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Remembered: How To Grieve An Animal Loved One

An illustration of a hand opening a refrigerator door. On the door are three photos of a masculine-presenting person and a pet cat. Each photo shows the pet and pet guardian at different ages. The word "Remembered" is on the right-hand side of the illustration in the center of it.
Charnel Hunter

Anita is a dog mom. Her wire-haired, bearded terrier Oliver has been her companion through heartbreak, job changes and pandemic turmoil. She's never going to feel ready to say goodbye, but she knows from watching others lose family pets, that pet grief can wreck you, and it's better to acknowledge this reality sooner rather than later. She talks with pet owners, a veterinary social worker, a vet and her own parents about making space for pet grief and memorializing the animal companions we have loved.

Meet the guests:

  • Corban Smith, adjunct professor at James Madison University, jail/emergency services clinician at Valley Community Services Board and pet guardian of the late Dallas
  • Sarina Manifold, veterinary social worker, certified grief recovery specialist and owner of Authentic Healing Counseling
  • Dr. Erika Lin-Hendel, board member of Not One More Vet and a relief veterinarian

Read the transcriptReview the podcast

A good list of pet-grief resources!

Kaia Findlay is the lead producer of Embodied, WUNC's weekly podcast and radio show about sex, relationships and health. Kaia first joined the WUNC team in 2020 as a producer for The State of Things.
Anita Rao is an award-winning journalist, host, creator, and executive editor of "Embodied," a weekly radio show and podcast about sex, relationships & health.