Pet End-of-Life Doula Support for Families
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A companion animal end-of-life doula (CAD), also known as a pet death doula, is a trained professional who provides non-medical, non-judgmental support to animals nearing the end of their lives and their caregivers. They provide emotional and informational support, and work to complement the care provided by veterinarians, hospice, and palliative care.
Some services offered by a pet death doula can include:
End-of-Life and Advance Care Planning: Gathering relevant information and beneficial resources, and making plans for end-of-life wishes and after-death care.
Discussions: Facilitating safe and compassionate discussions about death and helping with decision-making.
Quality-of-Life Assessment Assistance: Helping assess your pet's quality of life during their final stages.
In-Home Support: Providing support during the end-of-life experience, including rituals and ceremonies.
Veterinary Clinic Support: Providing support during the end-of-life experience at the veterinary clinic.
Compassionate Presence: Creating a calm, nurturing environment during euthanasia or natural pet death, if requested.
Memorialization: Offering ways to memorialize your pet and celebrate your special bond.
Grief Support: Providing guidance and support throughout the grieving process, from anticipatory grief to post-death.
Resources
How do you know when it's time?
The Good Death article by Dr. Mel Newton
How Do I Know When It's Time? an article by Paws at Peace
Making Decisions When Your Companion Animal is Sick a comprehensive PDF from the Argus Institute
Knowing When It's Time to Say Goodbye a comprehensive YouTube video from Dr. Gardner, Lap of Love veterinarian
Reframing End-of-Life Decisions for Pet Parents a YouTube video from BrightHaven’s Gail Pope and Karen Wylie that explores a thoughtful approach to end-of-life choices and offers related resources.
Quality of Life Scales
Ohio State University Medical Veterinary Center article & quality of life scale (PDF)
Brighthaven's Living Quality of Life Care Assessment (PDF)
Lap of Love Quality of Life Scale (PDF)
Journey's Home Quality of Life Scale
Anticipatory Grief
How to Deal with Anticipatory Grief article by Lap of Love
Coping with Anticipatory Grief (YouTube video)
When the weight of anticipatory grief feels overwhelming, a simple mantra like, "You're here now," can become a powerful grounding tool. By saying it out loud while looking at your beloved companion, it can anchor you to the present moment and help shift focus to the time you still have together. Initially, this reminder may be needed often, but over time, those thoughts can begin to quiet naturally, making it easier to be present without constant prompting. In those quieter moments, it becomes clear that the greatest gift is simply being fully there- treasuring each moment without letting the worries of tomorrow overshadow the joys of today.
Pre-Planning and Aftercare
Pre-Planning and Pet Aftercare (PDF)
Lap of Love Find a Vet helps you search for an in-home veterinarian when euthanasia at home feels right. It can connect you with a caring professional in your area.
Vet Angel is an in-home pet hospice and euthanasia provider directory that connects families with local veterinarians offering compassionate end-of-life pet care in the comfort and familiarity of home.
Other Pets
Should Other Pets Be Present When We Say Goodbye?
How to Support a Grieving Pet (PDF)
Children and Pet Loss
Should My Child Be Present For Our Pet's Euthanasia?
Helping Children Cope with the Loss of a Pet
The Invisible Leash a book by Patrice Karst
How to Help A Child Grieving A Beloved Pet (PDF)
Coping with Pet Loss and Grief
Coping with the Loss of a Companion Animal (PDF)
Pet Loss Grief: The Pain Explained (YouTube video)
The Emotional Costs of Euthanasia (YouTube video)
The Physics of Death an article by Jamie Trosper
Pet Loss and Bereavement Support Groups
Lap of Love offers free online support groups and individual support (for a fee).
Oradell Animal Hospital offers online bereavement sessions hosted by a licensed social worker twice a month.
Dakin Humane Society offers monthly online support groups via Zoom.
Pet Loss Partners offers online chat rooms, virtual support groups and one-on-one support.
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement offers video support groups on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. EST.
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue offers an online pet loss support group via Zoom the first Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. PST.
Cornell University Pet Loss Support provides a hotline available at (607) 218-7457 on Sundays and Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. EST.
Petloss.com offers grief support, message boards, chat room and a candle lighting ceremony.
Rainbow Bridge offers pet memorials and a candle lighting ceremony.
If you would like any additional resources, please don't hesitate to email me at srdogsrock@gmail.com
You can glimpse the universe on the day your furbaby was born, the day they passed, or any special moment you shared. The NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive offers daily space images going back to 2015, letting you connect a cosmic snapshot to your cherished memories. This is the photo from the day my Bonnie passed, June 27, 2024.
Protostellar Outflows in Serpens- Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (NASA-JPL), Joel Green (STScI)
“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”
-- Jamie Anderson
My services are complimentary, but if you’d like to leave a tip, you’re welcome to do so by clicking the PayPal logo. Thank you for your support!
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