Humane Society of Tahoe Truckee starts pet bereavement group

The death of a pet can be devastating, and for some, the grief can be more intense than human loss. To help, the Humane Society of Tahoe Truckee (HSTT) has launched a Pet Loss Support Group for grieving pet parents. This group will help those experiencing this loss, or anticipated loss, of their furry friend.

In a supportive, understanding, format, participants can share and explore their difficult and sad feelings, in the comfort and safety of a private group. It has been shown that group support can aid in the healing of loss, as pet parents learn coping strategies to manage and tolerate their grief.

Pet Loss Support Group is intended for pet parents who are coping with the following:

The groups will be facilitated by local grief counselor, Bonnie Goodman, MA, CT. They are free of charge, and will be limited to six people. Reservations are required, as is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Donations to HSTT are welcomed and appreciated. Meetings are 1.5 hours long, offered twice a month.

Meetings will take place on the first and third Wednesday of each month, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The first meeting will start on November 18, 2020. To reserve a spot, please email: Erin Ellis, Community Engagement Director, at erin@hstt.org.

For more information, visit https://hstt.org/pet-loss-support-group.

Bonnie has over 25 years of counseling experience, and is professionally trained and certified in Pet Loss and Bereavement. She is also nationally Board Certified as a Thanatologist-Grief Counselor/Educator. For further information about Bonnie, you can view her website: goodmancounseling.com

The HSTT Pet Loss Support Group is open to all adults 18 years and older. Due to COVID-19, group meetings are conducted over Zoom.