Pet bereavement and mental health

Grieving a pet can be similar to mourning the loss of a family member, even though we experience the same emotions, the way in which society manages them is very different. Almost as though pet grief should be private and unspoken.

No one should be belittled for their reaction to losing a pet. Everyone deals with grief in different ways and at different timescales....there is no right or wrong way to grieve.

Even after your pet has passed away, clients are more than welcome to call us to talk or we can try to direct you to resources that are available to aid the process. Mental health is an important issue to us here at Last Wishes Mobile Vet, not only for our clients but on a personal level as well. Gem has completed training with the Blue Cross UK and is an accredited pet loss support advisor. This means our clients can book a session with her (via online, telephone call or what's app) should they feel that they are struggling with the decision to put their pet to sleep or the loss of their pet. These sessions are completely free and confidential and will give clients the chance to discuss their struggles.

We often have clients telling us they feel "silly" or that they are over reacting as it was "just a dog or cat". Please remember that grieving the passing of a pet is completely normal and no one should feel ashamed for experiencing these emotions.