In Grief: Preparing for The Loss of a Pet

[Reviewed and updated December 2, 2025]

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.  ~ Helen Keller 

A reader writes: I am a 44-year -old male with Sonny, an 8-year-old Golden Retriever who is spoiled rotten and so much a part of us. I really dread losing him. I mean really dread losing him. How do I stop worrying about losing him and just enjoy having him? I know you will think I am crazy for caring about a dog so much but I have very little in my life. I also want to know: Do you think dogs are with us in the afterlife? I do...

Pet Loss: Deciding When to Bury The Body

Source

[Reviewed and updated August 10, 2021]

Even out of unspeakable grief, beautiful things take wing. ~ A.R. Torres

A reader writes: I hope you don't mind if I vent to you, since I feel so very safe in your caring heart, and I'm just falling apart here lately, so need that professional and personal understanding only someone like you can give.

I’ve just returned from a two-week trip with my dear husband, who went all-out in planning our get-away, knowing how down I was about the death of [my cat]. I'd hoped this trip would somewhat rejuvinate me before I had to plan for the first anniversary of her death, and likely burial on the same day. But I'm finding I'm still not feeling at all ready to give up her body, even now.

Coping with Pet Loss, March 29 - April 4, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Requiem for an Old, Gray Cat, http://j.mp/1DwqeAC « Huff Post GPS for the Soul

Deciding on After-Death Care for A Cherished Pet, http://j.mp/1xOKZp8 « Grief Healing Blog

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Pet Loss: Deciding on After-Death Care for A Cherished Pet

Source

[Reviewed and updated September 9, 2025]

A reader writes: I lost my sweet cat just this week, and I'm so confused as to what I should do! My vet is holding his body right now in a freezer. I have an appointment to have him cremated on Tuesday and I will witness it to make certain that it is his remains that I get back, but in the last few days I have heard that it is not good to destroy the body if possible, because when the body/spirit is renewed it should be intact. If there is a place or way that we see each other again, I don't want to ruin the chances of it happening by doing the wrong thing. Please help me, I'm afraid and don't know what to do. If you can respond before Tuesday afternoon I would be very appreciative - if not, that's okay too - I just thought I would try. Thank you.

Understanding and Managing Grief, August 31 - September 6, 2014

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grief and Home Decor: Thanks For The Memories, http://j.mp/1BixoUv « Build Direct Blog

Grief In The Second Year: Finding Your Way, http://j.mp/wRiJJS « Grief Healing Blog

Armchair Analysis: Was Your Relationship 'Good' Enough to Warrant So Much Grief? http://huff.to/1m33QBx « HuffPost Healthy Living

Coping with Pet Loss, March 23 - March 29, 2014

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Hospice Care... for Pets? http://j.mp/1hCN9tg « Sarah Hodgson, Huff Post Green

Grief, Sorrow, Loss - Is There A Purpose In Them? http://j.mp/1jUK1vm « Ezine Articles

Stilled and Beating Hearts, http://j.mp/1dNr3mJ « Modern Loss

Coping with Pet Loss, March 25 - March 31, 2012

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Grieving for Pets and Humans: Which Hurts More? http://j.mp/HzU2iU via @pamelaskjolsvik  « AARP
  
  
• Is Pet Loss Comparable to Loss of a Loved One? http://j.mp/GZocuf
  
  
• Pet Cremation Mistake: Breaking the Bad News, http://j.mp/Hff7yW
  
  
• When Is It Time to Put a Problem Dog Down? http://j.mp/Hfb4CU « Dogster
  
  
• Death of pet can hurt as much as loss of a relative, http://j.mp/GRDq68
  
  
• Using Pinterest to cope with petloss, http://bit.ly/GQaJBe by@MarianneSoucy
  
  

Coping with Pet Loss, February 5 - February 11, 2012

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Helpful articles on caregiving, hospice, grief, petloss on @GriefHealing's Facebook page, http://j.mp/m6xVjC
  
  
• Dos and Don'ts: Helping a Friend Whose Pet Has Cancer, http://j.mp/yxJuo1
  
  
• What happens to your pet if something happens to you? http://NYTimes.com
  

Coping with Pet Loss, January 8 - January 14, 2012

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• What really happens inside a pet crematorium? http://j.mp/x9cRp7
  
  
• After-death pet care: What really happens to your animal companion? http://j.mp/xmdSVo
  

Coping with Pet Loss, January 1 - January 7, 2012

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Pet cemeteries gaining popularity, http://ow.ly/8jZtn via @VillageMemorial
  
  
• New England Pet Hospice: More Lessons from Human Hospice, http://j.mp/v9vXkJ
  
  
• Helping Another with Pet Loss, http://j.mp/flN3Js
  
  

Coping with Pet Loss, May 1 - May 7

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• "If I become terminally ill, please call my Veterinarian!" http://tinyurl.com/2b9raez by @MeredithGould via @hospice4animals 

• Why is it so hard when a pet dies? http://is.gd/2xIE7 by @jmedvm

• The very definition of presence, http://twitvid.com/BUVJ7 @hospice4animals

• Cremation service gives animal lovers some peace, http://bit.ly/iq7TFP via @MATWCremation 

• Helping children through petloss, http://wp.me/p1kwLo-fL via @GreenRanchMom @drlisanelson

Coping with Pet Loss, March 6 - March 12

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• New standards for services related to petloss, http://bit.ly/hE6N5B

• 5 Things No One Ever Told You about Dying, http://bit.ly/f44oQP by New England Pet Hospice via @VetWisdom

