Pet Loss Support

Cats Protection has a confidential phone line called Paws to Listen for cat owners suffering the bereavement of a feline friend. They also have an email support service and can be contacted via: pawstolisten@cats.org.uk 

You can call the Paws to Listen grief support service on 0800 024 9494 from 9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). 

Another way to connect with Cats Protection’s Paws to Listen is through this contact form. 

There are also services available to support you if you’ve sadly lost your horse. 

The British Horse Society (BHS) Friends at the End Service provides free confidential advice and support from 8:35am until 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:35am until 3pm on Fridays.  

You can contact the BHS via their social media accounts, via phone 02476 840517, or through their email address: friendsattheend@bhs.org.uk 

For support at any time of the day or night, contact Samaritans by calling 116 123. 

Other ways to access support through Samaritans include: 

• Sending an email.
• Writing a letter.
• Visiting a branch to speak with a trained volunteer. 

If your child is struggling to process the loss of your family pet, the Rainbow Bridge website offers lots of advice and useful resources to support children aged 2-11 years. 

Don’t hesitate to call the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service on 0800 096 6606 if you’re struggling with the loss of your pet. The conversation with a Pet Loss Support volunteer is completely confidential, and you can call as many times as is needed. If you’re not quite ready to talk, you can get in touch with the Pet Loss Support team using their confidential online form, or through their webchat service. Alternatively, for a response within 48 hours, you could send an email: plsmail@bluecross.org.uk  

This service is available for those who have lost any type of pet, whether that’s a dog, cat, small furry (e.g. rabbit), horse, donkey, bird, or reptile.  

Please note: It doesn’t matter how long ago you lost your pet, or if you’re preparing to say goodbye, the fully trained Pet Loss Support team are there to listen. 

The Blue Cross Pet Loss Support Service is available to help you, every day, from 8.30am until 8.30pm. 

You can get free telephone support with a qualified pet bereavement counsellor by booking an appointment here. However, if connecting with an online community feels more appropriate for you, there’s a private Facebook group you could join called Living With Pet Bereavement & Pet Loss Support. 

Additionally, the Living with Pet Bereavement website has a range of free resources available for you to access at any time throughout the grieving process. 

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to work through your grief without external support, this PDSA bereavement support guide provides helpful leaflets and book recommendations.