Grief, care and remembrance
Losing a companion can change the shape of an ordinary day. Whether the loss is recent, still ahead or something you are carrying months later, there is room to begin where you are.
Start with what matters today
You can read one guide, speak to someone or come back another time.
Support for the first difficult days.
Independent helplines and online support.
Who to contact and what to ask.
Preparing for loss and talking with your vet.
Words, practical help and support for children.
Private memories and shared remembrance.
Independent support services
You can contact a pet bereavement service even if you are unsure what to say. Choose a service below, check its hours and use its official website for the latest access information.
UK · any companion animal
Free, confidential listening from trained volunteers after pet loss. Webchat and written support are also available through Blue Cross.
0800 096 66068:30am–8:30pm every day, UK time
Blue Cross support and webchatUK · cat loss
Free, confidential listening for people affected by a cat’s death, disappearance or separation. The trained volunteers provide emotional support; this is not a counselling service.
0800 024 94 949am–5pm, Monday–Friday, UK time; excluding bank holidays
Paws to Listen support optionsOnline · US-based organisation
Scheduled online peer support and a directory of services. Its chat room requires free Bronze membership; other services may have fees or different membership requirements.
Check session times, time zones and access requirements on the provider’s website.
Check APLB groups and accessContacts checked on . These services are provided by the named organisations, independently of WARN. Freephone numbers are intended for callers in the UK. Outside the UK, check a provider’s online options and access requirements, or ask your vet or doctor about local support.
Choose one manageable thing. You do not need to work through a checklist or finish this page.
Tell a trusted person what happened, or contact a pet bereavement listener. If talking feels difficult, you could ask: “Could you sit with me for a while?”
A friend could bring a meal, help with calls to the vet or accompany you to an appointment. You can explain which task would be useful without telling the whole story.
Try a drink of water, something simple to eat or a short break from arrangements. Leave a non-urgent decision for later if that makes today more manageable.
About this guidance
Pet loss support offers a place to talk and practical help with grieving a companion animal. Find independent listening services, guidance for difficult decisions and ways to remember your pet. Start with what you need today; all of these WARN guides are free.
This free WARN hub brings together 19 guides. Use the part that fits your situation: a recent death, losing a dog or cat, an end-of-life decision, aftercare or remembering your companion. Rabbits, birds, horses and other animals can also be deeply important relationships.
The services listed here are independent of WARN. A listening line can offer space to talk; a qualified counsellor or healthcare professional can discuss more sustained support. WARN publishes information and does not provide counselling, emergency care or veterinary treatment.
By the WARN editorial team. Content and service details checked against the sources below. This page has not been reviewed by a clinician.
Losing a pet can mean losing companionship, familiar routines and a source of comfort all at once. Grief may include sadness, anger, guilt, numbness or a mixture of feelings. Different responses do not tell you who cared most.
The difficult moments may be ordinary ones: coming home, preparing a meal or reaching for a lead. If it helps, identify one part of the day that feels especially hard and arrange some company around it. A person who knew your pet may welcome a specific memory, even when you have told it before.
Other people may not understand the relationship. You could tell them what would help: “I know you may experience this differently, but I am grieving. I would appreciate it if you used their name.” You can choose to talk to someone else if a conversation leaves you feeling dismissed.
Further guidance: PDSA: Coping with the death of a pet
There is no deadline for grief and no set sequence you need to complete. Memories and anniversaries can bring feelings back. You can seek support at any point; you do not need to wait a certain number of weeks or months.
Try to notice what you need today rather than judging whether you are grieving correctly. Rest, regular meals, manageable activity and time with someone you trust may support everyday life. Having a good moment does not mean you have forgotten your pet.
Speak with your GP, doctor or a qualified mental health professional if you are struggling to cope, your mood or anxiety is worsening, or your sleep, eating or daily activities are affected. The NHS advises seeing a GP if a low mood lasts more than two weeks or things you are trying are not helping. This is a route to additional support, not a timetable for finishing grief.
