A new online hub from OVC Pet Trust at the University of Guelph is blending personal narratives with expert insights to folks when their pet dies.
The Pet Loss Support Resource Centre, launched by U of G’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), offers free evidence-informed tools to navigate the grief of losing a beloved companion animal: a new video series, an expert interview library and four downloadable guides, along with links to counselling, support groups and educational materials.
Dr. Jeff Wichtel, dean of OVC, says that supporting the human–animal bond means taking care of people’s emotional well-being on top of providing them with clinical excellence.
“At the Ontario Veterinary College, we understand that pets are family,” says Wichtel. “These new resources reflect OVC’s leadership in compassionate, people-centred veterinary medicine, addressing the emotional and relational dimensions of care that are so often overlooked.”
OVC Pet Trust’s expert interview library features professionals in veterinary medicine, social work and mental health. Experts like Sarah Bernardi, veterinary social worker at OVC, share insights on key topics such as the human–animal bond, grief before and after loss, end-of-life decision-making, helping children with pet loss and aftercare and memorialization.
“Deeply grieving a pet is a natural human experience, yet it’s often a form of disenfranchised grief, a grief that isn’t always recognized or understood by others or society itself,” says Bernardi. "Through these resources, we hope to validate that experience, offer gentle guidance and remind people that they are not alone.”
