Losing a much-loved animal companion can often be difficult to bear, sometimes emotionally overwhelming. However, support is available from people who understand, to help with pet-related grief.
If you have recently lost a dearly loved pet, we hope this page will help.
Pet Bereavement » Support Services
Remembrance Page » Cat Tributes
Rainbow Bridge » Rainbow Bridge Poem
Pet Bereavement - Support Services
If you have recently lost a dearly loved animal companion, these may help...
Paws to Listen - Cats Protection's grief support service
If you’re experiencing pet-related grief you can call Cats Protection’s free, confidential phone line to talk to one of their trained, volunteer listeners. They offer emotional and practical support to owners experiencing the loss of a cat, as well as providing information about topics such as euthanasia, burial and cremation. The line is open from 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday: Freephone 0800 024 94 94. Further information here: www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/grief/paws-to-listen
The Pet Bereavement Support Service
Offering support to bereaved pet owners through a national network of trained volunteer telephone and email befrienders. Launched in 1994, the service is operated by the Blue Cross in partnership with the Society for Companion Animal Studies. Telephone the pet bereavement helpline: 0800 096 6606 (8.30am - 8.30pm daily), or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit: Pet Bereavement Support Website
Animal Samaritans
The Animal Samaritans run a pet bereavement service for those who have recently lost a much loved pet, to help with their loss and to offer advice. Contact them as follows: Tel. (South East London area): 0208 303 1859 Tel. (North West Kent area): Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Web site: www.animalsamaritans.org.uk
The Ease Animal Charity
EASE provides a pet bereavement support service for those who have lost a dear companion animal. Contact them via their Website: www.ease-animals.org.uk
The Counselling Directory
Directory of registered counsellors and therapists, counselling services and support charities across mainland Britain. Full details and fees (where applicable) are clearly shown on each listing: www.counselling-directory.org.uk
Association of Private Pet Cemeteries & Crematoria
Members of the Association adhere to a strict Code of Practice, ensuring that people get a genuine service, for example, ensuring their pet receives a genuinely individual cremation if they have asked for one. For member cemeteries and crematoria across Britain, call: 01252 844478 or visit: www.appcc.org.uk
"Parting Words Parting Ways"
A sensitive and sensible book for anyone coping with the loss of an animal companion. Written by Laura Ritter Carlson, it offers creative and comforting ways of coping with the loss, and also ways of honouring their memory. All proceeds go to animal welfare charities. Available from Amazon and via most bookstores.
Remembrance Page - Cat Tributes
Your Tributes to those special cats who will always be in your heart.
When you have loved a pet, a part of them will remain in your heart forever. If you would like to pay tribute to a loved cat who has passed away, you can do so on Cat Chat's Gallery of Remembrance.
Our Remembrance Gallery has been set up to honour special cats who have left a pawprint on human hearts, and in their memory, helping other cats in need: Remembrance Page - Cat Tributes
Rainbow Bridge - Poem
A moving piece of prose for anyone who has ever lost a beloved animal friend...
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends, so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.
Author - Anon
Also... some words of wisdom by David Harkins...
She is Gone
You can shed tears that she is gone. Or you can smile because she lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back. Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her. Or you can be full of the love that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday. Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she is gone. Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back. Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Author - David Harkins