Further guidance: NHS: Grief after bereavement or loss · PDSA: Coping with the death of a pet
Grief can begin before a pet dies. If you are considering euthanasia, your vet can explain your pet’s condition, comfort, treatment options and what changes need urgent attention. A webpage cannot determine the right decision for an individual animal.
It may help to write down questions before an appointment: what can still be treated, how comfort will be assessed, what to expect during the procedure and who to contact out of hours. Ask whether a friend can come with you and whether aftercare arrangements can be discussed in advance. Your veterinary team can explain what is possible in your circumstances.
Afterwards, questions about “too soon” or “too late” may be difficult to put down. If you are replaying the appointment or do not understand what happened, request a follow-up conversation with the veterinary team. A pet bereavement listener can also give you space to talk about the emotional side without asking you to settle every question immediately.
Further guidance: PDSA: When it is time to say goodbye · Blue Cross: Preparing to say goodbye to your pet
If you are unsure whether your pet has died, call a vet or emergency veterinary clinic immediately. When a death has been confirmed, your veterinary team can explain safe handling, collection and local aftercare options.
Ask someone to help with the calls if speaking feels difficult. Before agreeing to cremation, ask what the service includes, the total cost and whether your pet’s ashes will be returned. Burial rules depend on your location and circumstances, so check locally before making arrangements.
You may want to keep a collar, photograph or other familiar object. If a paw print or fur clipping matters to you, ask the provider before collection whether it can be arranged. There is no requirement to choose a keepsake or hold a ceremony. WARN does not collect animals or arrange veterinary aftercare.
Further guidance: PDSA: When it is time to say goodbye
Use clear, age-appropriate language, including the word “died”. Phrases such as “went to sleep” or “went away” can confuse a child. Explain that the death was not caused by the child’s thoughts or feelings, and leave room for questions.
Answer what they ask in simple terms rather than giving every detail at once. A child may return to the same question, want to play or react differently from an adult. You can acknowledge your own sadness while making clear that adults are there to look after them.
Offer choices: drawing a picture, sharing a favourite story or joining a small goodbye if they want to. Avoid making a child take part or decide something they cannot understand. If school is becoming difficult, let an appropriate teacher know privately. Seek professional advice if you are concerned about their wellbeing or ability to cope.
Further guidance: Blue Cross: Children and pet loss
Surviving animals may behave differently after a companion dies, while others show little obvious change. Keep care and daily routines as consistent as you can. New changes in appetite, activity or behaviour should be discussed with a vet rather than assumed to be grief.
For dogs, familiar walks, attention and opportunities for normal activities can provide continuity. Let the animal choose whether to interact and avoid forcing contact. Your own routines may have changed too, so consider what practical care can stay predictable.
The advice will differ for cats, rabbits, birds and other species, particularly where companionship affects welfare. Ask a vet with relevant experience before introducing another animal or changing husbandry. A new companion should be considered for the animals’ needs and a suitable introduction, as well as the household’s readiness.
Further guidance: Dogs Trust: Helping a dog after another pet dies
A simple acknowledgement is often a useful place to begin: “I am sorry about [their pet’s name]. Would you like to talk about them?” Offer specific help and let the person choose whether they want conversation, company or quiet.
You could offer a meal, help with a routine task or a check-in later in the week. Avoid comparing losses, setting a time to move on or suggesting another pet will solve the pain. If you knew their companion, a particular memory may mean more than a general reassurance.
Follow their preferences about photographs, keepsakes and public tributes. Ask before posting about the death or sharing an image online. Support can continue after the first few days, including a short message at a time you know may be difficult.
Further guidance: PDSA: Coping with the death of a pet
There is no universal waiting period. A new animal is a new relationship with its own care needs. Consider your circumstances, other household members and any surviving pets, without treating the decision as a test of how much you loved the animal who died.
You can explore the idea without committing immediately. Discuss the time, space, costs and long-term care a new animal would need. If members of the household feel differently, leave room for that conversation before making promises or bringing an animal home.
