Pet Loss Support Groups and Hotlines

By Cheryl Wright, Founder of PetCremation.org | Updated May 2026

Pet loss can feel very lonely. Some people around you may understand. Others may not. You may hear comments that minimize the loss, or you may feel that you are grieving more deeply than people expect.

You do not have to carry that alone.

Pet loss support groups, hotlines, online communities, and grief counselors can give you a place to talk with people who understand that the loss of a pet can be a real and painful grief.

This guide brings together support options for families grieving the death of a dog, cat, or other companion animal.

Quick Answer: Where Can You Find Pet Loss Support?

You can find pet loss support through veterinary school hotlines, nonprofit pet bereavement groups, online support groups, grief counselors, and pet hospice organizations. Options include Cornell’s pet loss resources, the Tufts Pet Loss Support Helpline, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, and Lap of Love’s pet loss support groups. If grief feels unsafe or includes thoughts of self harm, call or text 988 in the United States for immediate crisis support.

Helpful related guides:

When Pet Loss Support Can Help

Support may help if you feel:

Alone in your grief
Guilty about decisions
Unsure whether your grief is normal
Unable to talk with friends or family
Overwhelmed by the silence at home
Distressed after euthanasia
Stuck in second guessing
Worried about a child or family member
In need of people who understand pet loss

You do not have to wait until grief becomes unbearable. Support can help even if you simply need someone to listen.

Pet Loss Hotlines

Cornell Pet Loss Resources

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine offers pet loss resources and lists a pet loss hotline for people grieving a companion animal. Cornell’s resources also include information about euthanasia and support after a pet’s death.

Official resource: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/impact/community-impact/pet-loss-resources-and-support

Tufts Pet Loss Support Helpline

Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine provides a Pet Loss Support Helpline and grief resources for pet owners. The Tufts page also lists additional pet loss resources and related support options.

Official resource: https://vet.tufts.edu/pet-loss-support-helpline

Online Pet Loss Support Groups

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement offers online pet loss support, including chat based support and other bereavement resources for people grieving companion animals.

Official resource: https://www.aplb.org/

Chat support page: https://www.aplb.org/chat-with-us/

Lap of Love Pet Loss Support

Lap of Love offers pet loss support resources, including free weekly virtual pet loss support groups and paid individual or group support options.

Official resource: https://www.lapoflove.com/our-services/pet-loss-support

When to Consider a Counselor or Therapist

A pet loss support group can be helpful, but some grief may need more personal support.

Consider a counselor, therapist, or grief specialist if:

You feel unable to function
You are not sleeping or eating
You feel intense guilt that does not ease
You feel isolated from everyone
You are grieving multiple losses at once
The loss is triggering earlier grief or trauma
You feel hopeless or unsafe

A therapist does not need to specialize only in pet loss to help. What matters is finding someone who takes the loss seriously.

Support for Children and Families

Children may need a different kind of support after a pet dies. A school counselor, pediatrician, therapist, or family grief counselor may help if a child is very withdrawn, anxious, unable to sleep, or talking about wanting to be with the pet.

Helpful guide:

Helping a Child Cope With Pet Loss

Support After Euthanasia

Many pet owners feel guilt after euthanasia, even when the decision was made to prevent suffering.

Support can help you talk through questions such as:

Did I wait too long?
Did I act too soon?
Did my pet know I loved them?
Was my pet afraid?
Did I make the right choice?

These questions are common. You do not have to answer them alone.

Helpful guides:

If You Need Immediate Crisis Support

Pet loss hotlines and support groups can help with grief, but they are not always crisis services.

If you are in the United States and feel at risk of self harm, or if you need immediate emotional crisis support, call or text 988 or use 988 chat. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides immediate crisis support by phone, text, and chat.

Official resource: https://988lifeline.org/

If there is immediate danger, call local emergency services.

How to Choose the Right Support Option

Different people need different kinds of support.

A hotline may help if you need to speak with someone soon.

A support group may help if you want to hear from others who understand.

A counselor may help if grief feels heavy, complicated, or connected to other losses.

An online community may help if you are not ready to speak out loud yet.

There is no wrong starting point. The important thing is not to grieve in silence if the grief feels too heavy to carry alone.

A Note From Cheryl

I created PetCremation.org because families need practical information after a pet dies, but many also need emotional support after the arrangements are made.

The quiet days afterward can be some of the hardest. The house feels different. The routine is gone. Other people may not understand the depth of the loss.

This page was created to help families find support that treats pet loss as real grief.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, mental health, veterinary, or legal advice. Pet loss support groups and hotlines are not a substitute for emergency care. If you feel at risk of self harm, call or text 988 in the United States or contact local emergency services.