Finding a pet loss support group: where they meet and what to expect
Pet loss support groups meet at veterinary schools, animal hospices, humane societies, libraries and on video calls, and most are free. They suit people who feel alone with their grief, which is a lot of people: only 13.4%[1] of bereaved owners in one large survey felt fully understood by those around them.
By the Pet Loss Grief Support Resources editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 5 min read · Sources
- Where groups actually meet, in person and online
- What a first meeting is really like
- Signs of a well-run group, and red flags
Is it for you?
Who gets the most out of a pet loss support group?
Groups work well for people whose main problem is isolation. You're grieving hard, and nobody at home or at work seems to get it. In the RSPCA's survey of bereaved owners, 57.1%[2] felt they had to hide their grief. A group is one of the few places where you don't have to.
They can also help if you're unsure whether what you're feeling is normal. Hearing someone six months ahead describe the same guilt, the same reaching for a leash, can settle a lot of worry in a single evening. Groups suit people less well if they're very private, or if a specific trauma needs one-to-one attention. Our comparison of group and individual support helps you weigh it up.
Where to look
Where do pet loss support groups usually meet?
- Veterinary schools and teaching hospitals. Several run monthly groups, sometimes led by veterinary social workers.
- In-home euthanasia and hospice services. Many run free virtual groups for anyone, not just their own clients.
- Humane societies and SPCAs. Often monthly evening groups in a community room.
- Emergency and specialty vet hospitals. Ask at reception; some host groups or can name one.
- Hospices for people. Some general bereavement programs welcome pet loss, especially in smaller towns.
- Libraries and community centers. Peer-run groups often book free rooms here.
Your own vet is a good first question, since clinics hear about local groups from other clients. Groups come and go as volunteers move on, so a listing from two years ago may be out of date. A quick email to confirm the next date saves a wasted trip. You can also browse support near you by area.
The first time
What happens at a first pet loss group meeting?
Most meetings run 60 to 90 minutes. A facilitator welcomes everyone, explains the ground rules (what's said here stays here, one person speaks at a time) and invites people to introduce themselves and their animal. You can pass. Plenty of first-timers only say their name and their pet's name, and that's enough.
Then people talk, usually about whatever is pressing that week: an anniversary, a partner who wants a new puppy, a vet bill that arrived after the death. Some groups have a theme or a short reading. Many invite you to bring a photo. People cry, and people laugh about the ridiculous things their animals did, sometimes in the same breath.
Saying your pet's name out loud to people who lean in, rather than look away, can be the first relief in weeks.
If you'd like to prepare, write down three things: your pet's name, how long you had them and one thing you miss most. It gives you something to hold if nerves take over. You're also allowed to leave early.
Two kinds
Peer-run or professionally facilitated: which is better for you?
| Peer-run group | Facilitated group | |
|---|---|---|
| Led by | Volunteers who've lost pets themselves | A counselor, social worker or trained facilitator |
| Feel | Informal, conversational | More structured, with gentle steering |
| Cost | Usually free | Free to modest fee, depending on host |
| Handles hard moments | Depends on the volunteer | Trained to spot someone in real distress |
| Suits | Wanting company and shared stories | Heavy guilt, trauma or first-time grief |
Neither is better across the board. If you're mostly lonely, a warm peer group might be exactly right. If your pet's death was sudden or traumatic, or you're carrying heavy guilt, a facilitated group is safer ground. Some people move from one to the other. For grief that needs more than a group can give, see our guide to professional grief counseling for pet loss.
From home
Do online pet loss groups work as well as meeting in person?
For many people, yes. Video groups run by hospices and vet schools recreate the circle without the drive, and you can keep your camera off at first. They're a lifeline if you live rurally, work shifts or can't face a room yet. Text-based forums work differently: they're there at 3 a.m., but they lack the steadiness of a facilitator.
