Coping with Losing a Pet

By Lawrence Robinson and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. Why does the loss of a pet hurt so much? Many of us share an intense love and bond with our animal companions. For us, a pet is not “just a dog” or “just a cat,” but rather a beloved member of our family, bringing companionship, fun, and joy to our […]

The Pet Lover’s Code by Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.

Ten Inalienable Rights After The Death of a Special Companion Animal Though you should reach out to other as you journey through grief, you should not feel obligated to accept the unhelpful responses you may receive from some people. You are the one who is grieving, and as such, you have certain “rights” no one […]

Pet loss and self-forgiveness

Our sense of responsibility towards our pets People often compare the sense of responsibility they feel towards their pets with the responsibility of caring for a young child. Neither animal nor infant can tell us what they need and they are entirely dependent on us for food, shelter, safety and love. As pet carers, we […]