Pet Loss Grief Support Articles — K9 Hearts
K9 Hearts publishes evidence-based pet loss grief support articles written by Paige Cummings — a credentialed grief support professional with nearly 30 years of experience supporting families through loss.
For the grief that changed everything. You are not alone here.
Not sure where to start? Try searching: guilt, grief timeline, support groups, memorialize, children
How Long Does Pet Grief Last?
There is no set timeline for pet grief. Research shows that grief after losing a dog can mirror the intensity and duration of grief after human loss — and that the depth of your mourning reflects the depth of your bond. K9 Hearts explores what the research actually says, why society's unspoken rules make this grief harder to carry, and what healing really looks like.
What Do You Do When the Grief of Losing Your Dog Feels Too Heavy to Carry?
When the grief of losing your dog stops being something you are moving through and starts being something you are stuck inside, you do not have to carry it alone. This is a complete guide to free support groups, hotlines, online communities, Facebook groups, and professional pet loss counselors — organized by what you need right now.
What is a Heart Dog?
A heart dog is not just the dog you loved most — it is the dog who became part of how you survived a season, understood yourself, or found your way back to something real. K9 Hearts founder Paige Cummings explores what a heart dog is, how to recognize one, and why the grief when they are gone — or leaving — feels like nothing else.
For my Aunt Cindy and Cheyenne: How to Cope Every Day When Your Dog Has a Terminal Diagnosis
For dogs facing a serious diagnosis, anticipatory grief is one of the most painful and least-discussed experiences in pet loss. This blog provides peer-reviewed coping strategies, a free downloadable daily care journal, a gentle bucket list framework, and compassionate guidance for navigating impossible treatment decisions — written in honor of one extraordinary Australian Shepherd and the woman who loved him.