Published on March 05, 2025.

Grief is a personal journey, and finding the right book or resource can provide comfort and guidance. Below is a selection of books for adults, children, and professionals, as well as booklets and brochures that can be shared with veterinary clients.

Books for Adults

• When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing – Alan Wolfelt
• Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children – Herbert Neiburg & Arlene Fischer
• Goodbye My Friend: Grieving the Loss of a Pet – Mary & Herb Montgomery
• The Loss of a Pet – Wallace Sife
• Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Love – Lorri Greene
• The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss – Russell Friedman
• Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet – Moira Anderson Allen
• Coping With the Loss of Your Pet – Christine Lemieux
• My Personal Pet Remembrance Journal – Enid Samuel Traisman
• Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief – Coleen Ellis

Books for Children

• When a Pet Dies – Fred Rogers
• The Tenth Good Thing About Barney – Judith Viorst
• Dog Heaven – Cynthia Rylant
• Cat Heaven – Cynthia Rylant
• I’ll Always Love You – Hans Wilhelm
• Healing Your Grieving Heart for Kids – Alan Wolfelt
• Saying Goodbye to Lulu – Corinne Demas
• Goodbye Mousie – Robbie Harris
• The Fall of Freddie the Leaf – Leo Buscaglia

For a more extensive list, including memoirs, short stories, religious themes, and journals, visit the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement’s Recommended Reading List.
View Reading List

Resources for Professionals

• Pet Loss and Human Emotion – Cheri Barton Ross
• Connecting With Grieving Clients: Supportive Communication for Fourteen Common Situations – Laurel Lagoni & Dana Durrance
• Companioning You! A Soulful Guide to Caring for Yourself While You Care for the Dying and the Bereaved – Alan Wolfelt

Booklets and Brochures for Veterinary Clients

Free Downloadable Resources

• Veterinary Wisdom Articles and Booklets on Euthanasia & Grief
  Access Here

Purchaseable Materials

• Educational Enclosures by Veterinary Wisdom
  Buy Here
• Booklets & Wallet Cards by The Center for Loss and Life Transition
  Buy Here
• Goodbye My Friend: Grieving the Loss of a Pet – Mary & Herb Montgomery
  Buy Here
• Coping With the Loss of Your Pet – Kathleen Ayl
  Buy Here
• AVMA Brochure on Pet Loss and Grief
  Buy Here

Ideas for Memorialization

Honoring a pet’s memory can be a meaningful part of the healing process. For inspiration on memorializing a beloved pet, visit:
Memorialization Ideas