Coping with Pet Loss

Family and Healing Friday: Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana

Coping with Pet Loss: Healing as a Family After Losing a Beloved Animal

🐾 Coping with Pet Loss as a Family

Coping with pet loss isn’t just about the grief—it’s about honoring the love, memories, and connection that made that bond so special. For many families, pets are more than animals—they’re emotional anchors, best friends, and part of the family story.

At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana (AACI), we understand how complex this loss can feel. Whether it’s helping a child say goodbye, navigating a teen’s silent grief, or holding space for your own heartache, we’re here to help you move through it—together.

💔 Why Pet Loss Hurts So Much

Losing a pet often brings a unique kind of pain. It can feel invisible to others—yet intensely personal.

Pets offer unconditional love
They’re part of your daily rhythm and routines
They often help us regulate our emotions
There may be guilt, confusion, or sudden loss involved

Coping with pet loss means making room for grief, not pushing it away.

🧠 Read more: The Ralph Site – Pet Bereavement Support Resources

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Supporting Each Other Through Grief

Grieving looks different for every family member. Young children may not understand death, while teens may isolate or internalize their feelings. Parents might struggle to balance their own grief with supporting others.

Here are a few ways to gently support one another:

Talk openly about your pet – Share stories and say their name
Acknowledge all feelings – Even anger or guilt deserve space
Create rituals – A memory box, scrapbook, or backyard ceremony
Use books or art – Especially helpful for younger kids
Seek outside support – Grief counseling can help process deeper emotions

📖 Help kids understand grief with this guide from Sesame Street: “When a Pet Dies

🐶 The Role of Animal-Assisted Counseling in Grief

It might sound surprising, but working with a therapy animal can be a beautiful bridge to healing after pet loss. For some, spending time with a new animal helps ease the pain without “replacing” the one who passed. For others, therapy dogs like Sadie offer silent comfort and emotional regulation in sessions.

At AACI, we integrate grief-informed care with gentle animal-assisted therapy. Our clinicians help clients of all ages name their grief, express it safely, and begin to heal.

🕯️ Honoring the Bond

Sometimes families feel unsure about “moving on.” But healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means integrating love and loss into a new chapter.

Ways to honor your pet’s memory:

Frame a photo or create a digital slideshow
Plant a tree or flowers in their honor
Write a letter to your pet
Share your story with others (some families find comfort in memorial social posts or pet loss groups)

🐾 Join a community of pet lovers who understand – Pet Loss Support Group via Lap of Lov

💬 AACI Is Here to Support Your Healing

At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, we’re here for the tender parts of life too. Whether your child is having nightmares, your teen is acting withdrawn, or you just need to talk—we offer compassionate therapy that meets your family where you are.

You don’t have to grieve alone. Let us help you carry it, just contact us.