Stories
Helping Families Memorialize Pets After a Long IllnessWhen a pet has been unwell for weeks, months, or years, the relationship between family and veterinary team often becomes deeply personal. Regular…
What to include in a pet loss support email for veterinary clientsSending a sympathy message after a beloved animal has died is one of the most meaningful gestures a veterinary practice can offer. Across Australia, where more…
A Guide to Pet Loss Hotlines and Support Resources for ClientsPet bereavement can affect sleep, appetite, work, family relationships and daily routines. For many Australians, a dog, cat, horse, bird or fish is part of the…
Role-Play Skills for Compassionate Pet-Loss ConversationsGrief communication is a practical clinical skill. Veterinary staff may need to explain a terminal diagnosis, discuss euthanasia, offer after-death care, or…
Supporting Clients Who Lose a Pet While Travelling in AustraliaThe phone call arrives at the worst moment. A client discovers their elderly dog has collapsed at a Brisbane kennel while sailing the Whitsundays. A family…
How Pet Loss Shapes Children's Emotional DevelopmentWhen a family pet dies, the grief felt by children across Australia often goes underestimated by adults who assume young people will simply move on. With…
Creating a calm environment for euthanasia appointmentsWalking into a veterinary clinic for an end-of-life appointment is one of the hardest days a pet owner will ever face, and the team at the practice carries it…
Anticipatory grief: walking alongside clients before they say goodbyeWhen a beloved animal receives a terminal diagnosis, the grief often begins long before the final appointment. This pre-emptive mourning, what many counsellors…
Writing a Pet Loss Blog Post for Your Veterinary Clinic WebsiteWhen a beloved companion animal passes away, the families left behind often search for reassurance, guidance, and gentle words. For veterinary clinics across…
Holding Space for Pet Parents Facing Two LossesThe death of a beloved animal can be devastating at any time. When it follows the death of a partner, parent, child, friend, or another family member, grief…