Resources
We know it can be tough to research a new topic, so the team at Lifting Stars Pet Homecare have gathered useful information to help guide you at this difficult time
Counselling Services
Dennis Dion, Registered Clinical Counsellor, has been supporting people facing painful losses for almost 20 years. Dennis understands the profound relationship between a pet and their owner. He provides grief counseling in the Vancouver area to help support you through the difficult time of pet bereavement. Email: info@dennisdiontherapy.com, phone: 778-839-9551
Monique Verhoef, Registered Therapeutic Counsellor is a pet owner and able to help you with your counseling needs. Email: info@equalcounselling.com, phone: 778-724-0522
Kari-Ann Thor, M.Ed., Registered Therapeutic Counsellor offering you the pet loss support services you require with access to a support group. Email: periwinkle7@telus.net, phone: 604-253-5450
Free Online Grief Resources & Support Groups
Pet Loss and Grief Support Group
Guided by Käri-Ann Thor, M.Ed., RCC, and Monique Verhoef, RTC, the Pet Loss and Grief Support Group offers a compassionate, confidential space for sharing and healing. Sessions are held via Zoom and aim to help you navigate the deep emotions of losing a beloved pet. Share, heal, and receive support while gaining valuable insights during these sessions.
Until We Meet Again Pet Memorial Center
Until We Meet Again Pet Memorial Center, located in Surrey, serves as a valuable local resource for guidance regarding end-of-life matters pertaining to your beloved pet. Their website has two complimentary PDFs, “Pre-Planning and Pet Aftercare” and “Coping With The Loss of a Companion Animal”. Furthermore, they provide their customers access to the “Pet Compassion Careline”. This dedicated helpline connects pet parents and their families with skilled, compassionate, and confidential counselors who are proficient in English, Spanish, and French.
Veterinary Partner provides reliable and up-to-date animal health information to support you in the care of your pet. This website was established by veterinarians and experts of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), the world’s first and largest online veterinary database and community. Read their article “Pet Loss Support Information” for a comprehensive list of online grief resources.
Petloss.com is a gentle and compassionate website for pet lovers who are grieving over the death of a pet or an ill pet. Here you will find personal support, thoughtful advice, The Monday Pet Loss Candle Ceremony, Tribute Pages, healing poetry, the Rainbow Bridge Poem & much more.
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) understands that navigating the waters after the loss of your beloved pet can be difficult and they want you to know that you are not alone. Their mission is to promote and expand the field of pet loss and grief support by providing pet family support services and resources that honor the human/animal bond. They have created a list of support topics including those titled “Anticipatory Grief”, “Understanding Euthanasia”, “Taking Care of Yourself”, “Creating a Memorial” and “Special Populations”.
HelpGuide.org is an independent nonprofit that runs one of the world’s leading mental health websites. It provides trustworthy information to improve mental health and make healthy changes. Their article, “Coping With Losing a Pet” is a comprehensive article regarding grief and pet loss.
International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
The International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care is the leading association for pet hospice, palliative care, and euthanasia for companion animals. See their helpful articles “How to Support a Grieving Pet“, “How to Help a Child Grieving a Beloved Pet“, “How to Memorialize a Beloved Pet,” and “How To Take Care of Yourself When Grieving“.
Order pet loss books online and get the help you need delivered to your front door.
Colorado State University Argus Institute
The Colorado State University Argus Institute provides support services to help you make informed decisions about your pet’s care and to support you through this difficult process. See articles titled “How To Cope When Your Pet is Ill”, “Grieving The Loss of a Pet”, “How Animals Grieve”, and “Moving Forward After The Loss of a Pet”.
Assessing Quality of Life In Your Pet
The HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale
The HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale is one of the most commonly referred to scales for assessing quality of life in companion animals. Developed by Dr. Alice Villalobos, DVM, HHHHHMM is an acronym standing for Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility and More Good Days Than Bad. Use our rendition of this self-directed scale to help you and your family members better quantify your pets quality of life.
Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center – How Do I Know When it’s Time?
There is never a good day to say goodbye, even when we know it is the right thing to do. Ohio State University has prepared an article to help guide pet owners in making this difficult decision. This is one of the most popular and easy-to-use scales for assessing the quality of life of your pet. We suggest making copies of the scale on the second page of the document so you can evaluate changes over time.
Blue Pearl Pet Hospice Resources
Dr. Shae Cox, DVM and founder of Blue Pearl Pet Hospice, is a leader in the world of veterinary palliative care and at-home euthanasia. Dr. Cox provides free educational videos to help you understand your pet’s quality of life. You will need to create an account to watch the videos, but it is well worth the effort. See videos on “Recognizing Pain in Dogs,” “Recognizing Pain in Cats,” and “Understanding Quality of Life.”
Veterinary Partner provides reliable and up-to-date animal health information to support you in the care of your pet. Read their article “Assessing Quality of Life and Euthanasia in Companion Animals” for guidance in making this very difficult decision.
Colorado State University Argus Institute
The Colorado State University Argus Institute provides support services to help you make informed decisions about your pet’s care and to support you through this difficult process. See articles titled “Euthanasia Considerations,” “When Is It Time For Hospice Care,” and “Considering Your Pets Quality Of Life In The Midst Of Disease.”
Caregiver Quality of Life Tool
Caregiving for your senior pet can be a challenging experience that can affect your quality of life. To assess the caregiver’s overall well-being, this quality of life questionnaire tool has been developed. It aims to help you understand the impact of caregiving on your quality of life and develop interventions to support your needs
At Lifting Stars Pet Homecare, we have written an article to guide you in making a personalized assessment of your pet’s favourite things as part of your assessment of their quality of life.
Creating A Daily Journal Of Good And Bad Days
When your pet is approaching end-of-life, and you are wondering if it’s time to say goodbye, starting a daily journal of good and bad days can be a helpful tool to guide you in how your pet is doing over time. This journal can help you monitor trends in your pet’s well-being and be a reliable source of information as you strive to advocate on your pet’s behalf.
Helping Children With Pet Loss
The Ohio State University provides us with a comprehensive article with considerations for helping children with pet loss. See their article “Helping Children Cope With The Serious Illness or Death of a Companion Animal” for more information.
Colorado State University Argus Institute
The death of a family pet is an important time for adults to help children express grief in emotionally healthy ways, free of shame or embarrassment. See the article titled “Helping Children With Pet Loss” for their suggestions in helping children at this difficult time.
The International Association of Animal Hospice And Palliative Care
The International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care is the leading association for pet hospice, palliative care, and euthanasia for companion animals. See their helpful article “How To Help a Child Grieving a Beloved Pet” for suggested guidance from their panel of experts.
A guide to saying goodbye to your beloved pet
Dr. Mary and Coleen’s books provide an invaluable resource for parents to discuss their children’s feelings about losing a furry friend. With activities tailored to both traditional and modern expressions of grief, these books help families navigate the complex emotions associated with pet loss and can be found here.
Pet Nursing Care At Home
Paw Pros Mobile Veterinary Nursing
Natalie has been helping pets as a registered veterinary technician (RVT) for over 10 years and is now offering at-home services in the Vancouver, North Vancouver and Burnaby areas. Natalie specializes in palliative care services such as giving subcutaneous fluids, measuring blood pressure, giving medications, routine wellness care, pet sitting and more.
Pet Memorialization Services
Rambling Hound Photography offers professional pet photography services in the greater Vancouver area. Please reach out to Heather to inquire about her “Tribute” sessions – which create an invaluable keepsake of the years spent with your companion.