The Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service

05/06/2026

Huge thank you to my wonderful friend Angela for the shoutout! She has written a book about her experience as a rescuer of 3 newborn kittens and I couldn’t be more proud of her for both! She truly is one of life’s good humans.
If outside of Canada, you can type Raising Sylvie into the Amazon search bar to find this book. That’s what I did and I’m looking forward to receiving my copy on Sunday!
Indie authors supporting indie authors! Xx 🙏🙌📚

My true personal experience with my adult words, it’s the ‘not so’ suitable details about Sylvie’s story.
The details I have kept from my Children’s book.

At 1 a.m., I tried to feed Sylvie.
At 4 a.m., I was still holding her, waiting for her to pass.
It was one of the hardest nights I have ever experienced. Sylvie was struggling to breathe, she couldn’t lift her fragile little head and her chest lifted up and down much faster than it should have been. I was saying my goodbyes and my sorry’s for not being able to do more for this tiny wee soul.

There is a kind of grief that begins before goodbye. I have since learned this is called anticipatory grief. It’s when your heart is already breaking for a loss you are terrified is coming.

My friend and Author Wendy Andrew has written about the many layers of grief connected to loving animals, and that helped me understand thats what I was feeling that night. I recommend her book if you have experienced a pet or animal death.

I was tired, I was scared.
I was grieving the possibility of losing her while still trying with everything I had to save her.
I felt completely helpless. I held her. I kept her warm. I made sure she knew she was loved, safe, and not alone.
That’s all I could do.

But she survived that night, to continue her story and teach me never to give up ❤️.

05/06/2026

I’m hugely disappointed to see this article published and I’m sharing to debunk its message before it tips someone over the edge.
I’m sure in a perfect world, in perfect circumstances we would all want to be able to spend every last second with our beloved companions however rarely in life, or indeed death, are things black and white.
This article throws shade and guilt at people who, for whatever reason, can’t be there in their pets final moments. And there can be many many reasons for them not being able to be there.
Not every passing is peaceful so past experiences may have left them traumatised. Their pet may have been involved in an accident and an emergency decision made in their absence. Poor mental and emotional health is another factor to consider. They may be so grief stricken or caring for a child that they simply can’t do it so a 3rd party may intervene on their behalf. It may be the person’s choice not to be present to maintain how they want to preserve their memories and that is their prerogative.
Whatever the reason for not being present during euthanasia, I can assure you that the greatest care and kindness is given to animals by the vets and vet staff.
One of my counselling colleagues is a former vet nurse and has often spoken about sharing her sandwiches with a dog before it was euthanised which is something I feel is important to share and give comfort to anyone reading this who may need it.
Please, please, please do not judge. We all have our own experiences and it’s unfair and unkind to shame people because their circumstances differ to our own. We all may need understanding and compassion some day so please give it generously. Xx 🙏🩷🌈🐾

A vet believes she knows what may be going through a dog's mind during their final moments 🥹🌈

05/06/2026

Please contact Lisa Loops or the MUDDY PAWS CRIME Uk & Ireland team if you’d like to book you place xx 🙏

🔴FREE ONLINE ZOOM SUPPORT SESSION -TUESDAY 9TH JUNE AT 7PM

🟠HOSTED BY WENDY ANDREW FROM
The Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service
( https://thescottishpetbereavementcounsellingservice.com/ ) WITH Lisa Loops & Karen Field FROM
MUDDY PAWS CRIME Uk & Ireland
( https://www.muddypawscrimeukireland.com/ )

🟡This support session is ONLY for owners of Missing/Stolen pets🔴

🟢TO BOOK - PM Lisa Loops OR MUDDY PAWS CRIME Uk & Ireland

🟣PLEASE NOTE - You do not have to have your camera on or even speak. It is a comfortable session with previous excellent feedback from missing/stolen pet owners

🔴Places are limited so early booking recommended . As advised above this session is FREE we thank Wendy FROM
The Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service so much for her time

28/04/2026

Because it is losing a loved one… xx

Good afternoon all, we have an important update!

2026 is the 10th anniversary year of our charity, and our comprehensive portfolio of key national resources continues to grow year on year.

This year, our team are developing new dedicated web pages to support more sectors of our grieving community.

Today we are delighted to announce that our website will soon include advice, information and support for those who experience a pet bereavement.

We know the impact of losing a family pet, can be devastating, and is often misunderstood.

If you have any comments about your personal experience, that you would like to share with us, please leave your message below.

We are keen to hear your stories, so we can ensure we offer the best range of services for your personal loss.

18/04/2026

There is always hope. Sometimes miracles do happen. Especially when you have your pet microchipped. Xx 🥰🐾

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CejKQFQZE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

13/04/2026

🌟 Sibling Pet Grief 🌟

When we lose a pet, the grief isn’t ours alone.

