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The Pet Loss Companion: Healing Advice from Family Therapists Who Lead Pet Loss Groups
Everyone who's ever loved an animal companion will find wisdom and solace in this book. The authors share stories drawn from decades of experience leading pet loss groups and practicing family therapy. Their recommendations for taking care of yourself and loved ones during the rough spots of grief will answer all of your important questions and help you feel well-supported. I highly recommend The Pet Loss Companion for companion animal lovers like me.
— Ed Sayres, President & CEO of the ASPCA®
The Pet Loss Companion is a wonderfully reassuring book for anyone who cares about pets. It is a loving book, full of personal and practical details about how to care for oneself after loss. The authors are sensitive pet-lovers, empathic and engaging in this moving and meaningful book.
— Monica McGoldrick, MSW, Ph.D. (h.c.), Director, Multicultural Family Institute, and author of You Can Go Home Again
If you have ever lost a beloved pet and have wondered if your feelings are normal, this book is a must read for you. Ken and Nancy, in this single book, have captured the emotional roller coaster that most people experience during the end stages of the life of their pet. In addition there are helpful insights into their world as bereavement counselors and how they have helped their patients deal with the experiences of death. I have practiced Veterinary Medicine for over 30 years and have finally found a book that can be given to my grieving owners after such a trauma.
— Anthony Miele, DVM, CEO, Veterinary Asset Management, Inc.
What a gift Ken and Nancy’s book is to those of us who have cherished and lost a pet companion. They get it, and as such, gently and skillfully help to ease the treacherous journey that loss is. This gem explores the terrain of loss and grief and the vast love that surrounds the experience. Readers will be warmed, saddened, and delighted by the examples and tools that are provided to ease the necessary grief process. The experience of reading this little book leaves me feeling much gratitude for my pet companions and these authors who so beautifully convey the huge role they play in our lives.
— Lynn Parker, Ph.D., LCSW, Professor, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center is proud to offer free pet loss support as part of its programmatic efforts, with Nancy Saxton-Lopez at the helm for over 20 years. Together Ken and Nancy continue to provide this valuable service at our center twice monthly and they’ve expanded their reach by sharing their professional training and direct pet loss counseling expertise with the completion of The Pet Loss Companion . Their compassion for both pets and the people who love them is palpable in this concise, easy-to-read guide which offers understanding, solace, and hope to anyone struggling with the loss of a cherished animal companion, no matter the circumstances. The loss of a companion animal is a unique, yet not unique, grieving process not always well understood by others. This book connects and thereby supports people at a time of what can be isolating grief, providing a life raft or light to navigate the process. It’s also a helpful tool—whether as a gift or for personal awareness—for those looking for some guidance in supporting family and friends coping with pet loss.
— Heather Cammisa, President & CEO, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, Madison, New Jersey
— Ed Sayres, President & CEO of the ASPCA®
The Pet Loss Companion is a wonderfully reassuring book for anyone who cares about pets. It is a loving book, full of personal and practical details about how to care for oneself after loss. The authors are sensitive pet-lovers, empathic and engaging in this moving and meaningful book.
— Monica McGoldrick, MSW, Ph.D. (h.c.), Director, Multicultural Family Institute, and author of You Can Go Home Again
If you have ever lost a beloved pet and have wondered if your feelings are normal, this book is a must read for you. Ken and Nancy, in this single book, have captured the emotional roller coaster that most people experience during the end stages of the life of their pet. In addition there are helpful insights into their world as bereavement counselors and how they have helped their patients deal with the experiences of death. I have practiced Veterinary Medicine for over 30 years and have finally found a book that can be given to my grieving owners after such a trauma.
— Anthony Miele, DVM, CEO, Veterinary Asset Management, Inc.
What a gift Ken and Nancy’s book is to those of us who have cherished and lost a pet companion. They get it, and as such, gently and skillfully help to ease the treacherous journey that loss is. This gem explores the terrain of loss and grief and the vast love that surrounds the experience. Readers will be warmed, saddened, and delighted by the examples and tools that are provided to ease the necessary grief process. The experience of reading this little book leaves me feeling much gratitude for my pet companions and these authors who so beautifully convey the huge role they play in our lives.
