Resources for Pet Guardians
Health & Wellness Providers
KSAS is fortunate to have many “kindred spirits” - veterinarians and other professionals who work with animals - who donate their services or give our residents a substantial discount. These dedicated people help provide our seniors with the best of traditional and complementary therapies, while keeping our costs down. Many of them also volunteer their time to give presentations on topics of interest to pet guardians at our Spring and Fall Open Houses and workshops. Below is a listing of some of these compassionate professionals who provide senior dogs, horses or poultry with the best of wellness care and nutrition. We’ve also included the artists who have participated in our Summer Art Shows which benefit KSAS. Special thanks to each of the following for helping to keep our resident animals well and generously supporting Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary:
- Melissa Campbell - Body work practitioner
- Mike Dobesh, DVM – Wellness
- Sherry Gaber, DC - Chiropractor
- Laura Moore, of Critters & Me - Nutrition
- Mary Anne Schadler, DVM - Homeopathic Medicine
- Audrey Shannon, DVM - Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
- Dr. Vianey DeAguero, Smith Veterinary Hospital
- Douglas Thal, DVM – Thal Equine, LLC – Regional Equine Hospital
- Leta Worthington - Animal Communicator
- Braemarr Kennels & Grooming
- Groomers: Deborra Berlin, Bonita Powyrs
- San Marcos Feed Store
Artists:
- Trish Condit
- Carole Olson
- Ruth Tatter
Pet Loss Resources
If you have suffered the loss of a beloved companion animal, you have our deepest sympathy. There are many resources to support you during this difficult time. The information below comes from Best Friends Animal Society’s website: www.bestfriends.org. It includes hotlines located around the country, as well as websites and other resources for people who are grieving. You’ll also find links to articles, reading lists and information about support groups. Thanks to Best Friends for sharing these resources with Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary and our supporters.
Arizona
Companion Animal Association of Arizona, 602-995-5885.
Staffed by volunteers who have lost a pet and have been
trained in bereavement support. All calls are returned
collect. (See website resources for more information).
www.caaainc.org
Massachusetts
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, 508-839-7966.
Staffed by veterinary students who have participated in extensive training sessions
with licensed psychologists. Monday–Friday, 6–9 pm, Eastern Time.
www.tufts.edu/vet/petloss/
Michigan
College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, 517-432-2696.
Staffed by veterinary students trained by a professional grief counselor.
Tuesday–Thursday, 6:30–9:30 pm, Eastern Time.
web.vet.cornell.edu/public/petloss
Washington
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 509-335-5704.
Staffed by veterinary students. Monday–Thursday, 6:30–9:00 pm, Saturday, 1–3 pm.
www.vetmed.wsu.edu/PLHL/
Pet Loss Websites
The Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement is a nonprofit association of concerned
people who are experienced and knowledgeable about pet death. The organization provides
pet bereavement counseling and public education to those interested in counseling
others. Services and online articles are available to members only (for a fee of $25 per
year), but lists of hotlines and support groups are provided free at www.aplb.org.
The Companion Animal Association of Arizona, Inc. has a Pet Grief Support
Service that provides a telephone helpline, a support group, and a reading list of petloss
resources. The association is operated entirely by volunteers who receive ongoing
support and training from a certified grief counselor who specializes in pet loss. Visit
www.caaainc.org.
The Delta Society is a nonprofit organization that provides information on the human/animal
bond. The organization offers a bibliography of publications on pet loss and a
list of pet-loss counselors, helplines, and support groups, available by request at 425-
226-7357 or at www.deltasociety.org under the health benefits section (pet loss and
bereavement).
Online Articles
“Getting Through Grief” by Julie Axelrod of the Association for Pet Loss and
Bereavement. Can be found at www.aldf.org/article.php?id=288
Various articles by Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed., on pet loss and bereavement.
Can be found at www.pet-loss.net/.
