For many of us, it was never just a pet.

Written and clinically reviewed by Stephanie Hartfield, RCC, CCC, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Canadian Certified Counsellor, MA Counselling Psychology and Art Therapy. Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Pet loss therapy provides support for people grieving the loss of a beloved animal companion. It acknowledges the deep emotional bond between pets and their people, and helps process the pain, sadness and sense of loss that so often accompany this experience.

I should tell you why this page exists. Losing my 14.5-year-old Pomeranian, Nicki, was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. She was my best friend and my constant companion through every high and low of my twenties and early thirties.

I had lost family and friends before, in both expected and traumatic circumstances. Losing Nicki felt different. She became ill, seemed to be improving, then suddenly took a turn for the worse, and the vet told me there was nothing more they could do. A piece of my heart left with her that day.

The part nobody prepares you for

What I remember most clearly is the isolation. I was overcome with grief and it felt like no one could understand the depth of it. The process afterwards was overwhelming and strangely silent — little communication from the veterinary team about next steps, no resources for emotional support, no idea when her remains would come back or whether I would get the paw prints I had asked for. There was no guidance. Only silence.

Meanwhile the world expects you back at work on Monday. There is no bereavement leave for a dog. People who love you say “are you going to get another one?” with genuine kindness and no idea what they have just done.

What this space is

This is a space where the depth of that bond needs no defending. You will not have to justify how much this hurts, or compare it to a “real” loss, or manage my reaction while you are describing yours.

We honour your companion’s memory. We sit with the guilt that so often comes with it — the decision you made, the symptom you missed, the day you were too busy, the relief you felt that you are ashamed of. We work through the grief process at your pace, and we find ways to heal and adjust to a life without them that does not require pretending they did not matter.

Euthanasia and the weight of deciding

If you had to make the decision, you are probably still carrying it. Almost everyone does. “Was it too early? Was it too late? Did I do it for them or for me?” These questions can loop for months, and they are not answerable by reassurance from friends. They need working through properly, and that is something we can do together.

If you are facing the decision now rather than looking back on it, that is also work we can do — anticipatory grief is real, and planning for it gently is kinder than being flattened by it.

My goal is simple: to provide a compassionate space for grieving, and to help you feel seen, supported and understood as you work through it. If art therapy appeals, making something for or about them can be a powerful way to grieve when talking feels impossible.