PET LOSS SUPPORT - RESOURCES LIST
Losing a pet is painful. For many, it’s even more painful than losing a relative since most consider their pets to be a part of the family. The bond we share with them is incredible and unique. Like a sister or a brother, a best friend, and a child all put together in one special being. We see them every day and we share with them the most important parts of our lives whether it’s the happiest or the saddest moments. They are such special companions. The best listeners. The best hug givers. They provide unconditional love and support. Losing them hurts, and we’re here to tell you that we understand and that you are not alone. We have put together resources to help you prepare for the loss of your companion, help you grieve when the time has come, and help you see the light again, while still lovingly remembering them.
HOW TO KNOW WHEN THE TIME HAS COME
TOOLS TO HELP DECISION MAKING
Preparing for the loss of your companion is very important. It can help the process of grieving for you and your family and will make saying goodbye less stressful and painful. Pets are part of the family, and every family is unique, you and your pet deserve to choose how this meaningful moment will go. Here is a list of things to plan, prepare and do before:
EUTHABAG
Buying your respectful pet body bag in advance and personalizing your EUTHABAG can be very soothing and can help the grieving process, especially for children.
Recognize when the time has come
Knowing when the time has come. Various tools and questionnaires have been developed by professionals to assess your pet’s quality of life and know when it’s time to say goodbye.
Questionnaire How do I know when it’s time? adapted by Ohio State University (in French: Comment savoir que le moment est venu, translated by the EUTHABAG team).
Pet Quality of Life Calendar - By Dr. Mary Gardner, simple and easy to understand, 1 page.
Quality of life scale: How to assess the quality of life of families.
When to euthanize a pet: a nice tool for families to assess when to choose the moment, by Andy Roark, DVM.
Pain Detection
Animals do not cry or complain, but their nonverbal language speaks. To help you understand this language and detect pain in your pet, there are tools and pain scales.
BEAP Pain Scale: well illustrated and developed by Dr. Shea Cox, collaborator of CAETA.
BEAP scale for dogs / BEAP scale for cats
Feline Grimace Scale: This great and simple tool was developed by a team from the University of Montreal in 2019. You will find a PDF version and there is also a mobile application available on the Feline grimace scale website!
Feline grimace scale (PDF)
Feline grimace scale (Free Application)
Disposal of the body after euthanasia
Deciding between cremation, aquamation, burial at home or burial in a pet cemetery? Your veterinarian will be able to explain what cremation and aquamation consist of and can guide you through the options. If you choose a home burial, check with your city to see what the laws are regarding burials at your residence. Our document Aid to burying a pet can help you. If you choose a burial in a pet cemetery, see our page Honoring your pet for more details.
In Quebec, we are fortunate to be able to count on competent and empathetic professionals.
Aquamation
Écopassage - City of St-Laurent
Aquanimaux - Sept-Îles
Cemeteries
Eternal Companions - Woodlawn, Ontario
À la mémoire de nos amis (In memory of our friends) - in the Quebec area
Crematorium
Incimal - Berthierville
Cremation animaux RB - Delson
Compagnons éternels - Chambly or Rigaud and Woodlawn (Ontario)
Nos Copains - Vaudreuil
Auranimal - St-Gabriel
Cherish their memory with a souvenir
Deciding if you want to keep a souvenir, such as the ashes following cremation, a paw print, jewelry with the ashes, etc. There are many options available, and you can discuss these with your veterinarian or crematorium. To learn more about this, visit our page dedicated to Honoring your pet.
Support Groups and Grief Counselors
Surround yourself with people who understand. More about this on our Support Groups and Grief Counselors Page.
Books on Pet Grief
Books often provide answers to questions and awareness. Reading books on the subject of pet grief can help you understand grieving and support you through this difficult process. We have several suggestions for you on our Books page.
Prepare your children for the transition
It is essential to prepare children for pet grief to facilitate the transition.
Consult our document "Pet Loss & Your Family" for you to read on how to handle such a delicate matter. We included exercises specifically for children to do to help them as well.
Many books adapted for them are available on the subject.
Enlightening Texts
If It Should Be: A touching text to help owners feel less guilty when euthanizing their pet. Also available in French.
Stages of Grief, to understand the normal stages of grief.
The Heartbreak We Choose, by Megan Kendall in the Huffington Post. A magnificent testimony on the weight of the decision of a devoted dog owner. To read with a tissue at hand.
Find a veterinarian
Deciding between an at-home euthanasia with a veterinarian or taking an appointment with a veterinary clinic. You can find a veterinarian who uses EUTHABAG on our Find a Clinic using EUTHABAG page.
Dr. Catherine Izard by Anima Care
Talk about it with your family and your veterinarian, together you can choose the best options for you and your companion.
Before EUTHABAG, there were no functional alternatives to plastic bags which are usually used to dispose of our companions.
Pet owners care about how their pet’s body will be handled after they pass and as pet lovers and veterinary professionals, we do too.
That’s why we created EUTHABAG, a respectful, practical, dignified, and ecological pet body bag.
Veterinarians & Pet Owners now have an appropriate option for the transportation, cremation, aquamation, and burial of deceased pets that is, most importantly, respectful for the animal.
