I've always known how much Pet loss matters. Having had and lost numerous cats, dogs, rabbits, gerbils, rats, various birds (including a duck!) and even frogs and lizards, I knew that awful feeling of losing each one forever. But when my Mother's dog died suddenly, she took it particularly badly so I looked around for help and advice to help us deal with the tragedy.
I found there were very few websites around and those that were there took some finding.
I searched for books to comfort her but again found most were merely cold technical descriptions of 'the five stages of grief' or collections of poetry which although some were helpful, were hard to find and mostly out of print. Whilst these were at least some help they weren’t the personal stories and experiences I was searching for.
I wanted to read about other people who had felt just like we did and had made it through to the other side and were now able to remember their pets fondly. I wanted examples of how the Stages of Grief actually felt rather than just cold and impersonal descriptions.
We were surrounded by many people who just didn’t understand the depth of feeling we had for our pets. I wanted to hear from others who felt the same and wouldn’t regard our feelings as foolish or over the top.
Having spent two years researching, which included trawling the internet for the best sites and information and studying courses in pet loss and pet bereavement, I decided to build this site and hope to fill it not just with interesting and helpful information, but with everything you need to know.
Over the coming weeks and months I shall be filling this site with articles and information on all stages of pet loss.
I'll try to cover everything you need to know to prepare yourself and your pet for before, during and after you lose them but if there's anything you'd like to see which isn't here already please contact me and let me know and I'll do my best to add it.
My mission is to make this site a helpful and invaluable guide to all things pet loss, and to unite pet owners from around the world at a time when they feel most alone.
I would like this site to become a great resource and source of comfort, full of personal stories and experiences, tributes, pet loss journals, and a place where pet lovers share their grief and hopes, but I need your help to make this possible.
If you have suffered the loss of a pet, please consider sharing your personal story and experiences to help comfort and inspire others.
Perhaps you have your own personal experiences of Rainbow Bridge to share to reassure others that such a place exists, or maybe you have some tips to share about how you dealt with the loss of your pet or how you commemorated your pet’s life.
Or perhaps you feel like writing down your feelings and experiences on the loss of your pet on a more regular basis and would like to create your own pet loss journal.
To learn more about the many ways you can both share your experiences and support this site, please click here.
Remember that you are not alone in your grief, thousands of pet owners have trodden this path before you and sadly, but inevitably thousands will follow you. I hope this website will bring you some comfort and bring you together with people who know exactly how you feel because we've been there ourselves.
Subscribe to the new Pet Loss Matters 'Pangs & Waves' Newsletter to be kept up to date with all the latest developments on the PLM site, new features and articles on all things pet loss.
A guide to the Stages of Grief experienced with Pet Loss and the death of a pet, helpful and comforting advice for dealing with grief and pet grief recovery
‘Pangs and Waves’ are a characteristic feature of pet grief and one that most people find they experience. They are probably best described as ‘attacks of anxious pining.’
Find the pet remembrance poem, the Rainbow Bridge poem, story and movie here. Along with real life Rainbow Bridge and animal afterlife stories contributed by our visitors. Share your story here.
The Rainbow Bridge Pet Sympathy poem is nowadays probably one of the most well known pet memorial poems. It's a beautiful poem that gives great comfort and hope to anyone suffering from grief after
Rainbow Bridge - Many people believe that our pets remain with us in spirit and give us signs they are there to help comfort us in our grief. Has this happened to you? Share your story here.
After the death if a pet, many people hold a simple at home candle lighting ceremony, but you can also be part of a larger community and participate in a worldwide ceremony held online.
Share your experiences of Pet Loss here. Every one of our pets is unique and special and leaves us with many wonderful memories. We invite you to share those memories to help and inspire others.
Share your experiences of Pet Loss here. Every one of our pets is unique and special and leaves us with many wonderful memories. We invite you to share those memories to help and inspire others.
Share your experiences of Pet Loss here. Every one of our pets is unique and special and leaves us with many wonderful memories. We invite you to share those memories to help and inspire others.
Share your experiences of Pet Loss here. Every one of our pets is unique and special and leaves us with many wonderful memories. We invite you to share those memories to help and inspire others.
A collection of pet loss poetry and pet memorial poems written by our Visitors. Have you written pet memorial poems, pet loss poems or pet loss poetry for your pet or someone else’s? Share it here.
This is one of the pet loss poems I'd never ever seen before a visitor to the site kindly sent it in to me to share here, so thank you to Anne for that. It's a beautiful pet memorial poem and the mes
A collection of my favourite pet quotes, all about the loss of a pet, pet death and pet grief. Some quotes refer to human loss but are still touching to those who have lost a pet.
If you've found the site helpful and would like to do even more to help keep the site running, you may also like to consider supporting us financially by making a Donation.
Bargaining is the next stage in the stages of grief suffered following pet death. Here you will learn about the typical feelings and behaviours you may experience whilst in this stage.
The next of the stages of grief and pet loss is 'Depression'. Like Anger, this stage is a much misunderstood but necessary step on your way to pet grief recovery.
The next in the stages of pet grief is 'Acceptance'. Often misunderstood this stage does not mean that you are happy with the situation you find yourself in or that you have 'gotten over it'.
Please note Pet-Loss-Matters.com is a Not For Profit website and 100% of income from
this site (from sources such as Adsense, Affiliate links etc) is put towards site hosting, domain name fees etc.