• In home euthanasia for pets is becoming more available. Your experience? http://ow.ly/49n5u via @VetWisdom

• A Different Grief: Helping You and Your Children with Pet Loss, http://ow.ly/45xtT by @griefhealing via @Selfhealingexpr

• Support line for those who are grieving the loss of a pet, http://bit.ly/etFUAF via @CAT_PEI @DrMartyBecker

Coping with Pet Loss, January 16 - January 22

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Parting with Your Pet's Belongings, http://wp.me/pA1gP-nj by @peternity via @SidKorpi

• Pawspice is Dr Alice Villalobos' term for animal hospice, http://bit.ly/hhUuRj via @PetEndOfLife

• Consider planning ahead for in-home pet euthanasia, http://ow.ly/3HeJX by @VetWisdom 

• Do animals mourn? Dolphin displaying grief, http://bit.ly/e4idCt via @KSBuckley

• Dealing with pet loss? You are not alone, http://exm.nr/hsAM1e via @VetWisdom @ExaminePets 

• Who Gets the Dog in a Divorce? - Paw Nation http://aol.it/hGHC3C 

• Preparing for Home Pet Burial in the Harsh of Winter http://bit.ly/fggocx by @PWL_Steve   

Coping with Pet Loss, December 26 - January 1

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• How to plan a memorial service for your beloved animal companion, http://bit.ly/e0DOsz via @georgiaslegacy

• Ever wondered how your pet's body is handled after death? http://ow.ly/3vetZ RT @VetWisdom

Coping with Pet Loss, December 12 - December 18

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Killing healthy or treatable pets is not ‘euthanasia,’ http://bit.ly/ea3HVN

• Great News! Welcome Delta Society to Facebook! http://on.fb.me/ffUuRZ "Better late than never!" RT @DeltaSociety

• How Do You Know the Ashes You Get Back Are Those of Your Pet? http://bit.ly/fFgOl7 by @PawsWhiskersWags

Coping with Pet Loss, November 28 - December 4

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Saying goodbye to a cherished animal companion, http://bit.ly/gCFqt2

• Waiting for Death, http://bit.ly/gy3NQb

• Animal Rescuer Devastated As Shelter Disregards Her Wishes, http://bit.ly/esHhYB

• Saying goodbye: Resting sure in your pet's resting place, http://bit.ly/dRteXC

• CSU veterinarians learn bedside manner at Argus Institute http://bit.ly/eqPjGG via @CSUVetHospital @WorldbytheTail

• Family Says Pet Dog Mourns Owner's Death http://bit.ly/dKhBt9 via @DogCare2 @PetDecisions

Coping with Pet Loss, October 17 - October 23

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Pet Loss, It Is Real Grief http://nblo.gs/9yBcm by @pendletonauthor

• Book review by @peternity "Katie Up and Down the Hall" moving cocker spaniel story http://tinyurl.com/295dwry

• Five Things To Keep In Mind When Planning a Pet Funeral, http://bit.ly/9Vdcgs by @PawsWhiskersWag via @WorldbytheTail 

• 2nd Chance 4 Pets: If something happens to you, what happens to your pet(s)? http://tinyurl.com/yaldopb via @peternity

Coping with Pet Loss, October 3 - October 9, 2010

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• If you're feeling guilty about pet loss, forgive yourself, http://bit.ly/aufyA1 by @WorldbytheTail

• OPRAH spotlights Angels Gate animal hospice, http://bit.ly/bKqYzA via @hospice_news

• Do Dogs Grieve? Great post on Dogster's Vet Blog http://bit.ly/aYCa0p via @WorldbytheTail

• Helping a Pet Grieve for a "Buddy," http://t.co/swIkwm1 by @WorldbytheTail

• Pet Loss Counselor Susan Cohen @PetDecisions discusses after-death pet care options in this radio interview, http://ow.ly/2Nxil

Coping with Pet Loss, August 8 - August 14

From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Preparing for pet loss : When You Need to Think Ahead - Veterinary Wisdom® Café, http://bit.ly/9o463I 

• Delana Taylor McNac at Pet Peace of Mind: Pets and Spirituality, http://bit.ly/a3taRF 

• Caring for a pet after death is hard. Easier to plan ahead, save energy for living, via @PetDecisions, http://ow.ly/2nk1h 

• 10 Ways to Say Goodbye to Pet, via @StoryForHealing, http://ow.ly/2obyN 

• Ask the Doctor: Is it Normal to Grieve for Months When a Pet Dies? - Harvard Health Publications, http://bit.ly/daYuge 

• On Euthanizing a Pet | Always Learning http://bit.ly/93ekyS 

• Utterly heartwarming! Via @SidKorpi: Read of a brave woman's journey through pet loss, http://bit.ly/bdokSM

• Lovely! @SidKorpi: In honor of Lucky...my dog with heart! http://bit.ly/9W63De

• Excellent resource for grieving animal lovers! RT @WorldbytheTail: http://bit.ly/dCXH2l 

• See A+ testimonials for this online course, via @Selfhealingexpr: A Different Grief: Coping with Pet Loss http://ht.ly/2kzGx 

Coping with Pet Loss, June 20 - June 26

From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Now's the time to prepare: Options After Your Pet Dies | The Conscious Cat, http://bit.ly/czJ4vB

• Burying Grief over Pet Loss Increases Health Risks, http://bit.ly/bt8aYq

• Nona Nelson: The pain of losing a pet - Roanoke Times, http://bit.ly/cmS5Gv