Grief is a highly individual and complex emotional experience that manifests differently in each of us. People may express their grief through a variety of emotions and behaviours. Some common […]
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Embracing Grief When a Pet Dies In the midst of grieving, have you ever been surprised by a sign that you are on the right path or at the right […]
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Letter to a Dear Pet Dear Blaze, my spirited and loyal friend. It has been twelve months since you transitioned. Just twelve months, yet it feels like a lifetime ago. […]
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Dear Max – AKA squishy, macchiato, mackie, snowy, little man, maximus and monkey. I miss you so much. So much that it hurts to think about it. I haven’t fully […]
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Introduction Our animal family members provide us with joy, loyalty, and unconditional love. The loss of a beloved pet can be an excruciating experience. Despite that, our society can trivialise […]
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Would you like more support with your pet loss journey? Are people saying things to you that don’t make sense or feel supportive? If so, it is important to consider the […]
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On the evening of July 4th, 2019, I was sitting with my daughter Olivia and my son-in-law Patrick on their small New York City apartment terrace. In the far distance, […]
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Lately, I have had many patients come to see me to get grief counseling over the loss of a beloved pet. Their grief aroused my grief over my past losses. […]
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How can you help children address pet loss? David Meagher, a professor emeritus at The City University of New York, explains that pets genuinely become part of a family. The […]
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Registered nurse and licensed professional counselor Deborah Antinori joins Dr. Heidi Horsley to talk about pet loss, one of the most disenfranchised losses. She’s also a drama therapist and grief […]
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It was a baby rat. Recently, after years of contemplating the possibility, I obtained two adult rats as pets. They were potentially to be used as live examples in the […]
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A professor at the University of San Francisco, Dr. Cori Bussolari, and a professor at Palo Alto University, Dr. Wendy Packman, recently spoke with Dr. Heidi Horsley during the 2015 […]
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All too often, pet death is discounted as not important, and those undermining words, “We’ll get you another one,” are offered as a hollow consolation. They diminish the love the […]
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I have watched people go through loss of a loved pet and can see how hard it is to say goodbye to those four-legged members of our families. Having seen […]
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My Uncle Steve turned 94 yesterday. I’m very happy that he’s still with us, and very proud that he has reached such an advanced old age. We tried to bring […]
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I feel very anxious today, more anxious than I have been since I found out that my uncle has terminal cancer. He has been in a rehabilitation center for a […]
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It has been a week since I found out that my Uncle Steve has terminal cancer. I’ve felt sick to my stomach. I’ve felt calm. I’ve felt trapped. I’ve felt […]
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There are certain beings in this life that I love more than anyone else. They are: my dogs Isabella and Camilla, my boyfriend Walter, and my Uncle Steve. I lost […]
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A Forever Decision, Part 5 I am beginning to remember things about my daily life with my dog, Camilla, that give me pleasure. When she lost her sight, I would […]
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It has been a month since I lost my beloved Camilla due to a brain tumor. Today I felt desolate. Tears sprang into my eyes when I thought of what […]
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On Day 9 after the loss of my beloved Camilla due to a brain tumor, I think it’s important to start the day with love. Whether it’s petting my remaining […]
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My relief is giving way to anxiety and the inability to concentrate. On the sixth day after I put my beloved Camilla to sleep after a long illness, I wake […]
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I’m starting to realize that she is not coming back. Five days ago, I put my beloved dog Camilla to sleep. She had a tumor on her pituitary gland and […]
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Question from a reader: I wonder if you could give me some advice. Recently our pet cat died and we decided to have her cremated so the ashes could be […]
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“Death ends a life – it does not end a relationship.” — (Anderson, 1974) When one suffers the loss of a dear, beloved animal companion, it is a profound loss […]
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Question from a reader: I have been grieving the loss of my cat for some time now, and the pain does not go away. I am still very sad and […]
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My beloved first golden retriever died in July 2005, The anticipated and then excruciating pain of his loss lingered for months on end, tears flowed uncontrollably and a growing yearning […]
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The Pain of Loss “This is the most terrible pain I have ever had and I feel like I will never be the same person I was before my pet […]
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They say cats have nine lives. I wish that were true, but the facts contradict such myths. Everything dies, including the felines, dogs and other creatures we choose to care […]
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Although a common thread connects the stages of grief, the journey of sorrow materializes differently for each person who trudges through it. From overwhelming emotion, timeless pain and isolation to […]
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I am a cat-lover, I will admit it. Growing up, I had cats here and there, but my dad was really intolerant of the normal pet things like fleas and […]
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Many in our society do not recognize the impact that pet loss has on an individual. For many people, the loss of a beloved pet may be the first significant […]
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You were a tiny little angel Sent to me from the heavens above. You were a soft and cuddly ball of fur Filling my life with unconditional love. My Precious […]
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Question from a reader: I am writing in hopes that you may be able to provide advice or support that I can give my parents who just had to euthanize their […]
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Five-year-old Greg was sad. His pet gerbil, Jasper, had died. Jasper was lying in the cage very still. Greg started screaming and crying and Mom ran into the room to […]
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I was reflecting today on my dog Ringo, who died after being hit by a car when I was fifteen. As I ran to his side, he acknowledged my presence […]
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At the 46th Conference of The Compassionate Friends Steve Parker talks about finding what makes you whole in the grief conference. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Steve-Parker_-Moving-Through-Your-Grief-Mind-Body-and-Soul.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Miss your pet? Join Dr. Gloria Horsley and Rebecca Horsley Bara in an interview with Kevin Ringstaff for tips and tools on dealing with the loss of your beloved pet. […]
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Have you considered the impact of grief on your brain? It is time that you did! Join Dr’s Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley and their guest Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor for […]
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Are you feeling a connection with your deceased loved one pet or human but can’t quite explain it? Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and their guest Patrice Karst for […]
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Are you looking for a path toward healing a loss? Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and their guest Melissa Lyons. Melissa has helped thousands transform and move forward after […]
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It is never too late to express your love to the deceased. Join Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley and Janet Gallin to share in the power of love through […]
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Struggling with grief? Join Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley in an interview with Sharon Ehlers founder of Grief Reiki® – award-winning Author, Grief Educator, Death Midwife and Reiki Master […]
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Fran Solomon never imagined she’d find herself in the field of death & dying. After triggering events brought episodes of deep grief, Fran refocused her energy into a quest for […]
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Linda Goldman is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins Graduate School and Kings College. Linda is the author of Lucy Let’s Go: Helping Children Love A Pet Through Death and […]
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Tica Tallent and Beth Marshall understand that for many people, pets are family! And, when a family member dies, the grief is real. Tica’s new book, Overcoming the Loss of […]
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Dr. Wendy Packman is a Professor of Psychology at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in Palo Alto, California. She has written extensively on sibling bereavement and continuing bonds, the impact […]
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On This show Dr. Gloria Horsley; and Dr. Heidi Horsley discuss the death of a pet with pet loss experts Bonnie Goodman and Dr. Betty J. Carmack, R.N., Ed.D. Betty […]
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David Meagher and Dr Gloria Horsley talk about helping children cope with pet loss.
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Robin Edgar’s book, In My Mother’s Kitchen: An Introduction to the Healing Power of Reminiscence, illustrates how to recall and record memories of your loved ones in order to develop […]
Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.
