Missing them in Gothenburg: where to find pet loss support
In a large UK survey, 56.7%[1] of bereaved owners couldn't find the support they needed. This page is about closing that gap in Gothenburg, with free and paid options explained.
- Support that fits how you grieve
- Help for children and teenagers
- Wording for a time-off request at work
Gothenburg, Vastra Gotaland
Missing a pet in Gothenburg
Swedish families spend summers at cottages, on islands and by lakes, and the first summer without a pet can be surprisingly hard. It can help to plan a small act of remembrance for that season, such as placing a stone on a shoreline you used to visit, or setting a photo on the cottage table at Midsummer. If children are grieving, invite them to choose what that gesture will be.
Gothenburg's winters are long and dark, with the sun setting mid-afternoon in December, and a pet's absence can feel sharper in those quiet evenings. Some people keep a small routine going, a candle in the window, a photo by the bed, a pause at what used to be feeding time. Others need to change everything for a while. Either way, give it time; grief for a pet rarely follows a straight line.
Large cities also have more of the things that help around the edges: remembrance evenings at animal charities, shelter volunteering, workshops where you can make something in your pet's memory. None of this is therapy, and it doesn't need to be. For many Gothenburg residents, a practical activity in good company is exactly what lets grief move, especially for people who would rather do something than talk about it.
Gothenburg's population is around 583,000.
84.69%[2]
In 2023, 84.69% of deaths in Sweden were cremated (58 crematoria).
7.5%[3]
7.5% of UK adults whose bereavement was the death of a pet met criteria for prolonged grief disorder (PGD).
34.5%[4]
34.5% of bereaved pet owners were told 'it's just a pet'.
56.7%[1]
56.7% of bereaved pet owners in the RSPCA survey could not find the support they needed.
Sources for the statistics above: Hyland et al., 'No pets allowed: Evidence that prolonged grief disorder can occur following the death of a pet', PLOS ONE (2026) and RSPCA.
How people in Sweden mark a death
In Sweden, about 84.69%[2] of people are cremated, and many families now skip a traditional funeral in favor of something smaller and more personal. That shift has made it more acceptable to mark a pet's death, too. If you'd like to hold a short gathering for the friends who knew your pet, you're likely to find people here receptive rather than puzzled, and some may be glad to be asked.
The Sweden figure comes from Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023). It describes people, not pets, so read it as a sign of local attitudes rather than a pet statistic.
Gothenburg's seasons and your grief
If you're planning an outdoor memorial, a planting or a scattering in or around Gothenburg, choose a season and time of day that's comfortable for everyone. There's no deadline. Many families keep the ashes at home for months and wait for weather, or an anniversary, that feels right.
Support costs near Gothenburg, from free to paid
In Gothenburg, as elsewhere in Europe, your vet is usually the first person you speak to after a pet dies, and many will know of local support or remembrance events. Paid counseling is available in most cities; ask about the fee and whether they've worked with pet loss. Aftercare prices vary by country, as the table shows.
Prices for Gothenburg track the wider Vastra Gotaland market, so use the Vastra Gotaland price table as your baseline and the services page to see what is included.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Permissions worth checking in Vastra Gotaland
Many people want to say goodbye somewhere public: a beach, a trail, a park bench. Those places often have their own rules, set by whoever manages the land rather than by Vastra Gotaland as a whole. A quick email to the park office usually gets a friendly answer, and asking first means you won't be worrying during the ceremony itself. The broader rules for Vastra Gotaland follow.
Getting through the first month
- Tell one person tonight. A text is enough. Somebody should know you're going through this alone.
- Change the silence. A radio, a podcast or a call during the hours your pet was most present can take the edge off.
- Put one outing a day on the calendar, however small: a coffee, a library visit, a walk at the old time.
- Find an evening online group. For people who live alone, the stretch after dinner is often when the house feels emptiest.
- Keep an eye on drinking and sleep. Without anyone else around, both can slip unnoticed. Mention it to your doctor if they have.
- If a night turns very dark, call a crisis line. Every sort of grief is a fair reason to ring, and feeling the way you do is reason enough on its own.
Places and ways to remember them
Swedes are often said to keep grief to themselves, but Gothenburgers also have a reputation for friendliness, and a pet's death is a good moment to lean on it. Tell a neighbor, invite a friend for fika, or join a pet loss group online. A small farewell at home before collection, or a short ceremony at the crematorium where one is offered, gives the loss a clear beginning.
The services page is the place to compare what is included, or see what other families chose in the poll results, run the numbers with the free planning tools, look through our guides and the blog. More local pages: the Vastra Gotaland overview and every city in Sweden.
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.
What words did you use to tell a child the pet had died?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Which kind of support have you tried since your loss?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Free tools to help you plan
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
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.
Questions people ask
Why does the Gothenburg page quote a human cremation rate?
Because it is the best local signal we have. Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023) reports about 84.69%[2] of Sweden residents are cremated. There is no official pet equivalent, and inventing one would be worse than quoting a real, clearly labelled number.
What should I do with my pet's bed, bowls and toys?
Nothing, until you're ready. Some people pack everything away within days because seeing it hurts; others leave the bed in place for months. Both are normal. When you're ready, you might keep one or two favorite things, pass unused food and bedding to a local shelter in Gothenburg, and put the collar somewhere safe. There's no deadline for any of it.
How do I find a pet bereavement counselor near Gothenburg?
Accredited pet-loss specialists are scarce: one UK count found only about 80[6] in private practice nationally. A general bereavement counselor who takes animal loss seriously is a good alternative. Ask your doctor, check the directory of your country's counseling professional body, and ask any counselor whether they've worked with pet loss before your first session. Video sessions widen the choice beyond Gothenburg.
Why does grief feel worse in the evenings?
Because that's often when your pet's presence was strongest: the walk after work, the cat on your lap, the last trip outside before bed. The routine is still in your body even though they're gone. It can help to put something new into that hour, such as a call, a short walk or an online group that meets in the evening.
What should I say when someone asks how my pet is?
A short answer you've prepared helps, because the question tends to come at the grocery store or the school gate when you least expect it. Something like 'He died last month, and we miss him a lot' is enough. You can say more if you want to talk, or change the subject if you don't. Most people respond kindly once they know, and many share a story of their own.
Is this site a therapy or counseling service?
No. We're an independent guide, not a clinic. We explain the kinds of pet loss support that exist around Gothenburg, from free groups to counselors, and can email you options if you ask through the form. We don't diagnose or treat anything. If you're in crisis, contact a crisis line or your local emergency number right away.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 56.7% of bereaved pet owners in the RSPCA survey could not find the support they needed. RSPCA — Pet Loss Survey Results, 2026.
- [2] In 2023, 84.69% of deaths in Sweden were cremated (58 crematoria). Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023, 2023.
- [3] 7.5% of UK adults whose bereavement was the death of a pet met criteria for prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Hyland et al., 'No pets allowed: Evidence that prolonged grief disorder can occur following the death of a pet', PLOS ONE (2026), 2026.
- [4] 34.5% of bereaved pet owners were told 'it's just a pet'. RSPCA — Pet Loss Survey Results, 2026.
- [5] Around 765,000 U.S. families a year are likely open to a personalized pet keepsake. Our estimate: 1.5M pet cremations x 51% interest in personalized memorials. How we calculate.
- [6] 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.
Find a group or counselor near Gothenburg
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.