— Lynn Parker, Ph.D., LCSW, Professor, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center is proud to offer free pet loss support as part of its programmatic efforts, with Nancy Saxton-Lopez at the helm for over 20 years. Together Ken and Nancy continue to provide this valuable service at our center twice monthly and they’ve expanded their reach by sharing their professional training and direct pet loss counseling expertise with the completion of The Pet Loss Companion . Their compassion for both pets and the people who love them is palpable in this concise, easy-to-read guide which offers understanding, solace, and hope to anyone struggling with the loss of a cherished animal companion, no matter the circumstances. The loss of a companion animal is a unique, yet not unique, grieving process not always well understood by others. This book connects and thereby supports people at a time of what can be isolating grief, providing a life raft or light to navigate the process. It’s also a helpful tool—whether as a gift or for personal awareness—for those looking for some guidance in supporting family and friends coping with pet loss.
— Heather Cammisa, President & CEO, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, Madison, New Jersey
116 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2013
73 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 20, 2021
This book was helpful. It's small, so I could read it all in one day. The explanations it offered about why I'm feeling certain ways made me cry more but it also made me feel better to know other people experience the same things and that my grief is justified and not overdramatic. It helped me with my guilt too, which is also a common emotion when you have to say goodbye to an animal. I'm definitely going to be referring back to it over the next few months when I need to. I wish there were any pet loss support groups where I live.
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June 15, 2017having just lost my cat of 18+ years, maybe this will help the giant hole in my heart.
December 12, 2017
I found this book very useful, and I firmly believe it came to me in perfect timing in a will beyond my own. I had just put down my black lab of a little bit over 12 years, to a progressive throat paralysis complication. this meant my scheduled appointment at the vet, was the last ride I would ever take with my special girl. the first 3 days after her passing we're filled with agonizing loss and grief, tears the likes of which I thought I would never cry. I believe that I do what I can to do constant work on my heart and on my mind. this being the case when I was looking for a book, I wanted the book to be one that I know is highly rated and if possible one that I found other people who had grieved as much as me found some type of Comfort in. most of this book ended up being extremely helpful, tips on remembering your pets spirit, how to do a burial or Memorial that works right for you, and most importantly " when" I could expect to heal, and when, if ever a new pet is " right" and so on. Basically, though my mind and heart are not in the place that worries me. I found myself reading and nodding my head knowing I'm not too far out there in one extreme or another. I'm not heartbroken so much that I'm paralyzed in pain, but I'm certainly not anywhere near normal. This book is a good step towards healing.
December 29, 2019
"Nancy often reminds people that deciding to euthanize means deciding to end suffering rather than deciding to kill. Your pet experiences their final moments here not as a time of betrayal but as moments in which your care for them continues. Trust is not betrayed but, rather, fulfilled by your decision to provide an easier transition. "
This booked helped me so much, but especially the passage about euthanasia. If your grieving the loss of a pet, this is a must read.
This booked helped me so much, but especially the passage about euthanasia. If your grieving the loss of a pet, this is a must read.
May 1, 2025
“Your pain will grow ever smaller, but the love you feel for your pet will be yours to keep.” ❤️🩹
This book has been such an important tool in my healing these last couple of weeks. I still fall apart at least once a day - I miss Leeloo so goddamn much - but this book has helped me get through each of these hard days.
It reminds me that, even if not everyone understands it, the overwhelming grief that I am feeling is okay & normal. It reminds me to lean into the joy of now & to remember the joy of the past. It reminds me that every minute we had together was a gift.
But mostly, it reminds me that grief is just love we didn’t get to share. And what a gift it is to feel & to know this much love.
This book has been such an important tool in my healing these last couple of weeks. I still fall apart at least once a day - I miss Leeloo so goddamn much - but this book has helped me get through each of these hard days.
It reminds me that, even if not everyone understands it, the overwhelming grief that I am feeling is okay & normal. It reminds me to lean into the joy of now & to remember the joy of the past. It reminds me that every minute we had together was a gift.
But mostly, it reminds me that grief is just love we didn’t get to share. And what a gift it is to feel & to know this much love.
August 20, 2018
I found this book the week I had to say goodbye to my beloved cat, Boo. The authors of this book have put together something very comforting to those of us having a hard time with our grief over losing our pets. The book is concise, compassionate, and addresses so many of the things swirling around in our minds during this time. I highly recommend it to anyone grieving the loss of an animal companion. There are many passages I will be coming back to again and again in the future.
