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Pet Loss Support Lines & Communities

A phone resting on a table with soft light

You do not have to carry this alone — and yet, finding real support for pet loss can feel harder than it should. Here is a practical guide to the places and people who understand what you are going through.

Pet loss support lines

Several universities and organisations offer free, confidential telephone support for people grieving a pet:

• ASPCA Pet Loss Hotline (US): 1-877-GRIEF-10 (1-877-474-3310)
• Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline (US): 1-607-253-3932
• University of Illinois CARE Pet Loss Helpline (US): 1-877-394-2273
• The Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support (UK): 0800 096 6606
• Animal Samaritans (US): 1-760-329-0203

Online communities

For many people, being able to write rather than speak, and to connect across time zones and hours, makes online communities particularly valuable:

• r/Petloss on Reddit — a large, supportive, well-moderated community where pet loss is taken seriously.
• The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (aplb.org) — includes online chat groups.
• The Rainbow Bridge Grief Support Community — a long-established forum.
• Facebook groups specifically for pet loss — search for groups focused on your species of companion.

Professional support

If your grief is significantly affecting your daily functioning — sleep, work, relationships — speaking with a professional grief counsellor is a meaningful and practical step, not an overreaction. Many therapists now work specifically with pet loss.

What to expect from support lines

Pet loss support lines are staffed by trained volunteers or students, often from veterinary schools. Calls are confidential. You will not be judged, and you will not be told to 'move on.' You can call as often as you need, and you can call at any stage of the process — not just immediately after the loss.

Asking for support when you are grieving is not weakness. It is the wisest thing you can do.