Paws In Our Hearts
You are not alone here.
Helplines and groups run by organisations who understand pet loss specifically. Most are free. None of them will tell you it was just a pet.
Free and confidential by phone, email or webchat. Email replies within 48 hours. Run by trained volunteers since 1994.
Free grief support for cat owners. Volunteer listeners rather than counsellors. Callback available if lines are busy.
Free moderated peer support forums, articles and chat. Set up by a vet after losing his own cat.
General pet health and bereavement advice. Can refer you on to Blue Cross for deeper grief support.
One of the best known US pet bereavement lines. Also reachable by email.
One of the few university lines open every day. Staffed by veterinary students.
24-hour voicemail; calls returned during opening hours. Summer hours vary.
Covers grief, anticipatory loss and euthanasia decisions. One of the oldest US university lines.
Running since 1989. Monthly virtual support group on the third Thursday.
Run by MSU Veterinary Social Work. Remote support group meets twice monthly.
Student volunteers supervised by a licensed psychologist.
Voicemail any time, returned as soon as possible.
Voicemail returned during opening hours.
One of very few lines with daytime hours, which helps if evenings are hard.
Voicemail outside hours. Serves Virginia and Maryland.
Staffed by social workers and students. Also refers to local grief counsellors.
Moderated chat rooms and video support groups, plus webinars on anticipatory grief, euthanasia and children in grief. Free guest access.
Free virtual support groups run by a network of end-of-life veterinarians.
Free weekly virtual group run by a licensed therapist. Going since 1988.
Free virtual group led by a licensed grief counsellor. Registration needed. Covers anticipatory grief too.
NJ callers: (856) 234-4688.
Serves North Texas. Staffed by trained counsellors.
OVC Pet Trust also has free downloadable grief booklets and a video series.
Free moderated online group, open to all ages. Covers anticipated loss as well.
Free virtual support group with resources in English and French. Also makes anticipatory grief affirmation cards.
Community-run. Phone support, virtual meetings and a Facebook group. Open beyond Ontario.
Offered through partner vet and aftercare clinics — ask your vet whether they participate.
Not a helpline — refers you to vetted grief counsellors in BC.
Signposting service — points you to local counsellors and groups.
The call is free, but you are connected to a private counsellor whose fees vary — these are discussed before you proceed. Their site also lists free and donation-based options.
Free bereavement support of all kinds, including pet loss. Also runs online forums and support groups.
Not pet-specific, but free and always open if grief becomes overwhelming.
Practical guidance on pet grief plus a list of Australian counselling lines.
New Zealand's first dedicated pet loss line. The call is free; counsellor fees vary and are discussed first.
Free call or text to speak with a trained counsellor about anything, including grief.
Free and confidential. Not pet-specific.
Pet bereavement information and referrals to local support.
Somewhere else in the world? There's no equivalent pet-specific network in much of Europe and elsewhere, but findahelpline.com lists free emotional support lines in over 130 countries, and APLB's online chat rooms are open to anyone. Your own vet is often the best first ask — many keep a list of local grief counsellors.
Hours change, especially at the university lines, which are staffed by students and go quiet over holidays. Every listing above links to its own site so you can check before you call.
Found something out of date, or know a service that should be here? Tell us and we'll update it.