Grieving? You don't have to be alone....
It's OK to love & miss your pet!
Call us: 1-(866) 266-8635 or (509) 335-5704
Email: plhl@vetmed.wsu.edu
Who are WSU Pet Loss Hotline volunteers?
We are a group of Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine students who have been trained in grief counseling by a licensed therapist.
Many of us have experienced the loss of a pet and are here to help you through this difficult time. By helping others through their loss we hope to become better, more compassionate veterinarians. As volunteers, we offer compassion and understanding. Most of all, we want you to know that it is perfectly natural to feel the way you are feeling. Grief is expressed in many different ways, and each person's situation is unique.
Grief support and mental health concerns: We hope that you will be able to release some of your grief and begin the healing process by contacting us from the privacy of your home. Please call or email us if you want to talk—we are here to support you, and will respond as soon as possible.
Pet loss can trigger difficult emotional responses that warrant professional help which is beyond the scope of the WSU Pet Loss Hotline- we are unable to provide mental health counseling, and our services are not intended as substitute for such treatment. When needed, we may be able to help you find a pet loss support group or other resources in your area, and can refer you to a mental health hotline in your state.
If you or someone you’re concerned about is depressed, unable to cope, or having thoughts of suicide or harming others,
call 1-800-784-2433 or see http://www.suicide.org/suicide-hotlines.html for mental health hotlines by state, and international hotline numbers.
Hotline staff at the above links can provide referrals to mental health counselors.
Pet loss counselors, pet loss support groups and chat rooms by state are also available at the Pet Loss Support Page. Moderated pet loss chat rooms may be found at the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement.
Medical advice: While we are connected with WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, we are unable to provide veterinary advice or opinions. Pet Loss Hotline volunteers are specifically prepared to help people cope with grief and bereavement in the pending or past loss of a companion animal. Many medical topics are addressed at the "Pet Health Topics Site".
The Rainbow Bridge … a healing story for those dealing with pet loss.
A longer version (10:47) of the above video is available on YouTube.
Pet Loss Hotline Hours & Contact Information
Email us at plhl@vetmed.wsu.edu
or call us at 1-(866) 266-8635 or (509) 335-5704
Phone and/or email message can be left for our staff 24 hours a day. Our phones are normally staffed during the semester Monday-Thursday, 7 PM-9 PM and Saturday 1PM-3 PM Pacific Time.
While school is not in session and during holidays we have abbreviated hours and check phone and email messages Monday-Thursday and Saturday once daily.
All messages will be returned as soon as possible.We ask you to limit calls to 45 minutes, so that other callers can be served more promptly.
The Pet Loss Hotline thanks 
for their generous support of this project.