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 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm CST Monday thru Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm CST Saturday and Sunday. During the summer the hours may be limited.

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

Carolyn Buck, MA, LPCC
4916 Spruce Hill Dr. NW Suite 600
Canton, OH 44718
Phone: 330-566-2747
Email: cbuck1212@aol.com

Jennifer Brandt, MSW, LISW
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
1900 Coffey Rd. Sisson Hall
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292-1823 Fax (614) 292-4142
Email: petloss@osu.edu

Meg Toukonen, RN, MSN, CNS
Auburn Career Center
8140 Auburn Road.
Concord, OH 44077-9723
(800) 544-9750 ext. 257
Email: Meg@anniedog.com

Marsha Michaels, MA, LPCC
729 Huntley Drive
Medina, OH 44256
330-239-4680
Email: Marsha@uakron.edu

PET LOSS CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIES

(NOTE: Some of the 216 area codes may have changed to 330.)

Akron: North Hill Veterinary Hospital, 490 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave, Akron, OH 44310, (330) 928-6514

Brookville: Royal Oak Pet Cemetery , 7217 National Rd., Brookville, OH 45309-9217, (513) 836-2097

Canfield: Pet Haven Memorial Gardens , 3495 S. Canfield Niles Rd., Canfield, OH 44406-8600, (330) 533-3875

Canton: Woodside Pet Cemetery , Canton, OH 44707, (216) 484-1997

Cincinnati: All Pet Cremation Service, 3514 Hilda Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45211-4806, (513) 661-0008

Cincinnati: Char-Mac Pet Cremation Service, 11798 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45231, (513) 851-5791

Cleveland: All-County Pet Crematory, 4701 Hinckley Industrial Pkwy., Cleveland, OH 44109, (216) 398-4282

Cleveland: Animal Kingdom Pet Cemetery, 5755 Wilson Mills Rd., Cleveland, OH 44143-3207, (216) 473-7999

Cleveland: Suburban Pet Crematory Service, 4225 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, OH 44121-3000, (216) 291-4813

Columbiana: Pet Hill Place, 44408 State Rt. 14, Columbiana, OH 44408-9627, (216) 482-9801

Columbus: Pet Haven Cemetery, 199 E Main St., Columbus, OH 43213-3029, (614) 239-0048

Columbus: Pet Cremation Service, 888 Frank Road, Columbus, OH 43223, (614) 272-6550

Columbus: Schoedinger Pet Crematory, 229 E. State St., Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 224-6105

Conneaut: All Creatures Pet Cemetery , Conneaut, OH 44030, (216) 593-4580

Cridersville: Bayliff & Son Pet Crematory, 311 W. Main St., Cridersville, OH 45806, (419) 645-6700

Dover: Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory, 5600 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, Tuscarawas County, Ohio 44622, 330-343-5506, http://www.geibfuneral.com, anne@geibfuneral.com (pet crematory to open in December 2004)

Findlay: Coldren Crates Funeral Home, 205 W. Sandusky St., Findlay, OH 45840, (419) 422-2323

Grafton: Western Farm Pet Crematory & Cemetery, 12521 S. Island Rd., Grafton, OH 44044, (440) 748-1716

Hamilton: Garden of Pines, 3482 Hamilton Scipio Rd., Hamilton, OH 45013, (513) 863-4440

Harrison: Hope Mount Pet Cemetery, 8657 Mount Hope Rd., Harrison, OH 45030, (513) 357-9232

Hubbard: Loving Pet Memorial Crematory,Hubbard, OH 44425, (330) 534-4965

Hudson: Boston Hills Pet Memorial Park, 7005 Walters Road, Hudson, OH 44236, (330) 653-6457, http://www.bostonhillspet.com/info.html, BHPMP@AOL.COM Lebanon: Pines Pet Cemetery & Cremation Center, 764 Riley Wills Rd., Lebanon, OH 45036-9717, (513) 932-2270

Lima: Lima-Allen County Humane Society, 1125 S. Seriff Rd., Lima, OH 45805, (419) 991-1775

Mansfield: Angel Refuge Pet Cemetery, 2767 Park Ave. W, Mansfield, OH 44906-1025, (419) 529-2229

Marietta: Eastlawn Memorial Park, Newport Pike State Route 7 N., Marietta, OH 45750, (740) 373-2993

Marietta: Pet Rest Memorial Gardens, Marietta, OH 45750-5750, (614) 373-2993

Miamisburg: Shadows Pet Mortuary, Miamisburg, OH 45342, (513) 866-6396

Navarre: Woodside Pet Cemetery, 6450 Shepler Church Rd, SW, Navarre, OH 44662, (216) 484-3378

Ontario: Angel Refuge Pet Cemetery, 2726 Park Ave. W., Ontario, OH 44906, (419) 529-2229

Perrysburg: Pet Haven Cemetery, 2478 Genoa Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551, (419) 837-6675

Proctorville: Rome Pet Cemetery, 21977 St. Rt 243, Proctorville, OH 45669, (740) 886-9888

Richfield: Paws Awhile Pet Memorial Park, 3426 Brush Rd., Richfield, OH 44286-9464, (216) 659-4270

Richfield: Paws Awhile Pet Memorial Pk, 3426 Brush Road, Richfield, OH 44286, (330) 659-4270

Sandusky: Pet Rest Cemetery, 316 W Parish St., Sandusky, OH 44870-4848, (419) 625-6503

Springfield: Littleton & Rue Pet Cremation, 830 N. Limestone St., Springfield, OH 45503, (937) 323-6439

Springfield: Tecumseh Pet Cemeteries, 75 N Tecumseh Rd., Springfield, OH 45504-3446, (513) 882-6518

Toledo: Metro Pet Funeral Home, 972 Emerald Ave., Toledo, OH 43609, (419) 241-8326

Toledo: Reith Pet Cemetery, 1100 Centennial Rd., Toledo, OH 43617-2112, (419) 865-2711

Waterville: Karnik Memorial Gardens, 5411 Black Road, Waterville, OH 43566, (419) 878-9796

Wooster: Pines Pet Cemetery, State Rt 3 N, Wooster, OH 44691-4691, (216) 345-7893

Xenia: Foresthaven Pet Memorial Gardens, 1071 Long Road, Xenia, OH 45385, (937) 372-5688

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.