Bereaving the Loss of a Beloved Dog: Getting Help

TOLL FREE! PET LOSS HOTLINES

Grief Recovery Hotline
(800) 445-4808
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm PST

The Iams Pet Loss Support Center & Hotline
(888) 332-7738 Monday thru Saturday, 8am to 8pm

College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois
C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Helpline
(877) 394-2273
http://net.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE/
The C.A.R.E. Helpline is staffed by veterinary students who have have received training from grief counselors. They also receive supervision from a licensed psychologist.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) National Pet Loss Hotline
424 East 92nd St., New York, NY 10128
(800) 946-4646, 24 hours a day - use your keypad to punch in the pin number 140-7211 and then your own phone number. The call will be returned immediately.
Contact: Stephanie LaFarge, Ph.D
New York City residents may be seen in person at the ASPCA headquarters.

University of California - Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Pet Loss Support Hotline
(800) 565-1526
6:30pm to 9:30pm PST Monday thru Friday
Summer Hours: 6:30pm to 9:30pm PST Tuesday thru Thursday
Calls may be returned collect if no counselor is currently available.

Pet Loss Support Pet Friends
(800) 404-PETS
P.O. Box 131
Moorestown, NJ 08057-0131
Long distance calls will be returned collect.

University of Florida Pet Loss Support Hotline, Gainesville
(352) 392-4700, Ext. 4080
Staffed by University of Florida Veterinary students
Calls will be returned 7pm to 9pm EST
Website - http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/alt_med/petgrief/petloss.htm
This hotline will call back anyone, anywhere, at no cost to the caller.

The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Pet Loss Support Helpline
Emil and Mary Baukert. C/O Riser Animal Hospital, 5335 W. Touhy Ave., Skokie, IL 60077
(630) 603-3994
This Helpline was established in 1993. It provides referral materials on professional grief counseling and information packets on the areas of children & grief, euthanasia, pet loss & the elderly, and a pet loss bibliography. A volunteer will pick up voice messages and call back between 7pm and 9pm CST every evening. Long distance calls will be returned collect.

Companion Animal Association of Arizona Pet Grief Support Hotline
P.O. Box 5006, Scottsdale, AZ 85261-5006
(602) 995-5885
This helpline is operated by trained volunteers 24 hours a day. Long distance calls will be returned collect.

Delta Society Pet Loss Support Hotline
Palm Springs Network
146 Pali, Palm Springs, Ca 92264
(619) 320-3298

Michigan State University Pet Loss Support, College of Veterinary Medicine
Clinical Center, C-100 East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-5064
Contact: Sally Walshaw, M.A., V.M.D.
The Hotline is staffed by veterinary student volunteers from 6:30pm to 9:30pm EST on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline
(508) 839-7966
Hours: Monday thru Friday, 6:00pm to 9:00 pm EST

Companion Animal Hospital Pet Loss Support Hotline
Box 35, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6401
(607) 253-3932
Hours: 6:00pm to 9:00pm EST, Tuesday thru Thursday

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline
(540) 231-8038
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00pm to 9:00pm EST

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement's Chat Rooms are designed to provide a safe and supportive haven for those who have lost a beloved animal companion. Discussions are not ones for social chatting, as they are solely designated to cover topics related to pet loss and bereavement. It is important to note that while these chat rooms are caring and highly effective discussions, they should not be confused with clinical psychological counseling sessions. Rather, the focus is solely on pet bereavement. Although the tone is one of compassion and constructive supportiveness, this association cannot always regulate the variables that may arise in such an environment. In addition, advice or other considerations that are offered should not be construed as part of a professional counseling session. Those who are newly bereaved and visiting a chat room for the first time should try to come in as early as possible. In that way, more individual attention can be provided as chats can get crowded later on in the sessions.

Friday night, 8 - 10, EST. Dr. Wallace Sife, Moderator, Ellie Waldron, Co- host, and Karen Borga and Connie Starr, Assistant Hosts

Sunday afternoon, 2 - 4, EST. Sarah Robinson, Moderator, and Valerie Brideau, Assistant Host

Monday night, 8 - 10, EST. Ursula Brower, Moderator, Sarah Robinson and Laurie Koen Co-hosts, and Sue Laue, Assistant Host

Wednesday night, 8 - 10, EST. Ellie Waldron, Moderator, Gayla Stone and Deborah Norman, Assistant Hosts

Anticipatory Chat: Thursday night, 8 - 10, EST. Lois Roach, Moderator, and Jenny Wilson, Assistant Host

Dr. Sife, Ellie, and Ursula can be reached at aplb@aplb.org if you are in deep bereavement and need to communicate before their next scheduled chat time.

PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUPS & COUNSELORS

Pet Grief Therapy - Lancaster Practice Support
300 Main Street, Humble, TX 77338
(713) 268-6734
Contact: Sinead Lancaster
Ms. Lancaster is a licensed psychotherapist with training and experience in grief counseling.

Pet Bereavement Counseling Services
2400 Westheimer, Suite 209W, Houston, TX 77098-1305
(713) 522-8344
Contact: Lynn Davidson, M.Ed., L.P.C.
Ms. Davidson, M.Ed. L.P.C. has been in private practice since 1986 offering comfort and support to individuals, families and groups whose lives have been altered due the death of a pet. She also provides consultations, workshops and educational seminars.

Sinead Lancaster, LMSW-ACP
1016 N. Houston Ave., Suite A
Humble, TX 77338
(713) 268-6734 fax: (281) 324-6583
Email: tsinead@earthlink.net

SAPPY Pet Loss/Grief Support Group of San Antonio
Weekly Group Gatherings
Tuesdays @ 6:30 p.m.
Call for locations.
For more information about SAPPY Pet Loss/Grief Support Group, please call 210-216-0920.
Group Facilitator: Julie Wiley
Email: sappypetloss@sbcglobal.net

PET LOSS CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIES

Amarillo: All God's Critters, 6105 W. Rockwell Rd., Canyon, TX 79015, (806) 655-8444

Azle: Smoke Rise Farm Pet Cemetery, 11300 Mountain View Dr., Azle, TX 76020-5506, (817) 444-2221, http://www.geocities.com/smokerisefarmpetcemetery

Bowie: Pine Hill Pet Park, Hwy 81 N, Bowie, TX 76230, (817) 872-4701

Bulverde: Pet Haven Cemetery & Crematories, Laurie Michelle, Bulverde, TX 78163, (210) 438-7579

Burnet: Hi-View Pet Cemetery, Park Rd. 4, Burnet, TX 78611, (512) 756-7388

Canyon Lake: Paws in Heaven, 2690 Ponderosa Dr., Canyon Lake, TX 78132, (830) 964-2210, http://www.pawsnheaven.com, het@gvtc.com

Carrollton: Toothacres Pet Cemetery, 1639 Parker Rd, Carrollton, TX 75010, (972) 492-3711, http://www.toothacres.com

Cedar Hill: Pet Memorial Park, Hwy 67, Cedar Hill, TX 75104, (214) 223-2273

Cedar Park: Cedar Park Animal Clinic, 119 N. Bell Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613, (512) 258-2221

Conroe: Fond Memories, 1102 S. 7th St, Conroe, TX 77301, (936) 441-5305

Dallas/Ft. Worth: All Paws Go To Heaven, 1118 South Airport Circle, Euless, Texas 76040, 817-690-1560, http://www.allpawsgotoheaven.com, allpaws@hotmail.com

De Soto: Pet Memorial Park, De Soto, TX 75115, (214) 223-2273

Duncanville: Dallas Pet Cemetery & Crematory, 1814 Ten Mile Ln., Duncanville, TX 75137-4334, (214) 521-6980

Duncanville: Petland Memorial Gardens Pet Cemetery, 649 Parkwood Cir., Duncanville, TX 75116-3159, (214) 298-2390

El Paso: El Paso County Humane Society, 325 Shelter Place, El Paso, TX 79905, (915) 532-6971

Ft. Worth: Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery, 3600 Shelby Rd, Ft. Worth, TX 76140, (817) 478-6696

Ft. Worth: Willards Pet Cremation & Casket Sales, 2918 NW 26th St., Fort Worth, TX 76106-4941, (817) 625-1063

Galveston: Pet Haven, 2101 Avenue K, Galveston, TX 77550-4644, (409) 762-6385

Harker Heights: Bookers Pet Hotel, 503 N. Ann Blvd, Harker Heights, TX 76548, (254) 699-6365

Harkers Heights: Rolling Hills Pet Cemetery, 503 N. Ann Blvd, Harkers Heights, TX 76543, (817) 699-6365

Houston: Animal Crematory Service, 14749 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77079-5200, (713) 497-3510

Houston: Bit of Heaven Pet Cemetary, 8726 Congo Ln, Houston, TX 77040, (713) 690-7449

Houston: Hales Half Acre Pet Cemetery & Crematory, 11614 Dumas St, Houston, TX 77034, (713) 941-4494

Houston: Houston Pet Cemetery, 2221 W.34th St. # A, Houston, TX 77018, (713) 957-0909

Houston: Humane Society Houston, 14700 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77053, (713) 433-6421

Houston: Little Friends Pet Memorial, 8627 Windswept Ln., Houston, TX 77063, (713) 974-2744

Houston: Petland Memorial City, 900 Gessner Rd., Houston, TX 77024-2505, (713) 973-1086

Killeen: Friends Rest Pet Cemetery, Cedar Knob Rd., Killeen, TX 76543, (817) 690-3808

Lancaster: Furry Friends Pet Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1003 South Dallas Ave, Lancaster, Texas 75146, 682-518-5338

Lewisville: Pet Haven Memorial Park, Lewisville, TX 75029-5029, (214) 219-1767

Lubbock: Cimarron Pet Services, 5137 69th St C, Lubbock, TX 79424, (806) 794-0897

Lubbock: Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park, S Hwy 87, Lubbock, TX 79423, (806) 863-2241

Lubbock: Pet Memory Park, S. Hwy 87, Lubbock, TX 79412, (806) 863-2241

Lumberton: All Creatures Great & Small Pet Cemetery, Lumberton, TX 77657, (409) 755-3054,

Mansfield: Bluebonnet Pet Cemetery, 2706 N.Main St, Mansfield, TX 76063, (817) 335-9051

McKinney: Avalon Gardens Pet Cemetery & Crematory, 4797 Garreth Ln., McKinney, TX 75070, (972) 650-2000

McKinney: Green Oaks Pet Memorial Park, 3712 N. Custer Road, McKinney, TX 75071, 972-548-7757

McKinney: Platinum Pet Memorial Services, 511 FM 1827, McKinney, TX 75071, 214-537-1133

Midland: Peaceful Gardens Pet Cemetery, Hwy 349 N, Midland, TX 75959, (915) 683-8130

Pflugerville: Pet Rest Crematory & Cemetery, 1608 Three Points Rd., Pflugerville, TX 78660-3161, (512) 251-6112

Richmond: Animal Crematory Service, 401 Crabb River Rd, Richmond, TX 77469, (281) 342-7770

Richmond: Paws Memorial Service, 601 Pitts Road, Richmond, Texas 77406, (281) 342-PAWS (7297)

San Angelo: Have a Heart Cemetery, 3825 E. Fm Hwy 2105, San Angelo, TX 76905, (915) 653-1625

San Antonio: Bluebonnet Pet Crematory, 8714 Business Circle, San Antonio, TX 78109, (210) 566-4501, bbpetcrematory@aol.com

San Antonio: Broadway Animal Hospital, 8221 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX 78209, (210) 824-7481

San Antonio: Delta Society San Antonio, 4203 Gardendale St, San Antonio, TX 78229, (210) 614-6734

San Antonio: Pet Haven Cemetery & Crematory, 4347 Laurie Michelle, San Antonio, TX 78261-9502, (210) 497-3643

San Antonio: Pet Memorial Park, 110 Goldsboro St., San Antonio, TX 78230-4435, (210) 342-7382

San Leon: Pawprints in Time (The Bay Area SPCA), 3000 Ave. R, San Leon, TX 77539, (281) 339-2086, http://www.bayareaspca.org

Sattler: Paws in Heaven, 2106 Sattler Rd., Sattler, TX 78133, (210) 964-2210

Texarkana: Pet Cemetery & Memorial Gardens, (903) 244-3745

Texarkana: Pet Cremation Services of Texarkana, (888) 777-1145, http://www.pcstxk.com

Waco: God's Creatures Pet Crematory, 11307 China Spring Rd, Waco, TX 76708, (254) 836-4484, http://www.godscreaturespetcrematory.com, 2548364484@worldpages.com

Whitehouse: Pet Haven Cemetery & Crematory, 18176 Hwy 110 S, Whitehouse, TX 75791, (903) 839-3352

Wichita Falls: Sunrise Pet Cemetery, 3111 FM Rd 369 S., Wichita Falls, TX 76301, (817) 855-1953

The above resources only serve as a guide. Although I am a Nationally Certified School Psychologist published in the field of human loss and bereavement (Stress and Illness in the Family: A Linear versus Family Life Space Perspective; The Child with Cancer: A Life Space Study of Six Families), I do not have personal knowledge of the expertise of any of those persons or facilities providing these pet loss services.