Family, friends and society don’t always understand how drastically the loss of a pet can affect us and can find it difficult to support the grief we often feel.

• Feeling lost without your pet
• Wondering what to tell your child about the loss of a pet
• Finding that family and friends fail to understand or attempt to minimize your loss
• Wondering if it is too soon to get another pet
• Still grieving for a pet you had some time ago
• Considering euthanasia

The resources listed below may help. Losing your companion animal can be extremely difficult and emotionally painful, but you are not alone. These resources can offer you a caring, compassionate understanding of your loss and the means to get through the experience.

Books

• Saying Good-bye to the Pet You Love, Lorri Greene, PhD and Jacquelyn Landis, New Harbinger Publications, 2002
• Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die, Jon Katz, Villard, 2011
• Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet, Moira Anderson, Peregrine Press, 1994
• The Human-Animal Bond and Grief, Laurel Lagoni, Carolyn Butler and Suzanne Hetts, W.B. Saunders and Company, 1994
• Preparing for the Loss of Your Pet, Myrna Milani, DVM, Prima Publishing, 1988
• Oh Where Has My Pet Gone?: A Pet Loss Memory Book, Ages 3-103, Sally Sibbitt, B. Libby Press, 1991
• The Loss of a Pet, Wallace Sife, Howell Books, 1998
• The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, Judith Viorst, Athenum, 1971
• Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White, Harper Junior, 1952
• Remembering My Pet: A Kid’s Own Spiritual Workbook for When a Pet Dies, Nechama Liss-Levinson, PhD and Rev. Molly Phinney Baskett, SkyLight Paths Publishing, 2007
• Golden Angels: Lessons in Love and Loss from Buddy Girl and Daisy May, Stephanie Weaver, Braver Endeavor Publishing, 2013
• Love Crosses Over, Elizabeth Allen, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

Books For Young Children

• Forever Dog, written by Bill Cochran, illustrated by Dan Andreasen. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
• Desser the Best Ever Cat, written by Maggie Smith. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
• Goodbye Mousie, written by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Jan Ormerod. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
• Forever Buster: What a Name! What a Dog, We Exclaim! Written by Martin Babbett, illustrated by Donna Burns. Recommended for ages 4 and up.
• Saying Goodbye to Lulu, written by Corinne Demas, illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Recommended for ages 4 and up.
• The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, written by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Erik Blegvad. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Online

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement’s website has resources available that may assist in navigating through the loss of a pet, including the difficult decision of humane euthanasia.  You can review their website here.

These resources are identified as a service to the community and do not necessarily include all pet loss resources. The Regina Humane Society is not affiliated with these resources and does not take responsibility for the content therein.