“What you’re feeling is the flipside of the love that you felt for your pet. Love is the counterpart of grief. When the love is over, we experience grief. You want to take care of yourself and get support from those who love you, understand, and respect your loss.” - Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio, LMFT, LCSW

Our pets are cherished members of our family and those relationships have a powerful impact on us forever. Our companion animals offer unconditional love, support, and joy when we need it most. They are always there for us. When they are gone, their absence can feel overwhelming.

As we support our pets through their senior years, a terminal diagnosis, severe mental illness, or an unexpected event, we are confronted with a heart-wrenching reality, and making decisions can be extremely difficult.

Grief is something we all experience after a loss. It is a natural process and your feelings are normal. As you experience your unique journey in grief after a loss, you may feel isolated, but you are not alone. There is no right or wrong way to experience grief, nor is there a time limit.

We grieve the loss of beloved pets because they meant a great deal to us and held a special place in our hearts, no matter how long we knew them.

Dakin, in collaboration with Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio, LMFT, LCSW, created a video series as a resource on a range of topics for those experiencing grief from the loss of a beloved pet.

We hope you are able to find comfort in your time of loss by understanding your grief and knowing that you supported your pet humanely and compassionately when they needed you most.

Videos

Knowing when it’s time

Understanding a pet's journey and recognizing when it's time to say goodbye

Coping with a recent loss

Finding ways to cope with the emotional experience of a recent loss

The Grief Process

Getting to know the grief process and what to expect during this difficult time

Finding Support

Exploring ways to find and appreciate support after a loss

Adopting Again

Accepting the complex feelings that come with the thoughts of opening your heart and home to a new pet after a loss

Additional Resources

Dakin hosts a monthly pet loss and healing group facilitated by Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio. Click here to learn more and RSVP to our next group.

Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio, in partnership with Nancy Saxton-Lopez, authored The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice from Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups. Paperback and Kindle copies are available on Amazon.

Join the authors for a live YouTube broadcast on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. EST as they share thoughts, recommendations, and reflections that help viewers with the loss of their animal companions and celebrate the gifts received by those of us lucky enough to share our lives with beloved pets. Audio-only replays are available on Spotify.