Scale suggests groups are needed. On the figures from a 2026 UK study in PLOS ONE, about 32.6%[4] of adults had experienced the death of a beloved pet, and 56.7%[5] of bereaved owners in the RSPCA survey couldn't find the support they needed. By our estimate, that shortfall means roughly 850,000 US households a year[6] lose a pet and can't find the help they want, our calculation from US pet cremation numbers and the RSPCA rate. Online groups are one of the few formats that can grow to meet that. Our pet loss support resources guide lists helplines if you'd rather start with one conversation.
Which kind of support have you tried since your loss?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Choosing well
How can you tell a good group from one to avoid?
- Good sign: a clear start and end time, and a facilitator who gently stops anyone taking over.
- Good sign: confidentiality stated at the start of every meeting.
- Good sign: crisis numbers on hand, and someone who'll follow up if a member seems unsafe.
- Red flag: pressure to buy books, courses, urns or memorial products.
- Red flag: comparing losses, or suggesting some pets matter more than others.
- Red flag: telling you how long grief should take, or that you should get another pet. That choice is yours; our article on deciding when to get another pet can help when you're ready to think about it.
Give a group two meetings before judging it. The first is always awkward. If you still leave feeling worse after the second, it's fine to try a different group, a helpline or the grief check-in to think about what you need instead.
Free tool
Pet loss grief check-in
A private, two-minute check-in on how you're coping, with ideas that match where you are.
Next step
Can we help you find a group that meets near you?
Yes. Tell us your area and whether you'd like in-person or online, daytime or evening, and we'll email groups that fit. We don't run groups ourselves and we aren't paid to promote any of them. You can read more about how we work first, compare groups with other kinds of pet loss support, or see which formats other readers tried on the live poll results page.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Which kind of support have you tried since your loss?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
What helped you most in the first weeks?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Compared with losing a person, losing your pet felt...
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Do I have to talk at a pet loss support group?
No. Facilitators expect some newcomers to listen for a whole meeting, or longer. You can say your name and your pet's name and pass. Many people find they want to speak by the second or third meeting, once they've heard others describe something that sounds like their own experience.
Are pet loss support groups free?
Most are. Groups run by humane societies, vet schools, hospices and volunteers are usually free or ask for an optional donation. A few facilitated groups run by private counselors charge a modest fee per session. Always check before you go, and be cautious of groups that make you buy products to join.
Can I bring my child or partner to a pet loss group?
Many groups welcome partners and adult family members, but ask first, as some prefer individuals. Adult groups usually aren't suited to young children. Some hospices and vet schools run separate sessions for children or families, which are a better fit for younger kids grieving a pet.
Is it too late to join a group months after my pet died?
No. Groups include people at every stage, from a few days to several years after a loss. Many people first come around an anniversary, when another pet becomes ill, or when they realize the grief hasn't shifted the way they expected. There's no deadline for wanting company.
What if the group makes me feel worse?
A first meeting often stirs things up, and feeling raw afterwards is common. Give it a second try. If you still leave feeling worse, the format may not suit you. A helpline, a book or one-to-one counseling might fit better, and there's no failure in switching.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Only 13.4% of bereaved pet owners felt fully understood by others. RSPCA — Pet Loss Survey Results, 2026.
- [2] 57.1% felt they had to hide their grief after a pet died, and 57.8% perceive stigma around pet loss. RSPCA — Pet Loss Survey Results, 2026.
- [3] 34.5% of bereaved pet owners were told 'it's just a pet'. RSPCA — Pet Loss Survey Results, 2026.
- [4] In a survey of 975 UK adults, 32.6% had experienced the death of a beloved pet. Hyland et al., 'No pets allowed: Evidence that prolonged grief disorder can occur following the death of a pet', PLOS ONE (2026), 2026.
- [5] 56.7% of bereaved pet owners in the RSPCA survey could not find the support they needed. RSPCA — Pet Loss Survey Results, 2026.
- [6] Roughly 850,000 bereaved U.S. pet households a year may not find the grief support they need. Our estimate: 1.5M pet cremations x 56.7% couldn't find support. How we calculate.
Find a pet loss group near you
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.