Grief Seminars
Our Pet Loss Grief Support Group Offers Relief

Grief is a concept that everyone can understand, since most of us have experiencedthe pain of losing a loved one at some point during our lives. Even in our seemingly gruff and callous society, people usually have compassion for those who are grieving, respecting the private, personal struggle of someone dealing with the loss of a friend or family member.

However, this supportive sympathy can often disappear when someone is grieving the loss of a beloved pet rather than a beloved human. Pet lovers who mourn their deceased pet are sometimes viewed cynically, their grief discounted by peers as an overreaction to the situation. “Just get another cat,” is a common response to grieving pet guardians. This lack of social acceptance can often compound the grief, causing people to repress their sadness, or even feel shame for the overwhelming emotions that accompany the loss of a pet.

Ways to memorialize your companion animal Plant a tree to honor him or her. Plant a flower garden. Write a poem. Write letters to him or her and put them in a special place or bury them at the resting place. While your memories are still recent, write down all the things you love about your companion animal, each one on a small piece of paper or colored card. Put them in a pretty box, and take one out every time you want to be reminded of your loved one. Place some of his or her hair in a locket you can wear. Frame photographs and put them around your home. Watch a video you made of him or her. Conduct a memorial or burial ceremony in exactly the way you deem appropriate for your loved one. Put a bench near your companion animal’s resting place, if you buried him or her. If you chose cremation, place the ashes in a suitable container somewhere quiet in your home. Put all your companion animal’s toys, bowls, and beds in a special place you can visit in your home. Donate in the name of your pet to Tree House. Email for more info on our Memorial Program

While grief may seem like a simple concept, the grieving process itself can be extremely complicated. It can mean much more than just being sad for a few days. It requires people to face their feelings, and to understand and rationalize the loss of a beloved friend or family member. Each individual will handle grief in his or her own unique way, and there may be no good explanation for what we are feeling, no quick answer to help us feel better, and no definite end to the process. The important thing is to recognize these complex feelings and deal with them on a conscious level.

This is why Tree House Animal Foundation has developed the Pet Loss Grief Support Group to help individuals understand and cope with the potentially crippling effects of grief. The Grief Support Group is divided into six two-hour sessions, and it is coordinated and moderated by Terri Treiman, a licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Elizabeth Keating, a Licensed Professional Counselor. Terri and Elizabeth are both long-time volunteers of Tree House, and both are well acquainted with the issues that surround grieving animal guardians.

“There isn’t really a formal setting for people who are dealing with the loss of a companion animal. There just aren’t enough outlets in place for those people in this day and age,” explains Terri Treiman, co-coordinator of the Grief Support Group. “People often are uncomfortable about talking about their grief, afraid that even their friends and family will discount their sadness. This creates a sense of loneliness, which can quickly lead to depression.”

Tree House Memorial Board

The first session of the Pet Loss Grief Support Group provides an overview of the sessions, gives an introduction of the people involved, and sets the guidelines for the following sessions. The second and third sessions introduce story-telling, the identification of emotions, and discussions regarding the differences between grief and mourning. The fourth session deals with the importance of ritual in the grieving process, and the fifth session helps attendees create a memorial to help deal with the loss of their pet. The last session reviews the group’s activities and offers resources to help group members seek further guidance, which include a list of reputable, caring veterinarians, informative books about the grieving process, and websites that offer advice and direction.

“The Pet Loss Grief Support Group offers people a forum to release their emotions and begin to accept their pet’s loss. It gives them the tools they need to help memorialize their deceased pets, and also helps them better prepare for the potential loss of future pets. The Group facilitates the sharing of feelings so people are reassured that they are not alone, and it gives them coping mechanisms to help get them on the road to happiness.”

For more information about the Pet Loss Grief Support Group, please contact Terri Treiman at (773) 784-5488, ext. 227.

Sensitive books

Three Cats, Two Dogs by David Congalton
Pets Living with Cancer by Robin Downing
Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of your Pet by Moira Anderson