Pet loss is a profound and often disenfranchised grief, one that can be deeply isolating. Turning to a pet loss companion or a pet death doula can make a significant difference in navigating this challenging journey. My heart just hurts for those broken-hearted souls who feel so alone in their grief journey. If you are […] The post From my heart to yours: The Importance of a Pet Loss Companion/Pet Death Doula appeared first on Two Hearts Pet Loss Center ..read more

It’s always a pleasure for me to share guest blogs. Thank you Brittany Cotton for penning some musings for my amazing followers: Losing a pet is never easy. In many households, animal companions are considered members of the family. Despite being frequently downplayed by society, the grief caused by pet loss can be overwhelming. Surprisingly, […] The post Navigating the Emotional Challenges of Pet Loss appeared first on Two Hearts Pet Loss Center ..read more

It’s always a pleasure for me to share guest blogs. Thank you Brittany Cotton for penning some musings for my amazing followers: Losing a pet is never easy. In many households, animal companions are considered members of the family. Despite being frequently downplayed by society, the grief caused by pet loss can be overwhelming. Surprisingly, […] The post Navigating the Emotional Challenges of Pet Loss appeared first on Two Hearts Pet Loss Center ..read more

The post 10 Reasons for Adding Pet Loss Services to Your Business appeared first on Two Hearts Pet Loss Center ..read more

I’ve been getting a variety of requests lately about pet loss education. I wanted to share with you some of my personal and professional opinions on the benefits of training in this area to companion, counsel and walk with grieving pet lovers. Losing a beloved pet for a pet parent is an emotionally wrenching experience, […] The post Pet Loss & Grief: From My Heart to Yours on Companioning and Counseling appeared first on Two Hearts Pet Loss Center ..read more

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I’m Colleen Ellis, the founder of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center. Today, I want to discuss a difficult topic: coping with the loss of a beloved pet. While it’s a painful subject, it’s one we’ll all face. I aim to provide you with insights and emphasize the importance of giving yourself permission to grieve, mourn, and honor your pet’s life and love. We often wonder why the pain is so intense when our pets pass away compared to human losses. I’ll share a few thoughts to help you understand this. Read More The post The Healing Journey: Understanding and Processing Pet Loss appeared first on Two ..read more

The bond that many people have with their pets often means that owners struggle with significant grief when their pet dies (Voith, 1985; Hart et al, 1990; Cohen, 2002; Chur-Hansen, 2010). Yet, despite the fact that many view their pets as family members, their death typically does not involve the same types of procedures or rituals that are used with human death (Adams et al, 1999; Chur-Hansen, 2010). In fact, the impact of the death of a pet is often not supported or validated by society (Corr, 1999; Doka, 2008). Too often, owners do not receive the emotional support they need from family o ..read more

Many of us, you included, have a love for our pets that’s too beautiful and singular to be simply called a bond. And when they die, they leave dark, empty spaces, and we grieve. In 2010, I wrote a Long Beach Post article about pet-loss grief titled “The empty chair: How to say goodbye to longtime friends.” It dealt with allowing oneself to grieve, the guilt that we sometimes feel over not knowing the pet was ill or maybe holding on and extending their pain, facing the time when that decision has to be unquestionably made, and dealing with people who judge us when we need support: “For Pete ..read more

Animal memorial parks, cremation alternatives among industry trends When Richard Thompson’s wife of 40 years was nearing the end of her life earlier this year at a Baltimore County hospital, he couldn’t fathom living alone, especially after their two beagles recently had died unexpectedly. So Thompson, 73, of Baltimore’s Medfield neighborhood, adopted a new rescue beagle named Tucker from Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland in May. Tucker was the godsend the retired school teacher needed as his wife died in June. Read More The post As the pet industry grows, pet death business booms appea ..read more