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Center for Companion Animal Health

Companion Animal Behavior Program

PET LOSS
websites, resources & bibliographies

dog with black nose

WEB RESOURCES

Pet Loss Grief Support-rainbow bridge story, message board, chat room,  poems, list of books, links to other pet loss sites, 
lists of support groups and hotlines

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement--list of pet cemeteries, membership information (quarterly newsletter), list of books, links, support group listings,
association's events, counselors specializing in pet loss

American Veterinary Medical Association - Making the decision -- Also, search "pet loss" in Search AVMA box

Argus Institute, Colorado State University--Grief Resources, Client Handout

Delta Society--counselors, groups, websites, memorials, articles

California Veterinary Medical Association

Pet Loss Support Page--state-by-state directory of pet loss resources

HealthyPets.com (American Animal Hospital Assn.)--dealing with the loss of a pet

Animal Hospice care--American Assn. of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians

Purdue University Center for the Human-Animal Bond--pet loss and grief

PetEducation.com--euthanasia and death of a pet

 

HOTLINES AND RESOURCES

UC Davis pet loss support hotline

Cornell University pet loss support hotline

University of Illinois pet loss helpline

Michigan State University pet loss support hotline

Tufts University pet loss support hotline

Washington State University pet loss hotline

 

MEMORIALS

Virtual Pet Cemetery
Gone to the Dog Star
In Memory of Pets
Bubbling Well Pet Cemetery
Lightning Strike
Tracks in the Sand
Rainbow's Bridge

 


 

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Anthrozoos
PsycInfo
Biosis
Magazine & Journal Articles
Newspaper Articles
PubMed

 

ANTHROZOOS

Lagoni, L
Grieving the death of a pet.
Anthrozoos.  2004. v. 17 (2) p. 182-186

Davis, H.; Irwin, P.; Richardson, M.; O'Brien-Malone, A.
When a pet dies: Religious issues, euthanasia and strategies for coping with bereavement.
Anthrozoos.  2003. v. 16 (1) p. 57-74

Planchon, L.A.; Templer, D.I.; Stokes, S.; Keller, J.
"Death of a companion cat or dog and human bereavement": Psychosocial variables.
Anthrozoos.  2002. v. 10 (1) p. 93-105

Endenburg, N.; Kirpensteijn, J.; Sanders, N.
Equine euthanasia: the veterinarian's role in providing owner support.
Anthrozoos.  1999. v. 12 (3) p. 138-141

Turner, WG
Evaluation of a pet loss support hotline.
Anthrozoos.  1997. v. 10 (4) p. 225-230

Planchon, Lynn A.; Templer, Donald I.
The correlates of grief after death of pet.
Anthrozoos.  1996. 9 (2-3): p. 107-113

Endenburg, Nienke
The attachment of people to companion animals.
Anthrozoos.  1995. 8 (2): p. 83-89

Nicholson, Jill; Kemp-Wheeler, Susan; Griffiths, David
Distress arising from the end of a guide dog partnership.
Anthrozoos.  1995. 8 (2): p. 100-110

Stallones, Lorann
Pet loss and mental health.
Anthrozoos. 1994. 7 (1): p. 43-54

Gosse, Gerald H.; Barnes, Michael J.
Human grief resulting from the death of a pet.
Anthrozoos. 1994. 7 (2): p. 103-112

Rajaram, Shireen S.; Garrity, Thomas F.; Stallones, Lorann; Marx, Martin B.
Bereavement: Loss of a pet and loss of a human.
Anthrozoos. 1993. 6 (1): p. 8-16

Taylor, A; Davis, H.
Acknowledging Animals: A Memorial Service for Teaching and Research Animals
Anthrozoos.  1993, V6(N4):221-225.

Fogle,-B.; Abrahamson,-D.
Pet loss: a survey of the attitudes and feelings of practicing veterinarians.
Anthrozoos. 1990. v. 111 (3) p. 143-150..

