West Valley Animal Hospital

     Our pets fill many roles in our life - they are a smiling face waiting when we get home from work, the motivation to go out for a walk, an ear that always has time to listen.  The loss of a pet can leave an empty space in our hearts and lives.  Many pet owners feel grief and sadness just as strongly as if they had lost a human best friend, child or sibling.  Unfortunately, the death of a pet may not result in the same level of support and sympathy from other people.  There are, however, resources and groups dedicated to helping pet owners cope with the sadness of losing a pet.

     A pet loss support group called "Wings" meets twice monthly in the Lehigh Valley.  For more information, please call Maureen Beilman (Licensed Professional Counselor) at 610-437-6660 or Joanne Krug (Psychologist) at 610-685-0110.

     An excellent website for grieving pet owners is www.aplb.org, the website of The Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement.

     There are also several telephone pet loss hotlines in operation, staffed by counselors or trained veterinary students.  These are just a few of the available hotlines.

Iams Pet Loss Support Center          888-332-7738

ASPCA Pet Loss Hotline                        877-474-3310

Cornell University                               607-253-3932

Tufts University                                  508-839-7966

University of Pennsylvania                215-898-4529

OTHER RESOURCES:          Abbey Glen

                                                  Argus Institute