For many of us, our animals hold a sacred place in our hearts, a space in which we experience the transforming grace of a totally unconditional love. When our beloved pet experiences a decline in health or dies, we may experience a level of grief and loss equal or greater than the loss of significant people in our lives.

This grieving is often done fairly privately as many in our society don’t see pet loss as a cause for bereavement. Sometimes others miss what a sense of joy our pet has brought into our lives. Often our pet has been an anchor and a huge source of predictable comfort and joy during both good and difficult times.

Therapy can be a safe place to process the passing or decline of a cherished pet and all the feelings and possibly grief from previous losses that this evokes.