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

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

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 night, 8 - 10, EST. Dr. Wallace Sife, Moderator, Ellie Waldron, Co- host, and Karen Borga and Connie Starr, Assistant Hosts

Sunday afternoon, 2 - 4, EST. Sarah Robinson, Moderator, and Valerie Brideau, Assistant Host

Monday night, 8 - 10, EST. Ursula Brower, Moderator, Sarah Robinson and Laurie Koen Co-hosts, and Sue Laue, Assistant Host

Wednesday night, 8 - 10, EST. Ellie Waldron, Moderator, Gayla Stone and Deborah Norman, Assistant Hosts

Anticipatory Chat: Thursday night, 8 - 10, EST. Lois Roach, Moderator, and Jenny Wilson, Assistant Host

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

Marlynn Wei, MD, JD
weitherapy.com
(917) 740-5688
Union Square, Manhattan
Dr. Marlynn Wei is a therapist and psychiatrist who specializes in pet loss and grief counseling. She has individual and group therapy available.

Marian A. McClellan, LCSW
185 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 679-4877
Marian A. McClellan works with children, adolescents, and adults. She has a special interest in and personal experience with pet loss and bereavement.

"Paw to Heart". Pet Bereavement Support Group
P.O. Box 317 Massapequa, NY 11758
(516) 785-6416
Contact: Medea D. Berkman, Supportive Care Counselor
This group meets monthly with telephone counseling available in the interim. Educational materials on the grief process are distributed at each meeting. The group is free of charge, but does accepts donations. Ms. Berkman is a trained mental health/HIV counselor and a former veterinary assistant/technician with degrees in psychology and animal science. She is also Vice President of the newly formed Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement.

Pet/People Problems - Education Therapy Service
145 E. 15th Street, Suite 1F, New York, NY 10003
(212) 473-0932
Email: CFUDIN@aol.com
Contact: Dr. Carole E. Fudin
Dr. Fudin provides individual and family counseling for pet loss and euthanasia decision making.

Naomi Taicher, C.S.W.
498 West End Avenue Suite 1D, New York, NY 10024
(212) 787-1932
Naomi Taicher has experience helping individuals, couples and groups address many issues including grief related to loss of human and animal companions. She is also available for presentations and workshops on pet loss and bereavement.

Victoria Wurman, C.S.W.
337 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014
(212) 929-8927
Victoria Wurman works with adults and teenagers and group work is her specialty. Ms. Wurman is particularly interested in helping people with issues involved in nursing a chronically ill animal.

A.G. Associates
(914) 664-1119
Contact: Andrea Gibbs, C.S.W.
A.G. Associates offers individual, family and group companion animal counseling services. Counseling is available to address illness, euthanasia and bereavement issues. Ms Gibbs has over 20 years of experience as a companion animal specialist.

Holistic Consulting Centre
29 Lyman Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305
(718) 720-5548
Contact: Barbara Meyers, CGT
Barbara Meyers specializes in animal related loss and grief. She is a Symposia lecturer at the foundation of Thanatology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and associate faculty member of the Seminar on Death at Columbia University. Long distance consultations are provided and an initial phone consultation is available without cost. Literature is also available upon request.

Pet Loss Support Program
The Animal Medical Center. 510 E. 62nd Street, New York, NY 10021
(212) 838-8100

William Solz, CSW, CASAC
710A Prospect Place
Bellmore, NY 11710
(631) 783-8358 ext. 51
Email: Bsolzcsw@aol.com

Wallace Sife, Ph.D.
1420 Ocean Parkway Apt. 4J
Brooklyn, NY 11230
(718) 339-3592 (also fax ) (718) 382-0690
Email: Sife@aol.com / aplb@aplb.org
Pioneer in pet bereavement and founder-President of APLB.

Barbara W. Zukowski, B.S., M.S.W., L.C.S.W.-R
Maspeth Holistic Psychotherapy Services
61-19 56th St.
Maspeth, NY 11378-3312
(646) 284-4952
Email: BSJPilgrim@aol.com

Irene Javors, M.Ed.
32-22 89th Street #605
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
Phone/fax: (718) 476-7834 Answering service: (212) 946-6465
E-mail: kelpie1@aol.com

Mary-Hale (Toni) Andres, BA
Asbury Road
Lansing, NY 14882
(607) 257-2213 fax: (607) 253-3527
Email: ma36@cornell.edu

Liz Margolies, CSW
9 Patchin Place
New York City, NY 10011
(212) 675-2633
Email: liz.nyc@earthlink.net
Liz Margolies leads a free drop-in pet loss support group on the first and third Wednesday of
each month at Animal General, 140 West 67th Street in New York. She also trains paraprofessional bereavement counselors and lecture on the human/animal bond in this country and around
the world.

