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.
Red and Henry - Now at Rainbow Bridge
At that time, 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 in reality, and to read about people’s
real life experiences, and how they had truly felt in those moments, rather
than just cold and impersonal descriptions.
We were also 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.
Thus begun many years of researching and learning,
which included trawling the internet for the best sites and information, studying
courses in pet loss and pet bereavement, and reading everything that existed at
that time on the subject of pet loss, general loss and bereavement, and how the
stages of death and bereavement for humans also applied to those of us who have
or were losing our animal loved ones, and our feelings were just as valid.
As a result of all of this learning, and the lack
of help and information I found at that time to be available, I decided to
build this website and to begin to fill it not just with what I hoped to be
helpful information, but with everything you need to know. My vision was to capture
a “living library”, where those experiencing grieving and loss would share and read
the stories and experiences of others, and be encouraged to share their own, thus
paying it forward, creating a continuous cycle, so that this living library
would continuously fill with information and experiences, from those all
sharing the same journey, and on a united path, so that all of those walking
that path after them would never have to walk that path alone.
Anyone experiencing grief and loss would come here,
perhaps feeling isolated, feeling as though their feelings were overwhelming
them or they were alone in feeling them, and be able to read the experiences of
others and see themselves in them, their stories in other’s experiences, and
see clearly that others had walked this path before them, and that others would
surely follow them.
I first began creating this website many years when
I retired sick from work, as you can read about on my About Me page. However, a
lot has happened since then. Unfortunately, I was horribly misdiagnosed for
many many years, which led to my becoming much much sicker, repeatedly knocked
down, kicked whilst I was there, and unfortunately, as happens in these times,
it became apparent that I did not have the family that I thought I did. This is
another reason I built this website, and continued to keep it up, even when it
was very difficult to do so, and have come back to continue my vision now.
I know what it is to be alone in the darkness. To
be totally alone in your darkest moments, and when things just seem to be
getting progressively worse and worse, and when the people around you seem to either
not understand, or only be there to make things worse. I know what it is when
the humans around you have totally failed you, and so the animals in your life
ARE your family. So their loss is devastating. It is more devastating than any
human loss, because they were more to you and there more for you than any human
ever was. They were there in your darkest moments, they were there through
everything, the good and bad times, the entire journey, they become a part of
you and you a part of them.
I have spent many years being knocked down, being
attacked, being bullied, all by humans, and having to rise back up again. All
by horrible, bullying humans that should and could have done better, but chose
to do it anyway. Over and over again. Is it really any wonder that people
grieve for and suffer such loss over their animal companions, when they offer
so much better and for so little than their human counterparts?
I’m back now and although still sick, sadly I will
always be sick, with the advent of AI, this now enables me to be able to be
able to achieve more, because it can do the finickity background jobs I just sadly
do not have the time and energy for. I am slowly trying to get back to what I
intended this website for, and everything else besides, and to make it as
helpful and inspiring as possible. It was intended to be a light in the
darkness and to speak directly to people in their worst moments. I hope it can
do that for you. Please bear with me as I slowly get things back to what they
were and what they were meant to be.
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, millions of pet owners have trodden this path before you and sadly, but inevitably millions 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'.
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