Finding Comfort After Pet Loss: Your Sarasota Pet Grief Support Center
The bond we share with our pets is unbreakable, and the grief that follows their loss can be overwhelming. To help you navigate this difficult time, we have compiled a wealth of pet grief support resources. Our collection includes expert advice on coping with anticipatory grief, heartwarming testimonials, and connections to local and national grief professionals. We are here to support you in honoring your pet’s memory and finding your way forward.
Navigating The Pet Loss Grief Journey
Understanding Anticipatory Grief
Anticipatory grief is a natural, yet often overwhelming, emotional experience that begins before the physical loss of a pet. It’s the sadness and anxiety we feel when we see our beloved companion’s health decline due to age or illness, and we start to prepare for a future without them. This period can be a rollercoaster of emotions, from sorrow and fear to anger and guilt, as we grieve the small losses along the way—like the inability to go for daily walks or play fetch. This “in-between” time is a profound journey of love and letting go, highlighting the deep bond we share with our pets and the difficult reality of saying a final goodbye.
Creating Cherished Memories
Navigating anticipatory grief is a journey, and focusing on what you can control can bring comfort during this difficult time. By redirecting your energy toward positive actions, you can create meaningful moments and memories with your beloved pet. This approach, often called “redirecting focus,” helps channel feelings of anxiety and dread into present-moment actions that are both empowering and healing.
Creating a Bucket List
One of the most powerful ways to cope with impending loss is to create a bucket list of your pet’s favorite things to do. This shifts the focus from the future loss to celebrating the life you’ve shared. Even simple activities can bring immense joy to your pet and to you.
Consider things like:
The Healing Power of Photography
A professional pet photo shoot can serve as a beautiful and lasting tribute. Working with a photographer who specializes in pet portraiture can capture the unique bond you share, creating tangible memories you can cherish forever. These photos become a permanent reminder of your pet’s personality and the love you shared, providing comfort long after they are gone.
Structured Support: Emotional & Logistical Guidance
When facing end-of-life decisions, families need more than just medical care, they need clarity and logistical support. Learn how the Companion Animal Doula model, integrated into our practice by Dr. Kyle, helps provide the practical guidance needed during hospice and transition.
Read Dr. Wendy’s Full Guide on the Companion Animal Doula Role
Video Resource: Mike Hodge, Companion Animal Doula, provides an insightful overview of this critical support role. (Click the thumbnail to watch the video on YouTube.)
Coping with the Loss of your Pet & Professional Grief Support
Grieving the loss of a pet is a deeply personal journey, and there’s no single “right” way to feel or process your emotions. It’s okay to experience a wide range of feelings—from profound sadness and loneliness to anger, guilt, or even relief. Allow yourself the space to feel these emotions without judgment. Remember the love and joy your pet brought into your life, and know that honoring that bond is a crucial part of the healing process. Surrounding yourself with a supportive community—whether that’s friends, family, or a support group—can provide comfort and help you navigate this difficult time.
Professional Pet Loss Support
You don’t have to carry the weight of pet loss alone. A pet grief specialist can provide the tools and resources to help you process your emotions and find peace. From anticipatory grief to coping after your pet’s passing, their guidance can make this difficult journey more manageable.
Local Professional Grief Support: Reverend Sarah Whitten-Grigsby
Reverend Sarah Whitten-Grigsby is an Interfaith minister with a special focus on Animal Ministry and a profound understanding of the human-animal bond. As the Founder and President of the ONE MORE DAY Foundation, Rev. Sarah brings her extensive experience and deep compassion to support those grieving the loss of a pet.
Based in Sarasota County, Rev. Sarah offers guidance and compassionate support, drawing on her extensive experience with dogs and her personal understanding of pet loss.
Having experienced firsthand how her own dogs provided healing during personal times of grief, she is uniquely equipped to help you navigate this difficult journey. Her book, “The Staggering Loss of a Dog,” is a compassionate guide through the grief of losing a canine family member. Based on her extensive experience, the book reassures grieving pet parents that their feelings are valid and normal.
Remote Professional Grief Support: Renee Michelle, MA
Video Resource: Renee Michelle, MA
Renee and Eben’s incredible story was recognized with the Deb Bauer Unsung Hero award at the Catalina Film Festival. Click the thumbnail to watch the video on YouTube.)
Pet Loss Support Groups
It’s crucial to seek support during this time. Remember that you are not alone in this experience. In addition to a pet loss specialist, you can find comfort and strength in a supportive community. Sharing your feelings with family, friends, or a pet-related support group can help validate your emotions and provide a safe space to process your grief. This is an opportunity to honor the profound bond with your pet and to lean on others who understand the depth of that love.
Local Veterinary & Pet Emergency Resources
Sarasota County Emergency Vet Contacts
Suncoast Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center – 941-929-1818
4937 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34231
Blue Pearl Pet Hospital – 941-923-7260
7414 South Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34231
Manatee County Emergency Vet Contacts
Bradenton Veterinary Emergency – 941-748-0202
2910 Manatee Ave W
Bradenton, FL
Veterinary Surgery Center of Sarasota – 941-893-1500
8033 Cooper Creek Boulevard # 101
University Park, Florida 34201
Charlotte & Desoto County Emergency Vet Contacts
Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Port Charlotte – 941-255-5222
17829 Murdock Circle
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Sarasota/Manatee Specialty Veterinary Clinics
Veterinary Neurology
Levine Veterinary Neurology – 941-351-1678
Dr. Christopher Levine & Dr. Kristen Levine
8460 Cooper Creek Blvd. Suite 101
University Park, FL 34201
Veterinary Oncology
Gulfcoast Veterinary Oncology – 941-926-1920
Dr. Heidi Ward
7519 South Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34231
Veterinary Orthopedic & Specialty Surgery
Coastal Veterinary Surgical Specialists – 941-923-4816
Dr. John Kirsch
665 Tamiami Trail N.
Nokomis, FL 34275
Gulf Shore Veterinary Specialty Surgery – 941-347-4311
Dr. Byron Young
2011 Englewood Rd
Englewood, FL 34223