Wall Street Journal, PERSONAL JOURNAL, Home & Digital, Wednesday, November 18, 2015, Page D3:
Coping With the Death of a Pet
Several recent books offer emotional support and practical advice for those dealing with the loss of a beloved pet
Q:I read with great interest your article on coping with the death of a pet. Can you recommend books and other resources?
—G.C.
A:Several recent books offer emotional support and practical advice. “The Loss of a Pet” by psychologist Wallace Sife provides guidance and resources on the stages of the grieving process; look for the fourth edition, published in 2014. Gary Kowalski, a Unitarian Universalist minister, offers spiritual comfort in “Goodbye, Friend.” Educator and grief counselor Alan Wolfelt explains why some pet owners’ feelings are so strong in “When Your Pet Dies.” And “Saying Goodbye to Your Angel Animals” by Allen and Linda Anderson, speakers and authors of many books on the animal-human bond, includes personal stories, exercises, meditations and memorial services.
Pet owners who are grieving intensely often benefit from talking with a pet-loss counselor who is trained to understand their bonds with their animals, says Joy Davy, a Hinsdale, Ill., pet-loss counselor and author of “Healing Circles,” a book about pet loss. Many counselors also offer support groups; pet-loss.net posts a state-by-state directory of counselors and support groups.
Telephone support is available from university veterinary-medicine programs and nonprofits via 22 pet-loss support hotlines listed at aplb.org, the website of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. The site also offers chat rooms, a reading list and memorial products.
If you’re planning ahead for end-of-life care for a pet, a directory of animal hospice-care providers can be found on the website of a 400-member professional group, IAAHPC.org, including veterinarians, vet technicians, counselors, chaplains and social workers. Visits may cost about $100 to $250 an hour, but fees vary by region and type of care.
—Email sue.shellenbarger@wsj.com.
