Pet Loss Grief Support Articles
For the grief that changed everything. You are not alone here.
K9 Hearts publishes evidence-based pet loss grief support articles written by Paige Cummings, BS, MA — a professional with nearly 30 years of experience supporting families through loss.
Not sure where to start? Try searching: guilt, grief timeline, support groups, memorialize, children
Is It Normal to Feel Guilty After Losing a Dog?
If you had asked me in the weeks after Charlie died whether I felt guilty, I am not sure I would have said yes. Guilt sounded like a word for people who had done something wrong. Here is what the research actually says about guilt after losing a dog, why it survives your own best reasoning, and what finally made mine quieter.
Why Does Pet Loss Feel Harder Than Human Loss?
Losing a dog can feel just as devastating as losing a person — and research confirms that is not an overreaction. At K9 Hearts, we believe pet grief deserves the same witness and support as any other loss. Here is what the science says, and why it matters.
Real Self-Care After Dog Loss: What Actually Helps (And What Doesn't)
Losing a dog is a physical and emotional experience — and real self-care during grief looks nothing like what most people suggest. In this post, K9Hearts founder Paige Cummings shares evidence-informed self-care tools for dog loss grief: what actually helps with sleep, movement, emotional processing, and honoring your dog's memory — and what to skip. Backed by peer-reviewed research and lived experience.