“Supporting People Who Are Grieving” from Washington State University’s College of
Veterinary Medicine. Can be found at this URL: www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/support/.
Online Community
Best Friends has a Best Friends Network community for people dealing with pet loss. To
join or visit the Prayers, Healing and Support community, go to this web page:
network.bestfriends.org/PHS.
Books
Goodbye, Friend by Gary Kowlaski
Kowalski’s book is full of sound, compassionate advice to get through the loss of a pet.
Included are ideas for rituals and ceremonies, spiritual guidance and readings for solace.
Kowalski includes advice on how to take care of yourself after the death of a pet and the
importance of honesty when talking with children about this event.
Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Love by Lorri A. Greene, Ph.D.
Written by a psychologist who is a leader in the field of pet bereavement, this practical
but sympathetic guide validates the survivor’s often misunderstood feelings, explains
the importance of the human/animal bond, and offers strategies for working through the
grieving process. Topics include memorializing the pet, recognizing problematic thinking,
finding support, dealing with guilt and explaining the pet’s death to a child. The special
needs of the guardians of working animals are addressed, as are self-help resources for
the elderly.
Grieving the Death of a Pet by Betty Carmack
Written by a nurse and professional pet-loss counselor, this book draws from her experience
of counseling people who have lost a beloved pet, as well as the loss of her own
furry friends. Carmack offers pet-loss support to counter “a world that reminds us repeatedly
that grief for an animal doesn’t count as much as grief for a person.” The book is
poignant and sometimes heartrending, filled with personal stories of love and loss.
Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide by Julia Harris
This book helps readers to understand the many emotional reactions to the loss of a pet;
assist children in coping with and recovering from their loss; and learn how different spiritual
belief systems recognize and counsel pet loss. Practical topics include what happens
at a pet cemetery burial, cremation or home burial; what legal arrangements are
available; how to develop a ceremony to honor the pet; and how to cope with the trauma
of a terminally ill or runaway pet.
C old Noses at the Pearly Gates by Gary Kurz
This book can help you cope with the loss of a pet and tries to answer questions about
pet afterlife.
When Only the Love Remains by Emily Margaret Stuparyk
This book is a collection of poignant poems.
Three Cats, Two Dogs: One Journey Through Multiple Pet Loss
by David Congalton
The author talks about how he transformed his anguish over the loss of several pets into
a commitment to abused and abandoned animals. This down-to-earth book offers solace
and practical suggestions for coping with grief. Anyone who has an animal companion
will find this story inspirational and hopeful.
For children and teenagers:
Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
These books will appeal to children from preschool to grade two. The simple, colorful illustrations take the child on a journey to Dog Heaven or Cat Heaven, places of warmth
and happiness. In Dog Heaven, there are “fields and fields and fields,” and in Cat Heaven,
there are thousands of toys and soft angel laps in which to cuddle up. God is depicted
as a kindly older man who benevolently watches over his charges.
Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert
This book tells the story of an old woman named Grandy who is making “tear soup.” It’s
not specifically about the death of a pet – the reader is not sure what loss Grandy has
suffered – so the book is relevant for any grieving process. The full-color illustrations are
wonderful. The book is recommended for ages four to eight, but it has been a comfort to
people of all ages.
For Every Dog an Angel by Christine Davis
For Every Cat an Angel by Christine Davis
These small short books, which tell the story of the Rainbow Bridge, are beautifully illustrated
in whimsical watercolors. They are appropriate for a wide range of ages.
For therapists:
Pet Loss and Human Emotion: Guiding Clients Through Grief
by Cheri Barton Ross and Jane Baron-Sorensen
This unique guide, written for mental health professionals, serves as a practical introduction
to the field of human/animal bonding. The authors feel strongly that pet loss needs
to be understood by therapists and others in the helping professions, to better enable
them to help clients through this type of grief. Citing several case studies, the book
describes various techniques for helping clients cope with the loss of a pet. There are
chapters on working with children and the elderly.
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