When “Just a Pet” Was Never Just a Pet
Losing a pet can leave a kind of silence that’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.
They weren’t just part of your life. They were part of your routines, your home, your comfort, and often some of your hardest and happiest moments. When they’re gone, you don’t only grieve their life—you grieve the thousand little places they occupied in yours.
Pet grief is real grief. There is no timeline for it, and you don’t have to minimize your loss because someone else doesn’t understand the depth of the bond.
This space was created to help you understand what you’re feeling, work through the guilt and difficult moments, honor the love you shared, and find support as you learn to carry that love forward. 🩷
Your grief is valid. Your bond mattered. Your love still does.
Other Pet Grief Resources & Support Groups
Lap of Love — Pet Loss Support Groups
One of the best ones to feature. They offer professionally facilitated virtual pet-loss support groups, including free and paid options, plus individual grief support, anticipatory grief support, unexpected-loss support, behavioral-euthanasia support, and courses.
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)
Nonprofit dedicated specifically to pet bereavement. They offer online chat rooms, video support groups, grief information, and other pet-loss resources. Cornell also recommends APLB in its pet-loss resource directory.
Michigan State University Pet Loss Support Group
Virtual pet-loss support through Michigan State University's Veterinary Medical Center. Cornell lists the group as meeting regularly online.
Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Grief Support Community
They have pet-loss forums, grief-support chat rooms, memorials, and a Monday evening virtual candle-lighting ceremony. Their forums are very active.
Best Friends Animal Society — Pet Loss & Grief Support
Grief education, guided reflections, memorial activities, downloadable journaling resources, videos, workshops, anticipatory-grief information, and community support.
Cornell University — Pet Loss Resources & Support
Grief after the loss of a pet can feel overwhelming, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine offers trusted information about pet grief, coping with loss, memorializing your pet, euthanasia, supporting children and surviving pets, plus connections to pet-loss hotlines, online support groups, and additional resources.
A note from BroknOpen
Grief doesn’t have an expiration date, and neither does love. Take what you need from these resources, leave what you don’t, and give yourself permission to grieve in your own way.
Your loss matters here. And so does the love behind it. 🩷
These resources are provided for informational and support purposes and are not affiliated with or endorsed by BroknOpen unless otherwise stated. Availability, fees, meeting times, and services may change. Please visit each organization's website for current information.