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WHY PET
HOSPICE COACHING?

LET US WALK WITH YOU.

Because Pet Hospice is More than Veterinary Medical Care

When your beloved pet nears the end of life, they prepare to transition from one life to the next. You’re walking beside them on their journey toward the Rainbow Bridge, offering love, comfort, and support every step of the way.

On one side of the bridge stands your trusted veterinarian, armed with medical expertise to diagnose, treat, and manage your pet’s health conditions. They are essential in caring for your pet’s body, providing clinical guidance, and helping you understand what’s happening medically. We appreciate who they are and what they do.

But as your companion moves closer to the bridge, the landscape shifts. Medical answers alone can’t ease the emotional weight you carry. The complexity of these times calls for more than clinical care—compassionate support to help you navigate the emotional, ethical, and practical decisions you face.

This is where Partners to the Bridge Animal Hospice Coaching meets you—right in the middle, where decisions are the hardest, and your heart feels the heaviest.

Please visit our Pet Caregiver Quality of Life page to learn how our approach can benefit you and your pet.

Two Roles, One Journey

While veterinarians care for your pet’s medical needs, coaching focuses on supporting you—the person walking beside them. Together, we ensure both you and your beloved companion are cared for in the ways that matter most.

Veterinary Care đŸ©ș


Diagnoses and treats your pet’s medical condition


Focuses on clinical expertise to benefit your pet’s quality of life


Time-limited appointments


Provides medical advice and treatment plans


Recommends euthanasia options


Partners to the Bridge Animal Hospice Coaching ❀


Guides you through emotional, ethical, and practical caregiving decisions related to information available now and in the future.


Focuses on your emotional well-being through resilience and self-care so you can better support your pet’s quality of life.


Space for open, meaningful conversations without feeling rushed


Offers compassion to process guilt, grief, and uncertainty. Gives you tools to communicate quality of life with your team.


Helps you create Your Pet’s Advanced Directive as a trusted resource


Two Roles, One Journey

While veterinarians care for your pet’s medical needs, coaching focuses on supporting you—the person walking beside them. Together, we ensure both you and your beloved companion are cared for in the ways that matter most.

Veterinary Care đŸ©ș


A) Diagnoses and treats your pet’s medical condition


B) Focuses on clinical expertise to benefit your pet’s quality of life


C) Time-limited appointments


D) Provides medical advice and treatment plans


E) Recommends euthanasia options


Partners to the Bridge Coaching ❀


A) Guides you through emotional, ethical, and practical caregiving decisions related to information available now and in the future.


B) Focuses on your emotional well-being through resilience and self-care so you can better support your pet’s quality of life.


C) Space for open, meaningful conversations without feeling rushed


D) Offers compassion to process guilt, grief, and uncertainty. Gives you tools to communicate quality of life with your team.


E) Helps you create Your Pet’s Advanced Directive as a trusted resource


Finding the Right Kind of Caregiver Support

Grief is like crossing a bridge after losing a beloved animal. Some carry heavy loads that feel impossible to bear alone, while others walk steadily but could use a compassionate guide. Knowing where you are on this bridge can help you find the support that’s right for you.

Where Are You on the Bridge?

Understanding Your Grief Journey


Resilient Grievers: Walking steadily but desiring companionship; seeking meaning and reflection


Recovered Grievers: Hopefully, moving forward, exploring options–but the path still feels uneven without strong guidance and support


Chronic Grievers: Feeling grief-stricken and reluctant to look ahead confidently


Therapy with a Licensed Mental Health Professional đŸ› ïž


✘ Typically unnecessary, though not discouraged if already in therapy. In that case, ensure the therapist supports anticipatory grief and pet loss challenges.


✔/✘ May offer support if the therapist is familiar with end-of-life concerns in pets. If already under care, evaluate whether the therapist can suitably address anticipatory grief for pet loss indications.


✔ Best for heavy emotional burdens and unresolved grief from past losses. Provides support through complex emotions and decision-making.


Partners to the Bridge Animal Hospice Coaching đŸ€


✔ Ideal for those mindful of their self-care and wishing to find meaning, growth, and reflection through the grief journey. They have confidence in developing and following their plan, and healing comes more readily.


