Coping with the death of a pet can be a stressful experience. The Veterinary Social Work Service at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine offers a virtual Pet Loss Support Group to help individuals experiencing the grief process, regardless of the species of pet or the amount of time that has passed since the loss.
 
The group meetings offer a supportive environment where people can share their varied experiences of grief and loss of a companion animal, a place to remember and honor the life of the companion animal, and learn additional ways of coping with the loss of an animal.
 
The facilitator(s) helps answer questions, guide the discussion, and provide resources when needed. The facilitator may be a licensed therapist, a therapist in training, or a peer support leader. This is not a therapy group or a substitute for psychiatric care, psychotherapy, or medical treatment.
 
The virtual group meetings are free and are designed for anyone whose pet has died or is terminally ill.  The meetings will be held monthly July through October, from 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The dates are July 16, August 12, September 17, and October 14. Register at https://tiny.utk.edu/PetLossSupportGroup.  

 
For more information about the online meetings, contact the Veterinary Social Work Service at 865-755-8839 or by email at vetsocialwork@utk.edu.