October 16, 2018
Salve for an open wound
Dear Drs Ken and Nancy. It's been two weeks since we said goodbye to our precious Lucy. (Lab mix) we've had many dogs but she was special. Your book is what I needed to put this grief into perspective. Thank you
Dear Drs Ken and Nancy. It's been two weeks since we said goodbye to our precious Lucy. (Lab mix) we've had many dogs but she was special. Your book is what I needed to put this grief into perspective. Thank you
April 12, 2024
Anyone who listens to Ken & Nancy’s podcast will recognize the themes in their book. I could almost hear them reading it as the content was so familiar. The consistency of their messages, from book to podcast just makes sense. I found their work after losing my precious boy, Mozzie, just a little over a month ago. Deep in despair, I of course began to Google- searching for how to live again. Enter their podcast, enter this book. Anyone who is experiencing the pain of pet loss can relate to their message. The length is perfect, the language is accessible. They’ve been where we are and they will be there again. You can hear it in their words; their tender hearts, they just get it. I didn’t feel like I would ever be able to wade through this grief, until I found the Pet Loss Companion. I can’t say enough how much comfort their work has provided me, day-to-day, in an otherwise deeply painful, hopeless existence. If you pick-up the book, listen to their podcast too. You are not alone. 💕
October 12, 2020
For the first week or so after my beloved Shade passed, my companion for nearly 20 years, I was inconsolable. It was difficult to focus on much of anything. I just sat there replaying those final moments over and over, the last few days, rollercoastering through feelings of disbelief, anger, guilt, regret.
The only thing that helped, oddly, was to read about it. Reading support forums, other people's stories, articles, and eventually books. I really appreciated this book as it wasn't heavy on religion, as many similar books tend to be. I'm very secular and reassurances about God and his plans and heaven do nothing to comfort. My only wish for this book that it was a bit longer. I devoured it in a day.
The only thing that helped, oddly, was to read about it. Reading support forums, other people's stories, articles, and eventually books. I really appreciated this book as it wasn't heavy on religion, as many similar books tend to be. I'm very secular and reassurances about God and his plans and heaven do nothing to comfort. My only wish for this book that it was a bit longer. I devoured it in a day.
December 29, 2023
Losing a pet can be a deeply emotional experience, as pets often become cherished members of the family. The grieving process for pet loss is unique to each individual, and people may go through various stages of sadness, denial, anger, and acceptance. Finding support from friends, family, or pet loss support groups can be helpful in coping with the grief. Creating a memorial or remembering the positive moments shared with the pet can also aid in the healing process. It's important to allow oneself time to grieve and seek support when needed.
This book is one of the best I read in the last two months. I highly recommend reading it.
This book is one of the best I read in the last two months. I highly recommend reading it.
April 8, 2023
This book is an excellent guide to navigating the loss of a pet, and helped me after losing our beloved cat. It helped me make sense of the grief I was going through and to cope with the sometimes hurtful but well-meaning comments of others who may not understand. It also validates the feeling that the loss of a pet can be every bit as painful as losing a human family member or friend, and sometimes even more so due to the nature of the bond and the way pets become so entwined in our daily lives.
March 20, 2024
4.25 This was super helpful. I am going to buy a copy for anyone in my life who loses an especially vital animal companion. It is easy to read and to finish--a short book with many helpful suggestions that may not be intuitive for people who are grieving.
What would have made it a 5 star rating?
some of the chapters are simplistic and overly list-like (if that is an adjective)
It would have been good to have more stories of people and their pets' lives and deaths, illustrating different types of grief processes.
But what is here is very good.
What would have made it a 5 star rating?
some of the chapters are simplistic and overly list-like (if that is an adjective)
It would have been good to have more stories of people and their pets' lives and deaths, illustrating different types of grief processes.
But what is here is very good.
July 23, 2022
I list Barley on July 8, 2022. I’ve lost pets before and grieved for them. As expected, saying goodbye to Barley and healing from losing him by my side is one of the hardest things I’ve had to live through. This book made me cry and has helped guide me toward healing while being gentle and kind with myself, accepting that there is nothing wrong with me while I struggle to complete all of my life tasks.
November 21, 2022
This is a great self-help book for anyone who is grieving/has grieved the loss of a pet. I found this book through a video of someone who was also grieving a pet. It is an easy, quick read on purpose. There is a lot of helpful information and this book has helped me find a little more relief as I continue to grieve my companion animal. The book can be read in a few hours, however, I needed breaks because it did bring up a lot of emotions.
March 7, 2019
This book is wonderful for anyone who has lost a furry friend over the years. Wheather your grief is new and raw, or old and a memory this book is great for you. It really helps to settle the mind and the heart, while giving great tips to help you cope. I would recommend this book to anyone in any profession. It is important to understand the human-animal bond, and it's effect on people.