Kogure, Norio; Yamazaki, Keiko
Attitudes to animal euthanasia in Japan: A brief review of cultural influences.
Anthrozoos.  1990 3 (3): p. 151-154

Stern, Judith
Pet attachment as a delayed mourning process.
Anthrozoos. 1988  2 (1): p. 18-21


PSYCINFO

Donohue, Kevin M. Pet Loss: Implications for social work practice. Social Work. 2005 Apr. 50(2): p. 187-190

Toray, Tamina. The human-animal bond and loss: Providing support for grieving clients. 2004 Jul. 26(3): p. 244-259

Sharkin, Bruce S; Knox, Donna. Pet loss: Issues and implications for the psychologist. Professional Psychology: Research & Practice. 2003 Aug. 34(4): p. 414-421

Griffith, Toni. Assisting with the "big hurts, little tears" of the youngest grievers: Working with three-, four-, and five-year-olds who have experienced loss and grief because of death. Illness, Crisis & Loss. 2003 Jul. 11(3): p. 217-225

Wrobel, Thomas A; Dye, Amanda L. Grieving pet death: Normative, gender, and attachment issues. Omega: Journal of Death & Dying. 2003. 47(4): p. 385-393   

Greene, Lorri A; Landis, Jacquelyn. Saying good-bye to the pet you love: A complete resource to help you heal. Oakland, CA, US: New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 2002

Balk, David E; Corr, Charles A. Bereavement during adolescence: A review of research. In: Stoebe, M.S.; Hansson, R.O. et al., Ed.
Handbook of bereavement research: Consequences, coping, and care. US: American Psychological Association. 2001. p. 199-218

McCutcheon, Kelly A; Fleming, Stephen J. Grief resulting from euthanasia and natural death of companion animals. Omega: Journal of Death & Dying. 2001-2002. 44(2): p. 169-188

Meyers, Barbara.  Anticipatory mourning and the human-animal bond.  In: Therese A. Rando, Ed.
Clinical dimensions of anticipatory mourning: Theory and practice in working with the dying, their loved ones, and their caregivers.  Research Press: Champaign, IL, US, 2000. p. 537-564 

Reynolds, Theresa Evans. Pet bonding and pet bereavement as a function of culture and gender differences among adolescents. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences &
Engineering.  1999 Jan. 60 (6-B): p. 2990

Margolies, Liz The long good-bye: Women, companion animals, and maternal loss. Clinical Social Work
1999 Fal. 27 (3): p. 289-304

Boyce, Patricia Simino The social construction of bereavement: An application to pet loss. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities & Social Sciences.  1998 Oct. 59 (4-A): p. 1348

Ross, Cheri Barton; Baron-Sorensen, Jane  Pet loss and human emotion:  Guiding clients through grief.
Accelerated Development, Inc.: Philadelphia, PA, 1998.

Adams, Cindy Lou  Owner grieving following companion animal death.  Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences & Engineering.  1997 Jun. 57 (12-B): p. 7401

Thomas, Jacqueline Kay The human-animal bond and grief: A phenomenological perspective.
Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities & Social Sciences.  1996 Oct. 57 (4-A): p.1507

Brown, Brenda H.; Richards, Herbert C.; Wilson, Carol A.   Pet bonding and pet bereavement among adolescents. Journal of Counseling & Development. 1996 May-Jun. 74 (5): p. 505-509

Sanders, Clinton R.  Killing with kindness: Veterinary euthanasia and the social construction of personhood.  Sociological Forum. 1995 Jun. 10 (2): p. 195-214

Gerwolls, Marilyn K.; Labott, Susan M.  Adjustment to the death of a companion animal. Anthrozoos.
1994.  7 (3): p. 172-187

King, Maureen Sullivan Human bereavement and animal companion loss. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences & Engineering. 1994. 54 (12-B): p. 6464

Gerwolls, Marilyn K. Adult adjustment to the death of a companion animal: The roles of confiding and additional pet ownership.  Dissertation Abstracts International.  1993 Jan. 53 (7-B): p. 3772

McMahon, Sharon M.  A qualitative/quantitative study of human bereavement responses to the death of  an animal companion: Educational  implications, resources, guidelines and strategies: III.
Dissertation Abstracts International. 1992 Jan. 52 (7-A): p. 2392

Weisman, Avery D.  Bereavement and companion animals. Omega: Journal of Death & Dying. 1990-1991.
22 (4): p. 241-248

Doka, Kenneth J., Ed Disenfranchised grief: Recognizing hidden sorrow. Lexington Books/D.C. Heath and Company: Lexington, MA, US, 1989.

