
After the Last Groom:

5 Ways to Comfort a
Grieving Pet Parent
Grieving Pet Parent
by Veronica Mui

A Card
A long-standing favorite for the loss of a loved one, sympathy cards are inexpensive, easy to store and readily available. Major websites such as Etsy, Amazon and AliExpress all sell pet sympathy cards for under a dollar apiece. There are also industry-specific vendors like Barkleighstore.com and SmartPractice.com that have a selection specifically for pet care professionals.
If you don’t save street addresses, e-cards are another option and can easily be customized and sent to a client’s e-mail address. Bluemountain.com and punchbowl.com both offer a wide variety of digital options.
A Charm
A step further in price, a simple charm will ensure that once the cards have been put away or recycled, your gift will still be visible. On Amazon you can purchase 100 paw print enamel charms for as little as $10. A simple cut piece of string can take the place of a chain or, for a little more, you can purchase bulk chains as well.
A Photo Memento
If you take photos of your furry clients after their grooms, a photo memento is easy and quick, and the options are endless. You can use a photo as a postcard, write a note on the back and slip it in an envelope to mail, or laminate a photo and use a hole-punch and string to create a hanging ornament. Another option is to gift them a photo along with a customized magnetic photo frame, which you can order in bulk from websites such as magnets.com.
A Video Montage
With a few extra photos from your camera reel and a couple more minutes, you can whip up a heartfelt video memorial montage with a slideshow app such as SlideShow Maker Photo to Video or PixGram.
A Memorial Post
With the pet parent’s permission, you could share a photo or a video montage on your social media as a tribute to the pet who has passed.
Whichever way you choose to remember your client’s beloved pet, be sure to add a few words about how special they were to you, or perhaps share a sweet moment you remember having with the pet. Your client will surely appreciate the smile it brings them.
In addition to being a good practice in kindness, making the effort to comfort a grieving pet parent is also good for business—you can count on them to remember you when they find their next furry friend.
It’s so difficult to say goodbye to a pet, and while taking the time to reach out to the client can mean a lot to them, they may benefit from more support.
It’s so difficult to say goodbye to a pet, and while taking the time to reach out to the client can mean a lot to them, they may benefit from more support. Thankfully, there are many groups and organizations dedicated to helping grieving pet owners. Sharing these resources can go a long way in aiding pet parents on their journey to finding long-term comfort and peace. Here are a few places where help can be found:
- Local Humane Societies: Many local humane societies offer group therapy sessions and pet bereavement services.
- The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (aplb.org): Their website has a page where you can create a virtual memorial for your pet and view the memorials others have made.
- Pet Loss Partners (petlosspartners.com): This organization hosts chat rooms, as well as individual and group virtual support.
Everyone who has loved a pet will have to go through the pain of losing them, but with a little preparation and a lot of love, you can support your client and comfort them with the memory of how much their pet has touched others’ lives as well as their own.