Established in February 1989 as the first of its kind, The Pet Loss Support Hotline provides a non-judgmental outlet for people to express their feelings and concerns when faced with difficult times involving their cherished animal companions. The Hotline is staffed by veterinary students trained by a professional grief counselor. Working on the Hotline provides valuable experience for our future doctors of veterinary medicine.

The Hotline has handled thousands of phone calls from throughout the United States and Canada. It continues to receive national recognition and has appeared in "Dear Abby," the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, US News & World Report, USA News, Dog World, Cat Fancy, Bird Talk, Equus, and many others. The Hotline has also been featured on numerous nationally syndicated radio and television news shows.

Through direct support to callers, vast media attention, and professional talks, the services of The Pet Loss Support Hotline continue to be a pivotal resource in providing the public with information concerning the nature of our relationships with companion animals. The Hotline is also a tremendous resource for educating the veterinary community concerning the significance of the human-animal bond.

With services and educational opportunities like The Pet Loss Support Hotline, we gain more knowledge to help others understand and accept the reasons why people can become so attached to pets.