Pet Loss
If you have lost your companion pet I would like you to know how sorry I am and that I have also felt the pain of losing my personal companion a toy poodle named Ellie and several other family dogs over the years, each of our dogs have been unique and have had individual or different personalities one from the other giving them each a special place in our hearts, I don't believe we could ever replace any of them!! but as hard as it is to lose them I cant imagine our life without at least one companion dog!! Over the years our dogs have given us many wonderful memoires and are very much apart of our family history. Each person will have to make their own independent decisions about when-or-if-they want another dog.
I have put below a few web sites I found helpful when grieving as well as some other information you may find useful. If you have other pets in your family they may also grieve the loss, here are the signs of animal grief, and how you can help them. We can never replace the dog we have lost but we can replace the love :) I hope this helps in your time of sorrow.
CARM
Things to look for in an animal that is grieving:
- Anxiety, restlessness or a need to stay close to family members
- Changes in eating, drinking, sleeping habits
- Depression, heavy sighing or disinterest in usual activities
- Destructive behavior
- Crying
- Potty accidents
- Searching the yard, house, and other familiar areas for the animal that has died
To help your animal through this time, which seems to be as difficult for them as it is for us, if not sometimes more so, is simply to give them time, and allow them to grieve with you. It may be helpful for you as well as for your pet to spend extra time together. Try playing special games with them, giving them special treats, etc. You may also want to change your normal routine a bit so they don't miss the other pet quiet as much when faced with their daily routines that once included the other pet. If after a few weeks your dog still seems to be sad and is missing the dog that died you could look at doggie daycare a few days a week to give it some new companionship
Cornell's Pet Loss Support Hotline
607-253-3932
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday-Thursday
Pet Loss Counseling and Support Services in Colorado
http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=687
Changes: Support for People and Pets Program
Address: Colorado State University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 300 West Drake Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-1242
Contacts: Carolyn Butler, M.S., Director; Dana Durrance, Asst. Director; Shelley Haddock, M.S., Grief Counselor
The Changes Program provides grief education and support to pet owners across the country. The Changes Program, one of the oldest and comprehensive in the U.S., provides office hours Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. The program's directors provide instruction to CSU's veterinary students, and lecture nationally and internationally. A textbook entitled “The Human-Animal Bond and Grief” was recently published.
The Human-Animal Bond Trust (HABT)
Address: PO Box 280467, Lakewood, CO 80228 and
Phone: (303) 318-0447
Fax: (303) 318-0450
Email: annj2005@comcast.net
Website: www.humananimalbondtrust.org
Contacts: Ann Johnson, Kay Gilchrist, Susan Anschuetz
The Denver Area Pet Loss Support Group meets every Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the second floor board room of the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society Office at 191 Yuma Street, NE entrance to Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation-Harrison Center for Animals (CVMF-HCA). There is no cost to attend and no need to call before attending. Please bring a picture of your pet if possible.
Arugus Institute
Erin R. Allen, MSSW (Clinical Counselor)Argus Institute
Address: Colorado State University, James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 300 W. Drake Rd., Ft. Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 297-4432
Website: www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu
The Argus Institute’s mission is to strengthen veterinarian-client-patient communication and support relationships between people and their companion animals. The Argus Institute offers support and resources to pet owners as they receive diagnosis and face difficult decisions on behalf of their companion animals as well as grief support after the loss of a beloved pet. They also offer a local pet hospice service in Fort Collins and surrounding areas. The support and pet hospice services are free of charge.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/org/petloss/
http://www.dogster.com/dogs-101/my-dog-died-support
http://www.mydogplace.com/dog-health-series/when-your-dog-dies-article.html