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Pet Loss Support Online Surgery

Losing a pet can be a very difficult experience for many people and sometimes it helps to be with others that understand.

The Ralph Site is working together with Society for Companion Animal Studies to deliver the Pet Loss Support Online Surgery.

Join us online every fortnight on Tuesday evenings at 6.30 pm and share in some stories and experiences surrounding the loss, or anticipated loss, of a much loved pet.

Each fortnight we will be looking at the questions, experiences and worries that people just like you are facing around the difficult time of losing a pet and we will be talking about them live and online.

Some of the feedback comments received so far:

• "It's very good, not stressing and really helpful....Thank you"
• "..I found a place even if the topic is hard that people understand me...."
• "[the presenter] is a very sweet and warm person. Thank you for doing this, you help us a lot."
• "Thank you for the opportunity to talk with a vet, ......questions i wanted to ask my vet but was too embarassed by my grief. Thank you to the host...."
• "This is a very helpful forum, and I look forward to joining in future. My pet loss is still very upsetting for me, but I just have to take one day at a time. I will be recommending this surgery to my friends and to the cat group I belong to on Facebook..."
• "Thank you, It was very interesting, will be back, Great advice, God Bless...."
• "...I learnt new things tonight. It was a little hard but very useful. Thank you for all of this.  It's a lot and precious help...."
• "Thanks so much...... its been something I've looked forward to and welcomed. I'm not big on talking or showing my emotions as a rule, but I've opened up to you guys and others, so thanks!! "
• "...This is a very important forum and I congratulate the founder's for it. [The Presenter] is an excellent empathetic presenter and I do hope it will be possible to have a regular return in the new year.  Thanks again..."

Joining in to the surgery couldn’t be easier:

All you need is a computer connected to the Internet and some speakers (or headphones).  The surgery is completely free to join, lasts approximately 1 hour and you can drop in and out as you please.

A few minutes before the surgery just follow the link for the surgery for that day and you’ll find us.

The date and link for the next surgery session is as follows:

TO BE CONFIRMED

There is a technical system check for the online surgery to help ensure that you can join us and we also recommend that you ensure your Flash Player plugin is up to date by visiting the Adobe site.

We would like to hear from you:

We would like to hear about your worries, experiences, questions and fears around the loss of a beloved pet to share with others at the online surgeries. You may be worried about when the time is right to make that final decision, you may be feeling guilty about decisions you have already had to make. You may just feel desperately alone and sad about your loss and would just like to hear from others that understand what you are going through.  Perhaps you found ways to help yourself through a loss and would like to share your experiences and have suggestions that may help others to cope through difficult times.  Tell us your story or ask a question by visiting the new special Pet Loss SOS forum on this site and we may share it at an online surgery.

You can listen to previous surgery sessions by clicking on the links below:

Session 1: July 3rd 2012

Session 2: July 17th 2012

Session 3: July 31st 2012

Session 4: August 14th 2012

Session 5: August 28th 2012

Session 6: September 25th 2012

Session 7: October 9th 2012

Session 8: October 23rd 2012

Session 9: December 4th 2012

This session concentrates on coping with pet loss during the Christmas/New Year holiday period

Further pet loss support:

We hope that these online surgeries will offer some support and comfort to those of you going through the loss of a pet.  If you are finding it difficult to cope or would like to talk to someone in confidence you may find it helpful to contact the Pet Bereavement Support Service for personal emotional support either through telephone and/or email contact. The service is open every day of the week from 8.30 am until 8.30 pm.  Your call will be answered by a trained volunteer with experience of pet loss and supporting others during this difficult time.