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Grief Support Now Available for Loss of a Pet

Coastal Humane Society and Hospice Volunteers Partner to Help Pet Owners in Mourning Find Support.

The Coastal Humane Society, a nonprofit animal shelter serving northern Cumberland County and parts of Sagadahoc, and Androscoggin counties has teamed up with Hospice Volunteers: Center for Grief & Loss in Mid Coast Maine to offer grief support for pet owners struggling with the loss of a beloved animal, or anticipating the death of a precious pet.

“We believe this type of support for pet loss is unique to our area” said Karen Stimpson, Executive Director of the CHS agency. “Our program is modeled after others in the Western parts of the US – but we have found it difficult to locate any similar groups here on the East Coast. There are so many wonderful support groups for people who’ve lost a person close to them, but nothing for those struggling specifically with the loss of a beloved four legged friend. Here at the shelter, we unfortunately do see people facing this sadness almost everyday.”

Following a 2009 workshop series devoted to Pet Health and Well Being in which the final topic was When is it Time to Say Goodbye?, CHS received quite a bit of interest in providing further services for pet owners in the final stage of pet ownership and responsibility. Collaboration was begun with the Hospice Volunteers: Center for Grief & Loss, who are also based in Brunswick. “We are very pleased to be able to offer two grief support groups for pet owners; anticipatory grief for those who are facing the difficult journey of grief as their pet is at end-of-life, and also a grief group for those whose pet has already died” says Lynn Ellis, Director of Bereavement Services. “For so many of us, our pets are a part of the family and their death impacts us as deeply as any person. Those losses are just as critical to mourn and in these support groups there is a place to do so.” Both group support sessions will be held at the same time:.