How to Cope With Losing a Pet: Grief, Guilt and Where to Find Support

To cope with losing a pet, let yourself grieve without a deadline, lean on people who understand, look after your own body and find a way to remember the animal you loved. Pet loss grief is a real form of grief, and it can be as heavy as the loss of a person. There is no set point by which you should feel better.

Below we cover why it hurts, how long grief may last, ways to cope, guilt, children and other pets, and where to find support. When you are ready, a keepsake such as one of our pet memorial sweatshirts can carry the pet’s face or name.

Why is losing a pet so traumatic?

Losing a pet can feel traumatic because a pet is part of every day: it shapes your routine, keeps you company and gives you someone to care for. HelpGuide’s article on losing a pet notes that a pet “can add structure to your day, keep you active and social” and can “provide a sense of meaning or purpose.”

The pain is often deeper when the pet was a constant companion, for example after 15 years together or for someone who lives alone; HelpGuide says that “the more significant your pet was to you, the more intense the emotional pain you’ll feel.” In a 2026 PLOS One study of 975 adults in the United Kingdom, 21% of the people who had lost both a pet and a person named the pet’s death as the one that distressed them most.

Grief can also feel lonely when others do not see the loss as real. HelpGuide quotes the reaction many owners hear, “It’s just a pet!”, and says no one should feel “guilty or ashamed about grieving for an animal friend.”

How long is it normal to grieve the loss of a pet?

There is no normal length of time to grieve a pet; grief can last weeks, months or, for some people, years. HelpGuide says “there is no ‘normal’ timetable for grieving” and that for some people the process “is measured in years.”

Pet grief rarely moves in a straight line. Humane World for Animals’ guide to coping with the death of a pet describes grief that comes and goes, with a wave that can return after you start to feel better. HelpGuide adds that the lows “are likely to be deeper and longer at the beginning.” A birthday or an adoption anniversary can bring a wave back; that is part of grieving, not a step backward.

How do you deal with the loss of a pet?

To deal with the loss of a pet, care for your feelings, your body and your days at the same time. Most of these eight ways come from grief and animal welfare guides:

• Let yourself grieve: cry, feel angry or feel numb without judging it. Humane World’s first advice is to “acknowledge your grief, and give yourself permission to express it.”
• Talk to people who understand: a friend who has lost a pet, a support group or a support line. HelpGuide suggests time face to face with people who care about you.
• Write it down: a letter to your pet, as Humane World suggests, or a list of favorite moments.
• Hold a small ritual: planting a tree, filling a memory box or putting together a photo album. Humane World and HelpGuide both suggest a memorial like these.
• Look after your body: HelpGuide recommends sleep, regular meals, exercise and time with other people.
• Try not to replay the last moments: Humane World advises against it; remember the years before them instead.
• Keep a simple routine: a morning walk, a set mealtime or a call with a friend can give each day a shape while the old routine is missing.
• Wait before a new pet: HelpGuide suggests mourning first and waiting until you feel ready to open your home to a new animal.

If a gentle image helps, our guide explains what crossing the Rainbow Bridge means to many owners.

Why do I feel guilty after putting my pet to sleep?

Guilt after euthanasia is common because you made a choice for an animal who trusted you, and the mind keeps asking whether it was the right one or the right day. Lap of Love’s article on guilt after euthanasia, reviewed by one of its veterinarians, says that “feeling guilt after euthanasia is a very common part of grief” and that it can appear “because the bond we share with animals is so strong.”

The same article suggests remembering that euthanasia “is often chosen to prevent suffering and offer a peaceful passing,” and recalling the full life your pet lived rather than only its last day. Tufts University’s Pet Loss Support Helpline page calls the decision “one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do.” After a sudden loss, guilt may come as “what if” thoughts; saying them aloud to someone who listens can help.

How do you help children and other pets after a pet dies?

To help a child after a pet dies, tell the truth in words that fit the child’s age, let them see your own sadness and give them a small way to say goodbye. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org says “it’s okay to let them see you cry” and suggests a small memorial, such as a collage. Humane World warns that saying a pet “ran away” can leave a child confused or feeling betrayed later. The AAP advises telling your pediatrician if a child has sleep problems, anxiety or deep sadness that lasts.

Other pets in the home may notice the loss too. Humane World says a surviving pet may whimper, stop eating or seem low, and recommends keeping its normal routine, giving extra attention and seeing your veterinarian if the signs continue.

Where can you get support for pet loss grief?

You can get support for pet loss grief from a pet loss support line, a support group, your doctor or a mental health professional. HelpGuide suggests seeing a doctor or mental health professional if grief “is persistent and interferes with your ability to function.” These lines are run by U.S. veterinary schools; their pages showed these numbers on October 26, 2026:

• Cornell Pet Loss Support Hotline: 607-218-7457, answered by trained veterinary student volunteers. Cornell’s hotline page says hours vary by season, so call for current hours.
• Tufts Pet Loss Support Helpline: 508-839-7966, run by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and staffed Monday to Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m. Eastern, with voicemail at other times.

Humane World also points to the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement’s support groups and to Lap of Love’s grief courses. If grief ever comes with thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day in the United States.

Can a keepsake help you remember your pet?

A keepsake can give grief somewhere to rest: a collar on a shelf, a photo album or a portrait of the pet’s face that you can hold or wear. Our guide to a memorial pet portrait from a photo explains how to choose a photo when you only have a few. Our list of pet memorial ideas to honor them has more ways to remember a pet. There is no right time to make one, and no need to rush.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal to cry every day after losing a pet?

Yes, crying often is a common part of early grief, and the lows are usually deepest at the beginning. If daily life stays hard to manage for a long time, talk to your doctor or a pet loss support line.

When should you get another pet?

Get another pet when you feel ready to love a new animal for who it is, not to fill the space of the one you lost. HelpGuide suggests mourning first; volunteering at a shelter can show you whether the time has come.

What can you say to a friend who lost a pet?

Say the pet’s name and a memory you shared, and avoid “it was just a pet.” Our list of pet sympathy card messages has short notes for friends, coworkers and family, and our guide to gifts for someone who lost a pet covers small gestures that help.