Stewart, Cyrus S.; Thrush, John C.; Paulus, George   Disenfranchised bereavement and loss of a companion animal: Implications for caring communities.  In: Kenneth J. Doka, Ed. Disenfranchised grief: Recognizing hidden sorrow.. Lexington Books/D. C. Heath and Company: Lexington, MA, US, 1989.  p. 147-159 of xvi,  347pp.

Stewart, Cyrus S.; Thrush, John C.; Paulus, George S.; Hafner, Patrick   The elderly's adjustment to the loss of a companion animal: People-pet dependency. Death Studies. 1985. 9 (5-6): p. 383-393

 

BIOSIS

Ratsch, Heidemarie. Cemeteries and crematories for animals? Social and emotional aspects of the changed man-animal-relationship and the resulting needs and risks. DTW (Deutsche Tieraerztliche Wochenschrift) 1997. 104 (7): 261-264.  Language: German

Hart, L A; Hart, B L; Mader, B.  Humane Euthanasia and Companion Animal Death Caring for the Animal the Client and the Veterinarian Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, v.197, n.10, 1990:1292-1299

Harris, J M. Children and pet loss. Companion Animal Practice. 1989. 19(3): 15-16

 

MAGAZINE AND JOURNAL ARTICLES

Laskas, Jeanne Marie. When the nine lives are over: a pet's death can be unexpectedly traumatic. But as last it's okay to go public with your grief.  Health v11, n2 (March, 1997):56 (3 pages).

Archer, John; Winchester, Gillian Bereavement following death of a pet. British Journal of Psychology v85, n2 (May, 1994):259 (13 pages).

Stein, Benjamin J.Trixie. (narrative on the death of a pet dog) (Ben Stein's Diary) (Column) American Spectator v27, n2 (Feb, 1994):70 (4 pages).

Gerstenfeld, Sheldon L. When a pet dies. Parents Magazine v67, n9 (Sept,1992):258.

The price of love. (sharing the pain of a dead pet) Reader's Digest v139, n833 (Sept, 1991):49 (5 pages).

Gage, M. Geraldine; Holcomb, Ralph. Couples' perception of stressfulness of death of the family pet.
(Perception of Stress) Family Relations v40, n1 (Jan,1991):103 (3 pages).

Spiegelman, Vivian; Kastenbaum, Robert  Pet Rest Memorial: is eternity running out of time? (pet cemeteries are dying out) Omega  v21, n2 (Feb,1990):1 (13 pages).

 

NEWSPAPERS

Broadway, Bill. Pet's death inspires liturgies for animals. Washington Post (March 13, 1999):B8.

Banks, Sandy.  In grief, we each take our own path. (reaction of family members to death of pet dog) Los Angeles Times v117, n75 (Feb 13, 1998):E1.

Kutner, Lawrence.  For children, the death of a pet isn't practice for something more serious; it's the real thing.  (includes related article)  (Living Arts Pages) (column) New York Times v139 (August 2, 1990):B8(N), C8(L).

Cantwell, Mary.  The soul knows no species. Nor does love. (death of a pet)  (Living Arts Pages) New York Times v139 (March 22, 1990):B6(N), C2(L).

Mayer, Jane. Cock-a-doodle-doo  Henry, a pet, finds life after death; local newspaper runs obits of dogs and guinea pigs; a husky's touching tale. Wall Street Journal (June 20, 1989):A1(W), A1(E).

Goodman, Ellen.  The life and death of Sam. (pet dog) (column) Washington Post v112 (June 10, 1989):A19.

Zafran, Jack.  Pain of losing loved one is real even if it's 'only a pet.' Los Angeles Times v102, secV (Oct 26, 1983):1.

 

PUBMED
click to initiate current search in the PubMed database

Pet loss
Pet loss and grief
Bereavement and pet loss

 

Amanda Irish, UCD undergraduate project
Mary Wood, MLS
web liaison

UC Davis Center for Companion Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Tel 530.752.7295