Naomi Taicher
MSW, CSW, Certified Psychoanalyst
498 West End Avenue, Suite 1D
New York City , NY 10024
(212) 787-1932

Victoria Buskirk Macia, MSW
2038 Route 376 Suite 2
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
(914) 462-0439 fax: (914) 462-2694
Email: Vmacia@mindspring.com

Jennifer Breslow, LCAT
www.artpsychotherapynyc.com
156 Fifth Avenue, Suite 508
New York, NY 10010
(646) 481-5228
Email: artpsychotherapynyc@gmail.com
Jennifer Breslow is a licensed psychotherapist, art therapist and animal lover in private practice in New York City. She has been trained as a pet loss and bereavement counselor by the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement, and has extensive experience working with people who are dealing with depression, anxiety, and the pain of grief and loss. She offers individual and group pet loss counseling.

PET LOSS CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIES

Albany: Memory's Garden, 1207 Greenwich Dr., Albany, NY 12203, (518) 355-4030

Binghamton: Allens Pet Cemetery, 1946 State Route 12, Binghamton, NY 13901-5515, (607) 648-5246

Brooklyn: Aldstate Pet Cremation Services, 306 83rd St., Brooklyn, NY, (718) 748-2104

Brooklyn: Pet Crematory Service, 1724 Bath Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11214, (718) 234-3653

Bullville: Abbingdon Hill Pet Animal Cemetery, Bullville, NY 10915, (914) 361-4400

Cato: Breezy Pines Pet Cemetery, 2447 Veley Road, Cato, NY 13033, (315) 626-2410

Ellenburg Depot: Drownwood Forest Pet Cemetery, Box 163, 13 Cemetery Lane, Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935, (518) 594-7500

Farmingdale: Eternal Light Pet Cremations , 124 Marine St., Farmingdale, NY 11735-5608, (516) 756-7944

Hartsdale: Hartsdale Pet Cemetery & Crematory, 75 N. Central Park Ave., Hartsdale, NY 10503, (800) 375-5234, (914) 949-2583, http://www.petcem.com/, info@petcem.com

Hyde Park: Faithful Companion Pet Memorial Park & Cremation, 636 Violet Ave., Hyde Park, NY 12538, (845) 452-7722

Marion: Evergreen Hill Pet Cemetery, Ball Rd., Marion, NY 14505, (315) 589-2896

Middle Island: Regency Forest Pet Memorial Park, 760 Middle Country Road, Middle Island, NY 11953, (516) 345-0600

Montgomery: Abbington Hill Pet Cemetery, 148 Youngblood Road, Montgomery, NY 12549, (914) 361-2200

New York: We Kare Kennels , 410 W. 220th St., New York, NY 10034, (212) 567-2100

Saratoga Springs: Saratoga Pet Cemetery, RR 9, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-9809, (518) 587-2662

Seneca: Pine Rest Pet Cemetery, 757 Seneca Creek Rd., West Seneca, NY 14224-2420, (716) 674-9470

Staten Island: Richmond Valley Pet Crematory, 4913 Arthur Kill Rd., Staten Island, NY 10309-2630, (718) 966-6381

Stephentown: Breezy Nook Pet Crematory, 450 Presbyterian Hill Road, Stephentown, NY 12168, (518) 733-9896

Syracuse: Pet Haven Cemetery, 4501-3 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215, (315) 469-1212

Troy:Rolling Acres Pet Cemetery, 1365 Tamarac Road, Troy, NY, 518-663-5122

Utica: My Pet Memorial Park, 5664 Horatio St., Utica, NY 13502, (315) 732-8440

Wantagh: Bide-A-Wee Home Assn. Pet Memorial Park, 3300 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh, NY 11793-3335, (516) 785-6153

W. Babylon: Pet Crematory Service, 164 Cabot St., W. Babylon, NY 11704, (516) 293-2929, http://www.petcrematory.com

W. Chazy: Drownwood Forest National Pet Cemetery, 3701 Military Tpke., West Chazy, NY 12992-2811,
(518) 493-7070

W. Rush: Rush Inter Pet Cemetery & Crematory, 139 Rush Road, West Rush, NY 14543, (716) 533-1685

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.