Pet loss & grief support
Comfort for the days after
The bond you shared with your pet was real, and so is the grief of losing them. Please be gentle with yourself. Here you'll find a few resources, and a reminder that you are not alone.
Your grief is real, and it matters
Losing a pet can hurt as deeply as any loss — they were family, woven into the small moments of every day. Whatever you're feeling right now is not "too much." It is simply the measure of how much you loved. Grief comes in waves, on its own schedule, and there is no right way or right timeline to move through it.
A message from Dr. Bennett
Your pet fulfilled their obligation to you — giving you unconditional love, loyalty, and comfort for the whole of the time you shared together. Your side of that agreement was to give them a good life: shelter, food, care, and all the things a beloved companion needs. And your final obligation was to make sure that, in their last days, they did not suffer.
Your decision to let them go was your final act of compassion. It took courage — you did not allow your pet to suffer simply to spare yourself the pain of grief. That is love in its purest form.
Your grief, in its own way, is a celebration of your pet's life. In time, the sharpest pain will soften, and what remains will be the fond memories you carry. Please hold no guilt, no remorse, and no shame in your decision — you did right by them.
In the end, I believe we all go to the same place — one I like to think of as heaven. Wherever that place may be, I believe we are brought together again there, alongside all the pets we have loved throughout our lives.
— Dr. David Bennett, DVM
When children are grieving too
For many children, a pet's death is their first experience of loss. It often helps to be honest and gentle, to use clear words rather than phrases like "put to sleep" that can confuse or frighten, and to let them take part in saying goodbye in a way that feels right for their age.
Your other pets may grieve as well
Animals notice when a companion is gone. Surviving pets may seem subdued, search the home, eat less, or cling more closely for a while. Extra patience, gentle routine, and a little more of your time usually help them settle. If changes are severe or last a long time, we're glad to talk with you about it. When it would help, Dr. Bennett can also provide a mild anti-anxiety medication to ease a grieving pet gently through the hardest days.
Where to find support
You don't have to carry this alone. Grief over a pet is real, and there are caring people and resources ready to help whenever you need them.
Trusted phone & online resources
- Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline — (607) 218-7457, staffed by trained veterinary students.
- Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB) — free online chat and resources at aplb.org.
- ASPCA pet loss support — gentle guidance and articles at aspca.org.
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine — pet loss support resources at vetmed.ucdavis.edu.
Local groups near you
Pet-loss support groups meet around the East Bay, and their schedules change over time. We're glad to point you toward a current, active group near you — just ask Dr. Bennett or your regular veterinarian for a recommendation.
If you're in crisis: if your grief feels overwhelming or unsafe, please call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — help is available 24/7.
And if you simply need someone who understands, you are always welcome to reach out to us.
Your companion left pawprints on your heart that time will never erase. When you're ready — today, or far down the road — we're here.
📞 Call (510) 640-7097