Losing a pet can be extremely difficult and knowing where to turn for pet loss support can be difficult. Most people consider pets to be a member of the family and the grief felt following the death of a pet can be hard to navigate. The RSPCA’s survey on pet loss found that;
- 75% of people surveyed had experienced anticipatory grief, which is the grief felt when thinking about our pets dying. This can be especially common when caring for an elderly pet, or one with a terminal illness.
- 4 in 10 people struggled with deciding when it was the right time to put their pet to sleep.
- More than 9 out of 10 people (93% of those surveyed) said they felt heartbroken after the death of their pet and two thirds of those surveyed were shocked at how intense their grief was.
- Guilt and loneliness were common emotions following the death of a pet.
- Fewer than 1 in 10 people felt that their grief was taken seriously by society with a staggering 35% of people being told ‘it’s just a pet’ when discussing their grief with others. Fewer than 1 in 10 people felt that their grief was taken seriously by society with a staggering 35% of people being told ‘it’s just a pet’ when discussing their grief with others.
You are not alone
Whilst it can feel impossible to navigate the grief you feel prior to or after losing a pet, these figures show you are not alone in your experiences. Here at Supernova Vets we understand that pets are family and that the pain experienced when losing them can be overwhelming. We’ve compiled a list of places you can reach out to for support below. We’re also always more than happy to help you to understand the process of the euthanasia procedure and will answer any questions you have before and after your appointment. Contact us here.
Please note: If you feel that you are at risk of harming yourself or you are having a mental health crisis please contact your GP or, in an emergency, 111 or 999 to get the most appropriate support.
Pet loss support options
Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Helpline
The Blue Cross Pet Bereavement helpline has been helping bereaved pet owners for over thirty years. They can support you through any kind of pet separation, whether they have died, been stolen or rehomed. They also support owners facing anticipatory grief before the loss of a pet.
The Blue Cross is contactable by telephone, email, webchat and social media. They are open from 8:30 AM until 8:30 PM. They also have excellent online resources about pet loss including pet loss support for children.
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-loss-support
Paws to Listen from Cats Protection
Paws to Listen provides support to those experiencing grief following the loss of a cat as well as anticipatory grief. They are open Monday to Friday from 9AM until 5PM and can be contacted over the phone and via an online support form.
The Ralph Site
The Ralph Site is a non-profit site offering support and resources for bereaved pet owners. They have comprehensive guides on a range of pet-loss related topics.
https://www.theralphsite.com/
The RSPCA Pet Bereavement Toolkit
This toolkit from the RSPCA has resources on various topics relating to pet loss as well as stories from other pet owners.
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/bereavement#toolkit
Winston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish is a charity whose goal is to support children who are experiencing or facing bereavement. The link below is to the specific pet loss page on the Winston’s Wish website, however there are many other excellent guides and resources on children’s grief throughout the website.
https://winstonswish.org/how-to-help-a-child-grieving-the-death-of-a-pet/
The Samaritans
The Samaritans is a charity providing support for people experiencing any kind of difficulties in life. Pet bereavement can be difficult on it’s own and may also exacerbate existing mental health concerns. The Samaritans can provide a listening ear for you to discuss anything that is bothering you.
The Samaritans helpline is accessible 24 hours a day.
https://www.samaritans.org/
