Story by Sarah Paynter

In San Jose, Calif., a preserved Chihuahua skeleton stands on a bed of fur atop an antique library card catalog. A photo of the dog, Shirley, peers down on the living-room display.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the profound bond between humans and their pets. As a result, the demand for pet-related services, including pet loss services, has surged. Funeral homes, traditionally catering to human end-of-life needs, are...

When a dog enters your life, he or she shares your life. It doesn’t matter if you got your dog as a puppy from a breeder or as an older dog from a rescue organization. The moment those four legs cross your threshold is the moment when life will never be the same – and...

I’m Colleen Ellis, the founder of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center. Today, I want to discuss a difficult topic: coping with the loss of a beloved pet. While it’s a painful subject, it’s one we’ll all face. I aim to provide you with insights and emphasize the importance of...

The bond that many people have with their pets often means that owners struggle with significant grief when their pet dies (Voith, 1985; Hart et al, 1990; Cohen, 2002; Chur-Hansen, 2010). Yet, despite the fact that many view their pets as family members, their death...

Many of us, you included, have a love for our pets that’s too beautiful and singular to be simply called a bond. And when they die, they leave dark, empty spaces, and we grieve. In 2010, I wrote a Long Beach Post article about pet-loss grief titled “The empty chair:...

Animal memorial parks, cremation alternatives among industry trends When Richard Thompson’s wife of 40 years was nearing the end of her life earlier this year at a Baltimore County hospital, he couldn’t fathom living alone, especially after their two beagles recently...

Disclaimer: If you purchase items through links on our site we may earn a commission. Every dog owner will someday experience a time of sorrow that, hopefully, occurs after years of joy with our beloved dogs. While nothing can speed up the healing process — which,...

They were a sweet couple, Helen and Bob. Their beautiful little Maltese, Lexi, had just died and they were a mess. Lexi was just one of their many Maltese loves, as that's what kind of family they were... a “Maltese family.” I was so touched to hear all of their...

“Grief is not a disease. It’s a part of being human, just like love.” – Adam Clark, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, UDenver Losing a beloved pet is painful, often deeply so. But in our society, the depth and reality of our feelings of loss for a pet who has...

Courtesy photo – Dr. Mavi Graves tending to a patient.Pain can flow only as deep as the heart can love. Even though we know that the lives of our pets are short compared to our own, we tend to avoid thinking about losing them. “We actually grow stronger attachments...

 Q&A with Coleen Ellis, president of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center Courage. Leadership. Success. They’re all buzzwords if they lack purpose. Find your purpose, your why. Live your why. Every day. For pet loss pioneer Coleen Ellis, these are more than just words on a...

Coleen Ellis can now add children’s book author to her impressive resume. Pet loss pioneer Ellis, president of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center and renowned hospice veterinarian Dr. Mary Gardner, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, have collaborated to co-author...

Love Pets? Help People Grieve Their Losses as a Pet Funeral Home Director This post is part of our series on Weird Jobs. Check out the other articles to learn about more weird jobs you could try! Whether you have a preference for dogs or cats, you can probably guess...

SOUTHLAKE, TX (November 9, 2021) — Due to an increased demand for educational opportunities in pet end-of-life care, Two Hearts Pet Loss Center has announced the dates for the 2022 Pet Loss & Grief Companioning Certification courses. The three-day course is March...

Coleen Ellis—an expert on pet loss and dealing with the kind of grief that results from losing an animal companion—recalls how the loss 18 years ago of her beloved dog, Mico, coupled with then working in the human funeral profession, inspired her to start the first...

Photo Credit: © Richlegg/E+ via Getty Images Plus Coleen Ellis, CT, CPLP, helped write the book for police dog funerals in Illinois. Literally. Ellis is the founder and past co-chair of the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance and past president of the International...

Dr. Daniel Annin asked his partner four years ago to buy out his share of their veterinary practice in Omaha, Nebraska, so that he could dedicate more time to his deceased patients. While Annin still cares for living patients part-time, his primary focus now is Eco...

Coleen Ellis knows that she can make a difference in the life of a student at Fort Hays State University. She also believes there are multiple ways for her to make her impact.​ Explore the ways you can make an impact at Fort Hays State University.  

Episode Guesting in CATTALK RADIO with Molly DeVoss My remarkable guest, Coleen Ellis, and I chatted about ways to make your pets' end of life an experience, rather than just an event. Coleen is full of inspiring ideas sure to motivate you to take action at your next...