The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Counselor helps pet owners cope with loss
STAMFORD — Losing a pet can feel like losing a family member, but the process is much different. There is usually no period of mourning and no funeral.
A Connecticut pet bereavement counselor Jodi Clark-Lopez said pet bereavement is “one of the most misunderstood or disenfranchised forms of grief out there. It’s played down because it’s just a pet, just an animal. But people have a hard time getting through it.”
Clark-Lopez has a degree in psychology and used to counsel drug addicts and convicts, but when she started having kids, she decided to work as a petsitter in Fairfield and Westchester counties. Through pet-sitting, she has helped many of the owners she works for cope with illness and death of their animals.
“I go to vet visits with them or I’ll go myself. I do phone coun- seling and go to the homes to talk and help them make decisions to euthanize a pet or not. I’ve taken care of a lot of sick animals,” she said.
She does it all for free. “I’ve been doing it on a volunteer basis because I see these poor, sad people. ... I’ve just been doing it to help.”
But Clark-Lopez is hoping to turn her niche area of expertise into more of a business. In 2016, she became certified as a pet bereavement counselor by Dr. Wallace Sife, founder of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. She plans to be certified as a pet chaplain this year — someone who holds services for animals who have passed away.
She also reached out to the city of Stamford’s Adult Continuing Education Program to offer a course and support group on pet bereavement. Stamford said “yes.”
“The woman in charge said she saw how upset her sister was when she lost a pet and she understood the need,” Clark-Lopez said.
The support group will meet Tuesdays in October and ClarkLopez will guide people though coping with their loss. She said just having a group of people feeling the same way will be helpful. She expects to see people from all walks of life from young professionals to the elderly.
“Around here there are a lot of young single people who live alone. Their day was built around going to the dog park, coming home to do feedings — schedules are based around the pet,” she said. “Not only are you dealing with the loss, but it’s like “Okay, now what to I do at 5 p.m.?’ It’s an emptiness.”
She said losing a pet is also very challenging for elderly people who live alone or whose family does not live nearby.
“Pets are like their life line,” Clark-Lopez said. “Another soul to love that loves them.”