grief Resources for Families
Pet Loss & Grief Support
The Rainbow Bridge
The Rainbows Bridge
Cornell University Veterinary College Pet Loss Resources
Animal Love and Loss Network
Pet Loss Articles
Children and Pet Loss
Hoofbeats in Heaven - Horse Loss Support
General Pet Loss Resources
Coping with the Loss of a Pet
How to Help Your Child Cope with the Loss of a Pet (article)
Pet Loss
General:
Anderson, M.K. (1996). Coping with sorrow on the loss of your pet (2nd ed.). Alpine Publications Inc.
Barton Ross, C. & Baron-Sorenson, J. (2007). Pet loss and human emotion: A guide to recovery (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Carmack, B.J. (2003). Grieving the death of a pet. Augsburg Fortress.
Congalton, D. (2000). Three cats, two dogs: One journey through multiple pet loss. Newsage Press.
Greene, L.A. (2003). Saying goodbye to the pet you love: A complete resource to help you. New Harbinger Publications.
James, J.W., Friedman, R., & Matthews, L. (2002). When children grieve: For adults to help children deal with death, divorce, pet loss, moving and other losses. Harpercollins.
Kay, W., Nieburg, H., Kutscher, A., Grey, R., & Fudin, C. (Eds.).(1984). Pet loss and human bereavement. Wiley-Blackwell.
Kowalski, G. (1997). Goodbye, friend: Healing wisdom for anyone who has ever lost a pet. Stillpoint Publishing.
Lagoni, L.S., Hetts, S. & Butler, C. (1994). The human-animal bond and grief. W.B. Saunders Company.
Lanci-Altomare, M. (2000). Good-bye my friend: Pet cemetaries, memorials and other ways to remember. BowTie Press.
Lanci-Altomare, M. (2004). Good-bye my friend: Tributes, poems, prose, and other ways to remember your pet. BowTie Press.
Luckenback, P.L. (2005). The kingdom of the heart: A pet loss journal. Spiritual Living Press.
Olson, M. (2003). Dogwood and catnip: Living tributes, departed pets we have loved and lost. Fairview Press.
Peterson, L.M. (1997). Surviving the heartbreak of choosing death for your pet. Greentree Publications.
Quintana, M.L., Veleba, S.L. & King, H. (2000). It's ok to cry: Warm, compassionate stories to help you find hope and healing after the death of a pet. K&K Communications.
Ritter Carlson, L. (2002). Parting words, parting ways: Saying good-bye to your pet. Lost Coast Press.
Sife, W. (2005). The loss of a pet. Howell Book House.
Smith, K. (Ed.) (1998). Healing the pain of pet loss: Letters in memoriam. Charles Press.
Stern, M. & Cropper, S. (1998). Loving and losing a pet: A psychologist and a veterinarian share their wisdom. Rowman & Littlefield.
Walker, K. (1998). The heart that is loved never forgets. Recovering from loss: When humans and animals lose their companions. Inner Tradition.
Wells, M. (2007). Remembering Ruby: For families living beyond the loss of a pet. Outskirts Press.
Children's Books:
Berenstain, S. & Berenstain, J. (2007). The Berenstain bears lose a friend. HarperCollins Canada.
Biale, R. (1990). My pet died. Tricycle/Let's Make a Book.
Cochran, B. (2007). The forever dog. HarperCollins Canada.
Cohen, M. (2008). Jim's dog, Muffins. Star Bright Books.
Davis, C. (2001). For every cat, an angel. Lighthearted Press.
Davis, C. (2004). For every dog, an angel. Lighthearted Press.
Demas, C. (2004). Saying goodbye to Lulu. Little Brown and Company
Disalvo-Ryan, D. (1999). A dog like Jack. Holiday House Inc.
Harris, R.H. (2004). Goodbye, Mousie. Aladdin Press.
Johnson, J. & Centering Corporation. (1998). Remember Rafferty: A book about the death of a pet for children of all ages. Centering Corp.
Long Bostrom, K. (2005). The day Scooter died. HarperCollins Canada.
Makkay, L. (2007). When kitty passed away: Explaining pet cremation to a child. Beaver's Pond Press.
Morton, L. & Bougard, M-T. (2005). George the goldfish / Georges le poisson rouge (English-French edition). Barron's Educational Series.
Napoli, D. (1995). The bravest thing. Dutton Children's Books.
Newman, L. (2006). The best cat in the world. Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing.
Nolfo-Wheeler, A. (1996). All God's creatures go to heaven. Noel Studio.
Owens, C.S. (2003). Missing Maggie: The death of a pet. Warner Press.
Parker, M. (2004). Jasper's day. Kids Can Press, Ltd.
Rogers, F. (2002). When a pet dies. Puffin USA.
Rylant, C. (1995). Dog heaven. Blue Sky Press.
Rylant, C. (1997). Cat heaven. Blue Sky Press.
Smith, M. (2003). Desser, the best ever cat. Dragonfly Books.
Thiel, A. (2007). Chloe loses her pet. Playdate Kids.
Viorst, J. (1987). The tenth good thing about Barney. Aladdin Press.
Waddell, M. (1997). We love them. Candlewick.
Wallace, B. (2005). No dogs allowed! Aladdin Press.
Wallace-Brodeur, R. (1995). Goodbye, Mitch. Concept Books.
Wilhelm, H. (1988). I'll always love you. Dragonfly Books.
Spirituality:
Kurz, G. (2008). Cold noses at the pearly gates. Citadel-Kensington.
Reynolds, R. (2000). Blessing the Bridge: What animals teach us about death and dying. Newsage Press.
Smith, P. (2008). Animals in spirit: Our faithful companions' transition to the afterlife. Atria Books/Beyond Words.
References for Professionals:
Michael J. McCulloch Memorial Lecture Series (n.d.). Pet loss symposiums.
Ross, C. (1998). Pet loss and human emotion: Guiding clients through grief. Taylor & Francis.
Stewart, M.F. (1999). Companion animal death: A comprehensive guide for veterinary practice. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Additional Lists of Books:
List of pet loss books
Eden Publications list of books
Review of a list of books
Content and images copyright of Sarah Schlote © 2008