The pets who shared their world feel it too. 🐈🐕
They may search for them, wait by the door or seem quieter than usual.

And while you’re carrying your own heartbreak, you’re also trying to support theirs.💔

Keep routines as steady as you can.
Offer extra comfort, even if it’s just sitting together.
Watch for changes in appetite or behaviour.
Most of all, be gentle with both of you.

Grief looks different for every species, and every bond.

You’re not just healing yourself. You’re helping them through it too. 🐾💞

13/04/2026

If your pet has been stolen, this event may be of interest to you. Sadly you are not alone in this but you are not isolated. We’re here for you xx ❤️‍🩹

7pm Tuesday April 21st 2026

TO OWNERS OF MISSING/STOLEN PETS

A post to let you know we are all here for you so never feel on your own. 🩷

The owners we have campaigns for know they can message us at anytime but even if you are an owner whose campaign
MUDDY PAWS CRIME Uk & Ireland are not running we offer for you to join our PRIVATE Group which is JUST for owners of Missing/Stolen pets -MUDDYPAWSCRIME -Stolen Pet Owners Support (S.P.O.S.) https://www.facebook.com/groups/405745964734956/

🟣We will be running a FREE 3O MINUTE GROUP ZOOM SESSION FOR MISSING/STOLEN PET OWNERS hosted by the lovely Wendy Andrew from The Scottish Pet Bereavement Counselling Service
WITHIN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS -Date/Time TBC so please message Lisa Loops or MUDDY PAWS CRIME Uk & Ireland to express your interest in this . You don't have to speak, you don't even have to have your camera on. It is a support session to give you coping tips and support at this emotional traumatic time you are all going through . Past sessions have had positive feedback from owners
🟣The group is a PRIVATE GROUP & we vet anyone joining to ensure they are in fact a missing/stolen owner so this is a safe space for you all so you can feel free to post any feelings or if need support from others in the group . Often owners support other owners the best as you all know what each other are going through .
With love from all at
MUDDY PAWS CRIME Uk & Ireland 🩷💙

13/04/2026

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a blog but there is always work going on behind the scenes.

Some of you may not know that I offer support to those whose pets are lost or stolen as well as those grieving the death of their beloved companions.

MUDDY PAWS CRIME Uk & Ireland do incredible work and their team of volunteers work so hard to reunite missing & stolen pets with their people.

Ambiguous grief is a horrible thing and for many people it’s worse than grieving the death of a pet as they just don’t know what has become of them.

I shall be joining Lisa Loops & the team on Tues April 21st at 7pm to host a zoom for the victims of pet theft so that they feel heard and supported too. Xx 🙏❤️‍🩹

There is a particular kind of grief that comes, not with closure, but with a question mark. And it is heartbreaking. When a pet dies, painful as it is, there is certainty. However, when a pet goes …

09/03/2026

There’s no rush to put things away, donate or get rid completely. Only when you feel ready to do so. Memory boxes can be a comforting way to store treasured items which may not be important to some people but mean the world to you. Xx

Even after your loved one is gone, their clothes may hang neatly in the closet, bookshelves may be arranged just as they left them, toothbrush and razor still in the bathroom.

Sorting through these objects, however inanimate or innocuous, can be particularly difficult when you're grief-stricken.

When the emotional element of loss is added to what to do with these items it can become increasingly difficult and stressful to decide.

My advice...when in doubt...keep it!

You can never get it back once it’s gone.

Grief has so much pain already, why add to it by regretting giving something away before you're ready?

Give yourself all the time you need. Set aside time to decide what to do with your loved one's belongings when you're feeling mentally and physically strong enough to make decisions.

Here's the thing...if it brings you comfort...keep it!

If an item is no longer serving you consider donating it or giving it to someone who may appreciate having a keepsake of your loved one.

The process of dealing with a loved one's belongings is so personal.
What works best for you is the ONLY plan that will work.

Hold on to everything you're not yet ready to part with or decide about, but when it comes time to select which items to keep, choose what you want to live with, enjoy and appreciate.

The things you keep should bring joy to your life and should make you smile. They should make you think of your loved one with happiness when you see them. If they bring you painful memories (like all those medical supplies stacked in the corner of the bedroom) toss them!

Some people have a “just donate everything and move on” personality and others have an “I need to keep everything” personality, and that's okay.

Everyone's grief is unique to them and how they process it is a personal decision.

There's no right or wrong way to do it.

It's up to you...and only you…what to keep, and what to give away.

Gary Sturgis
Author: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF – 365 Days A Year’

08/03/2026

An interesting viewpoint. But certainly we do indeed know the purest love and devotion xx 💔🐾🌈