Bereaving the Loss of a Beloved Dog: Getting Help

TOLL FREE! PET LOSS HOTLINES

Grief Recovery Hotline
(800) 445-4808
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm PST

The Iams Pet Loss Support Center & Hotline
(888) 332-7738 Monday thru Saturday, 8am to 8pm

Iowa State University Pet-Loss Support Hotline
(888) 478-7574
Staffed by Volunteers of the Iowa State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/support/
September thru April: 7 days a week, 6pm to 9pm CST
May thru August: Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 6pm to 9pm CST

College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois
C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Helpline
(877) 394-2273
http://net.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE/
The C.A.R.E. Helpline is staffed by veterinary students who have have received training from grief counselors. They also receive supervision from a licensed psychologist.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) National Pet Loss Hotline
424 East 92nd St., New York, NY 10128
(800) 946-4646, 24 hours a day - use your keypad to punch in the pin number 140-7211 and then your own phone number. The call will be returned immediately.
Contact: Stephanie LaFarge, Ph.D
New York City residents may be seen in person at the ASPCA headquarters.

University of California - Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Pet Loss Support Hotline
(800) 565-1526
6:30pm to 9:30pm PST Monday thru Friday
Summer Hours: 6:30pm to 9:30pm PST Tuesday thru Thursday
Calls may be returned collect if no counselor is currently available.

Pet Loss Support Pet Friends
(800) 404-PETS
P.O. Box 131
Moorestown, NJ 08057-0131
Long distance calls will be returned collect.

University of Florida Pet Loss Support Hotline, Gainesville
(352) 392-4700, Ext. 4080
Staffed by University of Florida Veterinary students
Calls will be returned 7pm to 9pm EST
Website - http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/alt_med/petgrief/petloss.htm
This hotline will call back anyone, anywhere, at no cost to the caller.

The Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Pet Loss Support Helpline
Emil and Mary Baukert. C/O Riser Animal Hospital, 5335 W. Touhy Ave., Skokie, IL 60077
(630) 603-3994
This Helpline was established in 1993. It provides referral materials on professional grief counseling and information packets on the areas of children & grief, euthanasia, pet loss & the elderly, and a pet loss bibliography. A volunteer will pick up voice messages and call back between 7pm and 9pm CST every evening. Long distance calls will be returned collect.

Companion Animal Association of Arizona Pet Grief Support Hotline
P.O. Box 5006, Scottsdale, AZ 85261-5006
(602) 995-5885
This helpline is operated by trained volunteers 24 hours a day. Long distance calls will be returned collect.

Delta Society Pet Loss Support Hotline
Palm Springs Network
146 Pali, Palm Springs, Ca 92264
(619) 320-3298

Michigan State University Pet Loss Support, College of Veterinary Medicine
Clinical Center, C-100 East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-5064
Contact: Sally Walshaw, M.A., V.M.D.
The Hotline is staffed by veterinary student volunteers from 6:30pm to 9:30pm EST on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline
(508) 839-7966
Hours: Monday thru Friday, 6:00pm to 9:00 pm EST

Companion Animal Hospital Pet Loss Support Hotline
Box 35, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6401
(607) 253-3932
Hours: 6:00pm to 9:00pm EST, Tuesday thru Thursday

The Ohio State University Pet Loss Hotline
(614) 292-1823
This hotline is in operation Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 6:30pm to 9:30pm CST.

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline
(540) 231-8038
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00pm to 9:00pm EST

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement's Chat Rooms are designed to provide a safe and supportive haven for those who have lost a beloved animal companion. Discussions are not ones for social chatting, as they are solely designated to cover topics related to pet loss and bereavement. It is important to note that while these chat rooms are caring and highly effective discussions, they should not be confused with clinical psychological counseling sessions. Rather, the focus is solely on pet bereavement. Although the tone is one of compassion and constructive supportiveness, this association cannot always regulate the variables that may arise in such an environment. In addition, advice or other considerations that are offered should not be construed as part of a professional counseling session. Those who are newly bereaved and visiting a chat room for the first time should try to come in as early as possible. In that way, more individual attention can be provided as chats can get crowded later on in the sessions.

Friday: 8-11pm EST: Dr. Wallace Sife, Moderator and Ellie Waldron, Co-host

Wednesday: 8-11pm EST: Ellie Waldron, Moderator and Ursula Brower, Co-host

Sunday: 2-5pm EST: Ursula Brower, Moderator

Monday: 8-11pm EST: Ursula Brower, Moderator

Dr. Sife, Ellie, and Ursula can be reached at aplb@aplb.org if you are in deep bereavement and need to communicate before their next scheduled chat time.

PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUPS & COUNSELORS

M. Laura Forbes, MSW, LCSW
4710 Winchester Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 960-5402
E-mail: LForbesMSW@aol.com
Laura Forbes specializes in grief and loss issues with a particular concern for companion animal loss. She works with all ages.

Lincolnshire Animal Hospital Pet Loss Counseling
420 Half Day Rd., Lincolnshire, IL 60069
(847) 634-9250
Contact: Marilyn G. Putz, M.A.
Marilyn G. Putz is employed as a Pet Loss Counselor. She sees individuals privately or in a group setting and works with those who are anticipating the loss of a companion animal as well as those who have already experienced such a loss. Ms. Putz is additionally a dog trainer & handler, and is active in rescue work and animal-assisted activities.

Zabin and Associates, PC
9701 Knox, Ste. 214, Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 677-3055
Email: ZABINJ@aol.com
Contact: Jerry M. Zabin, LCSW
Jerry Zabin, LCSW, in practice since 1976, brings much practical experience in working with grief and loss.

Joan Kellogg, M.A.
135 Park Ave., Barrington, IL 60010-4354
(847) 382-2286
Email: Msjkellog@aol.com
Ms. Kellogg's degree specialty is thanatology. She offers lectures and information sessions and has had much experience with pet loss support, including developing rituals for closure and that of memorials.

Kathleen Renick, MA, ACSW, CADC
525 South Washington, Suite 4A
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 686-6808
Email: Kats@megsinet.net

Rob Castillo, LSW, MSW, CADC
100 North Lincolnway
Suite D Office 2
North Aurora, IL 60542
(630) 223-0809
Email: robsocwk@enteract.com

Deb Wojcik, LCSW
P.O. Box 5051
Skokie, IL 60076-5051
(773) 743-1386
Email: counselink@aol.com

PET LOSS CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIES

Bloomington: Faithful Friends Memory Gardens, 1105 S Morris Ave., Bloomington, IL 61701-6352, (309) 828-8424

Cary: Fawnwoods of Windridge Memorial Park, P.O. Box 450, Cary, IL 60013, (847) 639-3883

Edwardsville: Sunset Hills Memorial Estates, 2900 S. State Route 157, Edwardsville, IL 62025-9067, (618) 656-3220

Elk Grove Village: Saint Francis Pet Foundation, 700 Nicholas Blvd., Ste. 200, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, (630) 766-3646, (888) 766-3646 (within IL), http://www.sfpcweb.com/index.htm, Francis2b@aol.com

Elmhurst: Elmlawn Pet Cemetery & Pet Crematorium, 401 E Lake St., Elmhurst, IL 60126-5500, (630) 833-9696

Monee: Evergreen Pet Cemetery, 26215 S Ridgeland Ave., Monee, IL 60449-9354 (708) 534-5700 Pekin: Katy's Pet Burial Supplies/Cemetery & Crematory, 905 S 5th St., Pekin, IL 61554-4521, (309) 346-1065

Peoria: Springdale Pet Haven, Peoria, IL 61603-1603, (309) 685-7203

Rockford: Arlington Pet Cemetery, 6202 Charles St., Rockford, IL 61108-6823, (815) 399-5011

Rockford: Perry Chapel, 6825 Weaver Road, Rockford, IL 61114, 815-282-6202>

Romeoville: Cremation Society of IL, 795 Forestwood Drive, Romeoville, 815-886-2000

Smithton: Faithful Pet Memorial Gardens, Smithton, IL 62285-2285, (618) 277-6652

Springfield: Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home & Cremation, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL 62703, (618) 656-3220, cbutler@famvid.com

Springfield: Pet Haven Cemetery, I-72 at Camp Butler Exit, Springfield, IL 62707, (217) 525-2293

Vernon Hills: Aarrowood Pet Cemetery & Crematory, 24090 N. US Hwy. 45, Vernon Hills, IL 60061-3180, (847) 634-3787

Willowbrook: Hinsdale Animal Cemetery and Crematory, 6400 S. Bentley Ave., Willowbrook IL 60514, (630) 323-5120, http://www.petcemetery.org/, Info@petcemetery.org

Winnebago: Valhalla Pet Cemetery, 3415 N Winnebago Rd., Winnebago, IL 61088-8710, (815) 335-7207, valhalla@atyoursos.net http://valhalla.atyoursos.net

Wood Dale: St Francis Pet Crematorium, 6 N 441 Catalpa Ave., Wood Dale, IL 60191, (708) 766-3646

The above resources only serve as a guide. Although I am a Nationally Certified School Psychologist published in the field of human loss and bereavement (Stress and Illness in the Family: A Linear versus Family Life Space Perspective; The Child with Cancer: A Life Space Study of Six Families), I do not have personal knowledge of the expertise of any of those persons or facilities providing these pet loss services.