Helplines & Crisis Support
If you are struggling with grief after losing a pet, please reach out. General mental health lines are available 24 hours and are experienced in all forms of loss.
Beyond Blue
24/7 support for anxiety, depression, and grief. Free to call from anywhere in Australia.
beyondblue.org.au1300 22 4636
Lifeline Australia
Crisis support and suicide prevention. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
lifeline.org.au13 11 14
GriefLine
Specialised grief and bereavement telephone support across Australia. Free, confidential, and experienced with pet loss.
griefline.org.au1300 845 745
Kids Helpline
For children and young people who are grieving the loss of a pet. Free, confidential, available 24/7.
kidshelpline.com.au1800 55 1800
Support Groups
Connecting with others who understand what you are going through can be deeply comforting. These groups are available online and in person.
APLB Weekly Chat Room
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement hosts a free moderated online chat room for people grieving the loss of a pet.
Join the chat room →APLB Support Group Directory
Search for in-person and online pet loss support groups near you, including Australian options.
Search the directory →Local Options
Your local veterinary college, RSPCA, or humane society may offer pet loss support groups. It is worth calling to ask.
Individual Counselling
Sometimes a private conversation with a professional is what helps most. These resources can connect you with a counsellor experienced in pet loss and grief.
Veterinary Vitality
by vets for pet grief
Counsellor & veterinarian
Counsellor & veterinarian
We lose a part of us when we lose a pet. There is never a ‘right’ time. The bond we share with them is unlike any other, built on unwavering loyalty, unconditional love, and a quiet companionship that fills our lives with warmth and joy. Their loss is heart-wrenching, and the grief can be so devastating that it becomes difficult to find enjoyment in everyday life without them. Our feelings may be unintentionally invalidated by other people as they try to comfort us, leaving us to grieve alone, unsure of where to turn for support.
The added weight and responsibility of electing euthanasia to alleviate suffering may add doubt, guilt, and feelings of failure to our already fragile emotional state.
As experienced veterinarians, qualified counsellors, and dedicated pet owners we ‘get’ you. We’ve supported many of our clients through this journey, and we’ve been there ourselves.
Our sessions provide a safe, confidential and empathic place for you to explore your grief, and find meaning in the depths of your pain, one step at a time.
Pet Eden
Tracey Woods is an Australian pet loss bereavement counsellor offering dedicated support for people grieving the loss of a pet.
peteden.com.au →0410 411 714
In The Pink — Lara Casanova
Life coach and professional counsellor specialising in grief and loss, including pet loss. Author of Loss, Love and Lessons — Healing Pet Loss and Grief.
lifeinthepink.com.au →Books available here →
APLB Counsellor Directory
A searchable directory of counsellors and therapists who specialise in pet loss grief, including Australian-based practitioners.
Find a counsellor →Psychology Today — Australia
Search for a grief counsellor in your area. When contacting a counsellor, ask if they are experienced with pet loss — most will be willing to help.
psychologytoday.com/au →Books for Adults
These books offer comfort, perspective, and practical guidance for navigating grief after losing a beloved companion.
Loss, Love and Lessons — Healing Pet Loss and Grief
Lara Casanova — written by an Australian grief counsellor specialising in pet loss. Available at lifeinthepink.com.au
When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing
Alan Wolfelt
The Loss of a Pet
Wallace Sife — a widely-read and compassionate guide to understanding pet loss grief
Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Love
Lorri Greene — practical and emotional support for the journey
The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss
Russell Friedman — a structured approach to moving through grief
Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief
Coleen Ellis
Goodbye My Friend: Grieving the Loss of a Pet
Mary and Herb Montgomery — available as both a book and a short booklet
Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children
Herbert Neiburg and Arlene Fischer
Books for Children
Helping children understand and process the loss of a pet is one of the most important conversations a family can have. These books offer gentle, age-appropriate guidance.
When a Pet Dies
Fred Rogers — gentle and reassuring, suitable for young children
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
Judith Viorst — a classic about remembering what we loved
Dog Heaven / Cat Heaven
Cynthia Rylant — two beautiful picture books offering comfort and warmth
Always Remember
Cece Meng — a tender story about loss and the love that remains
I'll Always Love You
Hans Wilhelm — a gentle story about saying goodbye to a beloved dog
Saying Goodbye to Lulu
Corinne Demas — honest and comforting for children facing pet loss
Forever Friend: Saying Goodbye to a Special Dog / Cat
Mary Gardner and Coleen Ellis — a guide and activity book for children, available in both cat and dog editions
Healing Your Grieving Heart for Kids
Alan Wolfelt — compassionate guidance for children working through grief
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf
Leo Buscaglia — a timeless story about life, change, and gentle endings
Memorialisation
Honouring your pet's memory is a deeply personal and healing part of the grief journey. There is no right or wrong way — whatever brings you comfort is meaningful.
Create a memory box
Collect photos, a collar, a favourite toy, and a paw print. Having a physical place to remember them can be deeply comforting.
Plant something in their memory
A garden plant, a tree, or a pot of their favourite herbs. Something living that grows alongside your memories.
Commission a portrait
Many Australian artists specialise in pet portraits. A framed painting or drawing can be a lasting and beautiful tribute.
Write them a letter
Writing about what your pet meant to you — what you loved, what you will miss, what they gave you — can be a powerful part of healing.
APLB Pet Loss Support
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement has a dedicated pet loss support page with further memorialisation ideas.
aplb.org →Paw print memento
Ask your vet about a paw print keepsake at the time of your pet's passing. Next Animal includes this as part of our end-of-life care.