Honoring the Bond - Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center

• Website:vmc.vet.osu.edu/services/honoring-the-bond

• Support Services:

  • Guidance on quality of life assessment, euthanasia, family communication, and anticipatory grief

Caring Pathways - Quality of Life Tools

• Website: https://caringpathways.com/quality-of-life-tools-for-dog-cats/

• Support Services:

  • “H5M2" scale covering pain, mobility, hydration, happiness and more

  • Pathway to Care Assessment for caregiver and pet needs

  • Easy-to-use digital guides for ongoing evaluation

Lap of Love - Quality of Life Assessment

• Website: https://www.lapoflove.com/how-will-I-know-when-it-is-time/Lap-Of-Love-Quality-of-Life-Scale.pdf

• Daily Calendar: https://www.lapoflove.com/how-will-I-know-it-is-time/interactive-quality-of-life-assessment-and-diary.pdf

• Support Services:

  • Covers pain, appetite, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility and more

  • Helps guide difficult decisions about care and end-of-life planning

HHHHHMM Scale - Dr. Alice Villalobos

• Website: tuckerly.com/pet-quality-of-life-scale-assessment

• Support Services:

  • Rates seven key areas: Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, and "More Good Days than Bad"

  • Printable worksheets and online calculator available

ASPCA Pet Loss Support Hotline

• Phone: 877-GRIEF-10 (877-474-3310)

• Website:aspca.org

• Free support from trained grief counselors. Check the site for availability hours

Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline

• Phone: 607-253-3932

• Website:vet.cornell.edu

• Staffed by veterinary students who offer empathetic listening and support

Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline

• Phone: 508-839-7966

• Website: vet.tufts.edu/petloss

• Provides a safe space for grieving pet owners to share their stories and find support

Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Grief Center

• Website:rainbowsbridge.com

• Features:

  • Pet memorial pages

  • Online Grief Forums

  • Weekly candle lighting remembrance ceremonies

Lap of Love Pet Loss Resource Center

• Website:lapoflove.com/pet-loss-support

• Features:

  • Free weekly virtual grief support sessions

  • Guided journaling exercises

  • Memorial tribute pages

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)

• Website:aplb.org

• Features:

  • Moderated online support chats

  • Educational resources about pet bereavement

  • Support group training for pet care professionals

Everlife Memorials

• Website: everlifememorials.com

• Features:

  • Online pet memorial creation

  • Virtual candle lighting and remembrance wall

  • Pet loss articles and grief support resources

  • A searchable list of local pet loss support groups by state

Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet – Gary Kowalski

• A compassionate guide offering heartfelt stories, self-care strategies, memorial ideas, and advice on how to talk with children about loss.

When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering, and Healing – Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.

• From a respected grief counselor, this book uses practical tools and compassionate guidance to support healing and honoring a beloved pet.

Grieving the Death of a Pet – Betty Carmack

• Written by a pet loss counselor and nurse, this book offers both emotional support and coping strategies tailored specifically to pet loss.

The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss – Russell Friedman, Cole James, and John W. James

• A hands-on self-help guide using the Grief Recovery Method, with exercises like writing completion letters and reframing grief myths.

Note: The books listed are suggestions, not official endorsements. We encourage parents and caregivers to read reviews and preview each book beforehand to ensure it aligns with their family’s values, needs, and the emotional readiness of their child.

Goodbye For Now — Dr. Lynsey Victoria Rinelli
A tender story about a child facing their dog’s terminal illness.
Recommended for ages 4–8

My Pet Memory Book — S. Wallace
A guided memory journal to help children express feelings and remember their pet.
Recommended for ages 5–10

The Invisible Leash — Patrice Karst
A comforting story about staying connected to a pet after loss.
Recommended for ages 5–9 (also meaningful for adults)

Grief is a Mess — Jackie Schuld
An honest, illustrated look at grief with relatable imagery for young readers.
Recommended for ages 6–10

The Goodbye Book — Todd Parr
A simple, reassuring story to introduce the concept of loss.
Recommended for ages 2–5