✔ An excellent fit for those seeking guidance and companionship. Coaching reinforces what’s already working for caregivers in their grief and focuses on ongoing wellness and pet hospice decision-making, enabling healing to unfold more naturally and fully.


✘ Not suited for pet parents experiencing severe, persistent, or complicated grief. Coaching is not a substitute for clinical therapy.


🌟 A Special Note for Chronic Grievers
You are not broken.

If you identify as a Chronic Griever, please know that your feelings are valid and deserve compassionate support. Grief can be overwhelming; you don’t have to carry it alone. 💞

Please join our online community by signing up for The AHELPer Newsletter. You will get animal hospice info through our Pet Hospice Tips and Tales Blog posts, which will help you along the way. We will happily provide you with referrals to qualified licensed mental health professionals online and in greater Seattle. Know that we are here for you anytime.

Finding the Right Kind of Caregiver Support

Grief is like crossing a bridge after losing a beloved animal. Some carry heavy loads that feel impossible to bear alone, while others walk steadily but could use a compassionate guide. Knowing where you are on this bridge can help you find the support that’s right for you.

Where Are You on the Bridge?

Your Grief Journey


A) Resilient Grievers: Walking steadily but desiring companionship; seeking meaning and reflection


B) Recovered Grievers: Hopefully, moving forward, exploring options–but the path still feels uneven without strong guidance and support


C) Chronic Grievers: Feeling grief-stricken and reluctant to look ahead confidently


Therapy with a Licensed Mental Health Professional


A) ✘ Typically unnecessary, though not discouraged if already in therapy. In that case, ensure the therapist supports anticipatory grief and pet loss challenges.


B) ✔/✘ May offer support if the therapist is familiar with end-of-life concerns in pets. If already under care, evaluate whether the therapist can suitably address anticipatory grief for pet loss indications.


C) ✔ Best for heavy emotional burdens and unresolved grief from past losses. Provides support through complex emotions and decision-making.


Partners to the Bridge Animal Hospice Coaching


A) ✔ Ideal for those mindful of their self-care and wishing to find meaning, growth, and reflection through the grief journey. They have confidence in developing and following their plan, and healing comes more readily.


B) ✔ An excellent fit for those seeking guidance and companionship. Coaching reinforces what’s already working for caregivers in their grief and focuses on ongoing wellness and pet hospice decision-making, enabling healing to unfold more naturally and fully.


C) ✘ Not suited for pet parents experiencing severe, persistent, or complicated grief. Coaching is not a substitute for clinical therapy.





How We Can Support You:

Caring for an animal family member nearing the end of life can be beautiful but also, bittersweet and sometimes challenging. We’re here to walk beside you, whether you’re overwhelmed with grief, struggling to make difficult decisions, or feeling unsure and lacking confidence in your pet hospice caregiving skills.

Reflect on Your Journey

We invite you to take our Animal Hospice Caregiving Readiness Self-Assessment. You’ll answer 10 quick questions that offer valuable insights into how prepared you are for the journey ahead.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive access to our Self-Assessment.

SIGNUP AND TAKE SELF-ASSESSMENT

Why Timing Matters

Contacting AHELP early in your animal hospice journey can enhance your resilience and support, helping you honor your pet’s dignity and needs during this challenging time.

Schedule a Quick Connect Call with Michelle today to see if pet hospice coaching is right for you!

FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM

You don’t have to face this journey alone. â€ïžđŸ§ĄđŸ’›đŸ’šđŸ’™đŸ’œ

TESTIMONIALS

AHELP Project - Sondra and Bijou at dog's 15th birthday celebration

“I cannot fully express my gratitude for your advocacy and support during the last 3 weeks of my wonderful friend, Bijou's life. During that time, I went from disbelief and fear, to a place of acceptance and relative comfort.”

 
Sondra H., Renton, Washington

Photo: Sondra and Bijou at her 15th birthday celebration

AHELP Project - Pet parent Amy and dog Fiona

“I can say that - as you put it - having you to ‘walk with during Lucy’s journey’ made it so beautiful and much easier than I ever imagined possible!”

 
Amy S., Brier, Washington

Photo: Lucy basking in the sunshine

DISCOVER IMPACTFUL AHELP CASE STUDIES

AHELP Offers:

Partners to the Bridge

Animal Hospice Coaching

 

LEARN HOW WE CAN HELP