Choosing to wait, deciding against another pet or feeling ready sooner can each reflect different circumstances. A rescue organisation can explain its matching process when you decide you want to enquire.
Further guidance: PDSA: Coping with the death of a pet
Read at your own pace
Each guide is free to read. Choose a topic or return to talking support.
Making sense of the feelings and changes that can follow a loss.
For the daily absence of a dog or cat you loved.
Questions for your vet, preparing for loss and practical arrangements.
Ways to keep a memory, with space to choose your own timing.
Supporting children, friends and other animals in the household.
Finding a listener, a group or professional support.
A memory of your own
Remembrance can be private, shared, simple or something you return to later. A photograph, a written memory or a favourite walking route can be enough. You do not need to buy anything, post publicly or make a donation to honour your pet.
You might write down a small detail you want to keep: the sound of their greeting, an unusual habit or a day you enjoyed together. Store it somewhere you can return to it. Belongings can be kept, put away or considered gradually; different members of a household may need different things.
Some people find comfort in the image of the Rainbow Bridge; others prefer a memory without a spiritual meaning. Choose language that fits your beliefs. If you share a tribute, decide which names, photographs and details you are comfortable making public.
You could finish this sentence in a notebook or tell someone the story. A small, everyday memory belongs here as much as a milestone.
Keep it private if you prefer. Nothing needs to be submitted.
Common questions
Blue Cross Pet Loss Support offers a free, confidential listening line on 0800 096 6606, from 8:30am to 8:30pm every day, UK time. Cats Protection Paws to Listen is on 0800 024 94 94, 9am to 5pm Monday–Friday, excluding bank holidays. Check the providers’ websites for current availability.
Yes. Blue Cross offers webchat and written contact options on its website. The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement offers scheduled online support; check its membership requirements and time zones. Written services may not reply immediately. Use urgent emotional support if you feel unsafe.
There is no fixed deadline or required order of feelings. You can ask for help at any time. If grief is making everyday life hard, or your mood or anxiety is worsening, speak with your doctor or a qualified mental health professional.
Ask your veterinary team to talk through any unanswered questions about your pet’s condition or the appointment. A pet bereavement listener can help you talk about your feelings; a qualified counsellor can discuss ongoing support. No webpage can judge the individual decision you faced.
If you are unsure whether your pet has died, call a vet or emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Once death is confirmed, ask the veterinary team about safe handling and local aftercare options. A trusted person can help make those calls.
Use simple, honest language, including “died”, and answer questions at a level the child can understand. Avoid “went to sleep” or “went away”. Reassure them that their thoughts or feelings did not cause the death, and offer choices about remembering the pet.
Yes. Anticipatory grief can happen while a pet is ill or approaching the end of life. You can talk with a pet bereavement listener and ask your vet about your animal’s comfort, care options and what to expect.
WARN provides free information and links to independent services. It does not provide counselling, veterinary treatment or a crisis helpline. Contact the organisations listed on this page directly, or ask your doctor about professional support.
No. Every guide on this hub is free to read. You can keep a private memory, share a story with someone close or use a remembrance idea without making a gift. The donation form is optional and separate from support.
Only if you wish
A gift to animal welfare is one possible way to remember a pet. It is entirely separate from receiving support or using these free guides. Choose only an amount that is comfortable for you, if giving is something you want to do.
WARN offers an optional donation form below. Unrestricted gifts support animal-welfare purposes and necessary running costs; designated gifts follow the selected appeal’s published terms. A gift does not guarantee a particular animal, treatment or rescue outcome.
Read where your money goes for how funding is intended to be used and registration status for WARN’s legal status. For more ways to give a tribute, visit in-memory giving.
Optional · choose what is comfortable for you
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We checked the organisations’ own guidance and published contact details on . Availability can change, so follow the provider’s link for current arrangements. These references inform the page; listing a service does not imply a partnership with WARN.
For a factual correction, use WARN’s contact page. Please contact a support provider directly for personal bereavement support; WARN does not monitor a grief helpline.
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