Telling your pet goodbye as they make their journey over the Rainbow Bridge sucks … and that’s putting it mildly. It doesn’t matter how much time you had with them, you’re left with a pet-sized hole in your heart and in your home.
Navigating that grief can be difficult and coping with it looks different for everyone.
However, there can be a stigma around how the loss of a pet impacts us. More than 55% of people grieving a pet felt like they had to hide their grief, according to the RSPCA Pet Grief Survey 2026. In addition to hiding their grief, less than 14% of people surveyed felt like their grief was fully understood by others.
But here’s the good news: You don’t have to understand it to be able to support your loved one through it.
Watch this
video for simple ways you can support a loved one after pet loss.
How to cope with the loss of a pet
When I made the decision to put down my beloved dog, Bogart, it wasn’t easy. I grew up with pets, so it wasn’t my first rodeo with pet loss, but it was, without a doubt, the hardest.
One of the simplest ways to support someone after their pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge is to simply be there for them. Be a comfort. Be a distraction. Be a shoulder. Be a friend.
One thing I appreciated in my grieving process was the people around me allowing Bogart’s memory to live on. They let me talk about him. They shared their favorite memories of him. They sent me pictures of him. They reminded me of how wonderful he was — and they still do, two years later!
On the flip side, I had a hard time being around my friends’ and family's dogs, so your loved one might, too. You don’t have to avoid animals altogether, but there is a difference between a stranger’s pet on the sidewalk and a friend’s pet on their couch when you're in the midst of the grieving process. So instead of inviting them to your home, maybe opt for an outing to a coffee shop or a concert.
Thinking of a pet loss gift? Consider these tips
Gift giving is a very common way to show love and support when someone is grieving a loss. Gifts were the last thing I expected when Bogart passed, but every single unexpected one was wildly appreciated.
My best friend got me a bouquet of flowers that I dried out and turned into art that hangs on my wall. She also surprised me with a custom watercolor portrait of him a couple months later.
Her parents gifted me a peace lily.
Some coworkers sent me an orchid.
I had other friends surprise me with a necklace with his initial and another with a portrait of him.
His vet clinic made a donation to his vet's Alma Mater, the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, in his honor.
But not all gifts require spending a lot, or any, money.
It could be as simple as a sympathy card, printing a photo of your loved one with their pet or leaving a supportive comment on their social media post expressing your condolences.
It doesn’t have to be normal, either! My parents gave me the spoon we used to give Bogart his daily doses of peanut butter. A strange gift, but also a deeply sentimental one.
Your gift can also be something as simple as offering to take the leftover food, bed or toys home to your pet or a local shelter. Your loved one may say no that day, but they may also take you up on it later.
If you’re considering a gift for your loved one, you know them best, so make sure it is something they’ll appreciate.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pet loss is hard. Loving someone through it isn't.
