Finding pet loss support where you live

About 95 million^[1] US households have a pet, so wherever you are, others nearby are grieving too. Here's how support differs from place to place, and how to find yours.

Local groups, helplines and counselors by area
Country-specific crisis numbers in one place
Online options if nothing meets near you

How to use this page

How our local support pages work

Pick your country, state or city from the directory below. Each local page explains what kinds of pet loss support tend to exist in that area, which crisis numbers apply, and how to check whether a group is still meeting. Groups come and go more than most services, so we focus on how to find and check them, not just a list that might be stale.

If your town isn't listed, choose the nearest larger city. Many groups draw people from an hour's drive away, and most online groups welcome anyone. You can also send us your location and we'll look for you.

Find your city

Start with the most-searched cities, or choose your country below to browse every region.

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You're not the only one

How many of your neighbors are grieving a pet this year

Pet loss is far more common than it looks from the outside, because most of it happens quietly. Using household pet ownership and typical lifespans, by our estimate, in California at least ~44 per 1,000 households^[2] lose a pet each year, and in New York at least ~42 per 1,000 households^[3]. In a street of a hundred homes, that's four or so families every year.

That matters when you're looking for a group. Dense cities with lots of pet owners are more likely to have regular in-person meetings, sometimes several. In smaller towns, the nearest group may meet monthly or not at all, and online groups or a phone line tend to be the practical choice.

A quiet suburban street at dusk with warm lit windows, a porch light on and autumn leaves on the pavement — Behind many front doors, someone is missing a pet.

United States

Pet loss support across the United States

In the US, support tends to cluster around veterinary schools, large specialty and emergency hospitals, humane societies and in-home euthanasia services, several of which host free groups. Some veterinary colleges have run pet loss support phone lines for decades, staffed by trained students; Cornell's pet loss resources page traces the first one to UC Davis in 1989^[4]. Private therapists who list grief or pet loss as a focus are easiest to find in big metro areas, and most now offer video sessions across their state.

Workplace support is patchy everywhere. Only 11%^[5] of US employers offer paid pet loss leave, so it's worth checking your handbook and then asking. Our guide to taking time off work after a pet dies covers what to say if there's no policy. If you're in crisis anywhere in the US, call or text 988.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Pet bereavement support in the UK and Ireland

With 62%^[6] of UK households keeping a pet, the UK has some of the most established pet bereavement services, many run by animal charities. The Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service offers free phone, email and webchat support from trained volunteers. Accredited specialist counselors are scarce, though: one count found about 80^[7] in private practice across the country, so many people use a general bereavement counselor instead.

Samaritans answer on 116 123 in both the UK and Ireland, at any hour. Many UK employers handle pet loss through compassionate leave at a manager's discretion rather than a named policy, so it's worth asking even if nothing is written down. Acas guidance on time off for bereavement confirms an employer can agree to leave even without a policy.

Australia, New Zealand and Canada

Support in Australia, New Zealand and Canada

Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, with 73%^[8] of households keeping at least one animal. Vet hospitals and animal welfare groups in the larger cities run occasional remembrance events, and online communities fill the gaps across long distances. Lifeline answers on 13 11 14, and Griefline's page on losing a pet lists a helpline that covers pet loss too.

In New Zealand, where 63%^[9] of households have a pet, the free national line 1737 takes calls and texts from anyone who needs to talk. In Canada, 988 works by call or text, and several provinces have humane societies and veterinary colleges that offer pet loss resources. In all three countries, online groups that meet in your time zone are often the most reliable weekly option.

Wherever you are, it can be reassuring to see how others have coped. Our live reader poll results show, anonymously, which kinds of support grieving owners have tried, and our pet grief timeline explains why there's no deadline for any of this.

Where you live changes the options

City, suburb or countryside: adjusting where you look

In a city, start with emergency and specialty vet hospitals and the local humane society. Ask whether they host a group or know who does.
In the suburbs, your own vet practice is often the most connected place to ask, and in-home euthanasia services sometimes run groups for the families they've served.
In rural areas, phone lines and online groups usually beat a long drive. Farm and horse owners may find more understanding in species-specific online communities.
Anywhere, a general bereavement counselor who offers video sessions can help, provided they take animal loss seriously.

Whatever the setting, the support services guide explains what to expect from each kind of help, and our article on remote and private remembrance has ideas if you can't get to anyone in person.

Before you go

Five checks before you rely on a local group or service

Is it still running? Check for a recent date or call ahead; group listings go out of date quickly.
Who leads it, and what training do they have?
Is it free, donation-based or paid, and is there any sales pitch attached?
Can you just listen at the first meeting without having to share?
Is there an online option if you can't make it in person one week?

If you'd like a quick sense of how you're coping before you pick, the grief check-in can help you decide whether a group, a counselor or a quiet ritual feels right. For a wider overview, see our guide to finding pet loss support groups.

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.

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.

Did you take time off work after your pet died?

Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.

More polls See all poll results

Free tools to help you plan

Pet loss grief check-in

A private, two-minute check-in on how you're coping, with ideas that match where you are.

Farewell & memorial service planner

Build a simple goodbye: who, where, readings, rituals and a checklist.

See all tools

Questions people ask

How do I find a pet loss support group near me?

Start by asking your own vet, then your nearest emergency or specialty animal hospital and local humane society, since these often host or know of groups. Check that any group you find has met recently. If nothing is nearby, an online group that meets in your time zone can offer the same understanding without the drive.

What if there's no pet loss support where I live?

That's common outside big cities. Phone and email helplines, online groups and video counseling all work well at a distance. A general bereavement counselor who takes animal loss seriously is another good option. You can also tell us your town through the form and we'll look for services, including ones that meet online.

Which crisis number should I call in my country?

In the US and Canada, call or text 988. In the UK and Ireland, call Samaritans on 116 123. In Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. In New Zealand, call or text 1737. If you're anywhere else, or in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. All of these lines help with grief, including grief for a pet.

Can I join a pet loss group in another state or country online?

Usually, yes. Most online groups welcome people from anywhere, though meeting times suit their own time zone. Counseling is different: licensed therapists can often only see clients who live in the state or country where they're licensed, so check that before booking a session with someone far away.

Types of pet loss support

Groups, helplines, counseling and more.

Finding a support group

What a good group looks like, online or in person.

Ask us to look for you

Send your town and we'll email options.

Sources and our estimates

[1] About 95 million US households own at least one pet. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
[2] In California, at least about 44 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). Our estimate: 53.0% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs). How we calculate.
[3] In New York, at least about 42 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). Our estimate: 49.7% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs). How we calculate.
[4] The first pet loss support hotline was set up in 1989 at the University of California, Davis, according to Cornell. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 2026.
[5] Only 11% of employers offer paid pet loss leave, according to an AbsenceSoft survey. AbsenceSoft — Understanding Pet Bereavement Leave and Its Importance to Today's Workforce, 2025.
[6] 62% of UK households have a pet. UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) Pet Population 2026, 2026.
[7] About 80 qualified, accredited pet bereavement counselling therapists were in private practice in the UK (Sadgrove, 2021, cited in a 2024 peer-reviewed study). Coping with Animal Companion Loss: A Thematic Analysis of Pet Bereavement Counselling (PMC11017691), 2021.
[8] 73% of Australian households have at least one pet. Animal Medicines Australia, Pets in Australia 2025 (media release), 2025.
[9] 63% of New Zealand households have a pet. Companion Animals New Zealand, 2024 NZ Pet Data Report, 2024.

Find pet loss support in your area

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.