April 6, 2019
This book was recommended to me after the loss of my dog Dakota. I found it to be very helpful. Lots of encouragement & reassurance that it’s ok & in fact normal to grieve the loss of your pet. What I liked: its short & helpful. Including real stories. What I didn’t like: the two authors co-writing style. I’d have preferred 1 author or a clear distinction of who was “speaking.”
March 2, 2022
I can't imagine a more perfectly and compassionately written resource. This is the second pet loss book that I've read and the difference between them was quite noticeable. To anyone who has lost a pet, or knows someone who has, I deeply encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It has helped me in ways I cannot explain at this time.
June 16, 2023
"You will emerge from your grief in a place different from where you started."
"Grief teaches that compassion and forgiveness toward ourselves and others makes sense because we live in an unpredictable world over which we have limited control."
"Your capacity to weather your pet's death demonstrates your resilience."
"Grief teaches that compassion and forgiveness toward ourselves and others makes sense because we live in an unpredictable world over which we have limited control."
"Your capacity to weather your pet's death demonstrates your resilience."
June 5, 2019
Beautifully written, full of empathy and practical tips for dealing with the loss of a companion. Short chapters make it easy to digest, and personal stories help with processing your own grief. Definitely recommend.
January 26, 2023
A good, short and easy to comprehend book that helped validate my feelings of loss and grief after we had to suddenly put down our sweet cat due to late-stage cancer. I recommend to anyone who feels at a loss with their feelings over anticipating or just losing a pet.
July 1, 2023
A book you dread reading but absolutely need to read if you are experiencing pet loss… this book articulated all my thoughts and feelings from losing my boxer puppy and reassured me that my thoughts are shared my many.
December 24, 2022
Very thoughtful and concise. I appreciate the advice and stories shared here.
June 8, 2023
Highly recommend if you have lost a pet.
February 9, 2024
just what I needed
One of the best books to get you through the loss of your pet. Of all the books I read this one was the biggest help.
One of the best books to get you through the loss of your pet. Of all the books I read this one was the biggest help.
July 21, 2025
A wonderful, wonderful book! a great read for people that have a pet or have had a pet pass away.
December 10, 2025
As a veterinary social worker, this is the top book that I recommend to clients, friends and family who are facing the death of a beloved pet. Highly recommend!!!
January 19, 2023
Helped Immensely
Compassionate guidance, kind, patient reminders and sheer love and understanding in this book is helping me through a deep and devastating loss. I highly encourage anyone who has lost their sweet companion, regardless of how, read this book. It’s brevity helped me during times when I thought I couldn’t focus.
Compassionate guidance, kind, patient reminders and sheer love and understanding in this book is helping me through a deep and devastating loss. I highly encourage anyone who has lost their sweet companion, regardless of how, read this book. It’s brevity helped me during times when I thought I couldn’t focus.
December 23, 2021
Written by a therapist, this book shares perspectives on grieving a lost pet. This and their podcast has been very helpful to me during this trying time mourning my baby Tofu, who passed in October. I recommend grieving pet parents check this out. Helps me to feel less alone in my grief.
September 17, 2024
I lost my soulmate kitty almost two weeks ago, and I was drawn to buy this book. I'm so glad that I did. This grieving experience has been the most intense grief I've ever had, and I'm no stranger to loss. But having this book to help me has been a godsend these past two weeks. It's amazing how much just understanding what's going on within you and why can help you to cope with the intense pain. I will always miss my baby, and I will always have this book to fall back on when the grief gets too heavy to carry alone.
Second read: I lost my other kitty just eight short months after losing my soulmate kitty, and my heart is totally wrecked. However, this book is a godsend. It's my favorite of the pet grief books I've read. The book is brief but informative. It's written in a manner that allows you to digest small bits of information at a time. The chapters are short but highly informative, and short is good when you're grieving because it's hard to stay focused for long amidst heartache like that. I will be revisiting this book. It's proven to be my most helpful source of working through the grief. I cannot recommend it enough to grieving pet parents.
Second read: I lost my other kitty just eight short months after losing my soulmate kitty, and my heart is totally wrecked. However, this book is a godsend. It's my favorite of the pet grief books I've read. The book is brief but informative. It's written in a manner that allows you to digest small bits of information at a time. The chapters are short but highly informative, and short is good when you're grieving because it's hard to stay focused for long amidst heartache like that. I will be revisiting this book. It's proven to be my most helpful source of working through the grief. I cannot recommend it enough to grieving pet parents.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews