Kids and Pet Death
Children’s Books featuring Pet Death & Grief link
Colouring book for kids: link
How to talk to Children about pet death link
Helping Children through pet euthanasia link
Talking about Death with Small Children link (podcast via The Parent Scoop)
Winnipeg Child & Family Play Therapy - Hello Play Therapy link
Quality of Life Scales
Measuring Quality of Life (QOL) is a helpful tool to use during the decision of when it is time to say goodbye to our beloved pets. A variety of QOL scales have been developed and a different one may be suitable for each family. The following are a few of the more popular scales we refer to at Sunset Veterinary Care.
Lap of Love: link
Midtown Mobile Scale: link
Pawspice Quality of Life Scale: link
Euthabag QOL Calculator: link
Pain Assessment Scales
We frequently refer to pain scales in veterinary medicine to assess pain in hospitalized patients. While there is not a perfected scale for assessing chronic (i.e. long-term) pain, we can take some useful information from the scales for acute pain (i.e. pain that recently started).
Grief/Bereavement Support and Helplines
WHS Pet Loss Support Line: 204-988-8804 or website
Canadian Mental Health Association: website
Pet Loss Canada: website
Spirit Guided Path - Animal Communicator/Medium: website
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or website
Palliative MB Bereavement Services: website or 204-889-8525
OVC Pet Trust - Pet Loss Support: website
Wellness Together - Grief and Loss Coaching: website
If someone you love, or you, are currently in a personal crisis call the Crisis Response Centre at 204-940-1781, the Klinic Crisis line at 1-888-322-3019 (toll free 24/7) or 911 if any person is in imminent danger.