Coping with the loss of your pet

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melcvt00

Post   » Fri Jan 30, 2004 9:41 am


A lot of us have lost pets, and some are dealing with it better than others. Since questions on grieving have been coming up a lot lately, I thought that making this post here would be a good idea. It's long, but has a lot of good info, as well as information on finding more.

This is the client handout from the December 2003 issue of Veterinary Technician magazine, so I know it's ok to type this here.

Meaningful ways to honor a pet's memory:
* write a letter to your pet expressing your feelings
* have a proper burial for your pet
* place a bench with a nameplate or inscription beside your pet's grave
* pur your pet's ashes in a potted plant, urn, or under a favorite tree
* plant a tree or a bush in your pet's honor
* have a portrait of your pet drawn from a favorite photo
* place your pet's identification tags on a key ring
* volunteer at a local humane organization
* make a donation in your pet's name to a local veterinary hospital or humane organization

If I Should Grow Frail

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain does keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done
For this - the last battle - can't be won.

You will be sad I understand
But don't let grief then stay your hand.
For on this day, more than the rest
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so
When the time comes, please, let me go.

Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end.
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must now be you
Who had to decide this thing to do.
We've been so close - we two - these years
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

(man that was hard to type out...........<sniff>)

Books for Children
* Morehead D: A Special Place for Charlee: A Child's Companion Through Pet Loss. Broomfield, CO, Partners in Publishing, LLC, 1996.
* Rogers F: When a Pet Dies. New York, GP Putnam's Sons, 1988.
* Rylant C: Cat Heaven. New York, Scholastic, 1997.
* Rylant C: Dog Heaven. New York, Scholastic, 1995.
* Viorst J: The Tehnth Good Thing About Barney. New York, Antheneum, 1997.
* Wilhelm H: I'll Always Love You. New York, Crown Publishing Group, 1985.

Books and Web Resources for Adults
* American Veterinary Medical Association's Care for Animals. Available at http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/CFAsiteindex.asp.
* Anderson Allen M: Pet Loss Support Page. Available at: http://www.pet-loss.net.
* Montgomery M, Mongomery H: A Final Act of Caring: Ending the Life of an Animal Friend. Minneapolis, MN, Montgomery Press, 1993.
* Quackenbush J: When Your Pet Dies: How to Cope with Your Feelings. New York, Pocket Books, 1985.

Pet Loss Support Hotlines

Cornell University, 607-253-3932
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
6pm - 9pm EST

The Iams Company, 888-332-7738
Wekkdays 8am - 5pm EST

Michigan State University, 517-432-2696
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
6:30pm - 9:30pm EST

The Ohio State University, 614-292-1823
Hours Vary

Tufts University, 508-839-7966
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
6pm - 9pm EST

University of California, Davis, 530-752-4200
Weekdays 6:30pm - 9:30pm PST

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 540-231-8038
Tuesday and Thursday
6pm - 9pm EST

User avatar
Allysse

Post   » Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:43 pm


Additional contacts:

Phone
Animal Humane Society Pet Loss Support Group...(763) 522-4325
ASPCA National Pet Loss Hotline (24 hours a day)...(800) 946-4646*
*Enter Pin # 140-7211, then your phone #. The call will be returned promptly.
College of Vet Medicine at University of IL/C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Support Hotline...(877) 394-2273
Grief Recovery Hotline...(800) 445-4808
Iowa State University Pet Loss Support Hotline...(888) 478-7574
UC Davis, School of Veterinary Med. Pet Loss Support Hotline...(800) 565-1526

Internet
Animal Love and Loss Network... www.ALLN.org
Animals in Our Hearts... www.animalsinourhearts.com
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement... www.aplb.org
Argus Institute for Families and Vet Medicine... www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu
Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline... www.vet.cornell.edu/public/petloss
Eternal Animals... www.eternalanimals.com
Gardens of Memory... www.gardensofmemory.com
Grief Healing... www.griefhealing.com
In Memory of Pets... www.in-memory-of-pets.com/pet-loss.htm
Kindred Spirits... www.hsus.org/kindred/index.html
Pet Loss... www.avma.org/care4pets/losspet1.htm
The Pet Loss Grief Support Website and Candle Ceremony... www.petloss.com
Rainbow Pet Memorial... www.rainbowpetmemorial.org
Best Friend Services - Pet Loss Resources

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