Pet Loss Resources
Losing your beloved pet can be an intensely painful experience. This list gives you national pet loss support hot lines to call when dealing with the grief of pet loss as well as recommended books to help you cope with the loss of your pet. There is a also a section on grief counselors and pet loss support groups in Colorado.
National Pet Loss Support Hotlines (staffed by university veterinary students or trained volunteers)
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (New York) 607-253-3932
Tuesday-Thursday 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time
University of California Davis 530-752-3602 or 916-752-4200 or toll free 800-565-1526
weekdays 6:30-9:30 p.m. Pacific Time
University of Florida 352-392-4700, then 1 and 4080
weekdays 7:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern Time
University of Illinois 217-244-2273 or toll-free 877-394-2273(CARE)
Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:00-9:00 p.m. Central Time
Chicago Veterinary Medical Association 630-325-1600 or 630-603-3994. Leave voice mail message; calls returned 7:00-9:00 p.m. Central Time (long-distance calls returned collect.)
Michigan State University 517-432-2696
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:30-9:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Iowa State University 888-478-7574
September through April: seven days a week 6:00-9:00 p.m. Central Time
May through August: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6:00-9:00 p.m. Central Time
Tufts University (Massachussetts) 508-839-7966
Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern Time or Monday through Friday; voice-mail messages returned daily, collect outside Massachusetts.
Ohio State University 614-292-1823
Monday-Friday, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm, ET or Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6:30-9:30
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET (depends on volunteer availability)
Virginia-Maryland Regional College 540-231-8038
Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Washington State University 509-335-5704
Monday-Thursday 6:30-9:00 p.m. Pacific Time during semester; Saturday 1:00-3:00 p.m. PT
Helpful Books for Coping With Pet Loss:
Anderson, M., Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet, Pergrine Press, 1987.
Kairns, D., Maggie The Dog Who Changed My Life: A Story of Love, iUniverse, 2008.
Kay, T., To Dance With the White Dog, Washington Square Press, 1990.
Kay, W., et al, Pet Loss and Human Bereavement, Iowa State University Press, 1984.
Luckenbach, P. The Kingdom of Heart: A Pet Loss Journal, Spiritual Living Press, 2005.
Montgomery, M., and Montgomery, H., A Final Act of Caring: Ending the Life of An Animal Friend. Montgomery Press, 1993.
Neiburg, H., et al, Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children, Harper and Row, 1982.
Sife, W., The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping With the Grieving Process When a Pet Dies, 1998.
**Information taken from the websites and/or brochures of the Argus Institute at Colorado State University, The Human Animal Bond Trust of the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society & Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine**
Pet Loss Support In Colorado:
Pet Loss Grief Counselors:
Anne Cattarello: 720-352-0930; www.gentlepsychotherapy.com (Gunbarrel, CO)
Argus Institute (at Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital) 970-297-1242
(provided for CSU clients. Non-CSU clients receive 1 free support session & a pet loss packet.)
Pet Loss Support Groups:
Pet Loss Support Group of the Denver Area Veterinary Society (303-318-0447)
Every Thursday 6:30-8:00 pm
Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation-Harrison Center for Animals (NE entrance)
191 Yuma Street in Denver.
No cost to attend. No need to call before attending.
Please bring a picture of your pet if possible.
About the Author
Author of the book "MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life," available through Amazon.com, www.dawnkairns.com. Dawn was born and raised in northwestern Indiana, but Colorado has been home for over 31 years. A lifelong animal lover, her passion for dogs led her to volunteer with local rescue organizations, including the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Front Range Labrador Rescue, and Freedom Service Dogs. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the author and her husband travelled to Mississippi to work with the Humane Society of the United States assisting the displaced Katrina dogs. Her own dog and cat are rescues. A family nurse practitioner turned writer, Dawn Kairns has also published in nursing journals, American Fitness magazine, The Daily Camera, and Real Travel Adventures Magazine.