Grief, Healing, and the Human-Animal Bond: Exploring Pet Loss with the APLB
May 30, 2025
In June 2021, Colleen Rolland received an unexpected message through her website, Pet Bereavement Services. The woman on the other end had just lost her beloved cat, Lily, and was devastated. What Colleen didn’t anticipate was that the sender was someone from her past – the older sister of a childhood friend she hadn’t seen since the late 1960s. They had grown up in the same tiny village, just down the road from one another, but life had taken them in different directions, until grief brought them back together. Their first session took place just two days later. Through tears, memories, and quiet resilience, they navigated the pain of loss together. The woman did the heavy lifting, but Colleen walked beside her every step of the way. Fourteen months later, after honouring Lily’s memory and giving herself time to heal, she opened her heart once more by welcoming two senior cats into her life. It was a full-circle moment that speaks to the depth of the human-animal bond, and the quiet power of compassionate support.
Stories like this are at the heart of the work done by the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals as they navigate the often-overlooked grief of losing a beloved animal companion. At the helm is Colleen Rolland, President of APLB since 2019 and a certified Pet Loss Grief Specialist with over a decade of experience in the field. A passionate advocate for grief awareness and education, Colleen leads the organization in offering accessible resources, online support, and specialized training – all grounded in a deep respect for the human-animal bond. Through her work, Colleen continues the legacy of APLB’s founder, Dr. Wallace Sife, while expanding the organization’s reach and relevance in an increasingly compassionate pet-loving world.
Founded in 1999 by psychologist and author Dr. Wallace Sife, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement was born from personal experience. After the death of his beloved Dachshund, Edelmeister, Dr. Sife was overcome with grief – something he hadn’t anticipated despite his background in human bereavement. Realizing how little support existed for people mourning their pets, he wrote The Loss of a Pet, now a foundational text in the field of pet loss support. Soon after, he established APLB as a dedicated resource for those navigating the emotional terrain of losing a companion animal.
Today, APLB offers free and paid services to support grieving pet owners. The organization’s hallmark feature is its daily online chat room, an anonymous and judgment-free space where people can express their grief and receive support from trained Pet Loss Grief Specialists – many of whom are also licensed mental health professionals. Since its inception, the chat room has helped over 70,000 individuals worldwide. For those looking for a more personalized connection, APLB also offers video-based grief support groups, facilitated webinars, and downloadable resources covering topics such as euthanasia decisions, anticipatory grief, and quality of life. “When people understand that what they’re feeling is normal and natural, it’s often the first moment they begin to heal,” says Colleen. “They just need someone to say, ‘Yes, this matters.’”
Another key offering is the Pet Loss Grief Specialist Training Course, developed to equip individuals – veterinary professionals, pet chaplains, and caring community members alike – with the tools to compassionately support others. As Colleen explains, this course fills a critical gap between informal peer support and formal mental health services. Certified Pet Loss Grief Specialists provide short-term, solution-focused care for individuals experiencing profound grief, while also recognizing when someone may need to be referred to a mental health professional for deeper, ongoing support. “Grief is not linear,” Colleen shares. “You don’t go from being really sad one day to being fine the next. It doesn’t work like that. And that’s okay. Everyone grieves differently, and that’s why support matters.”
Membership with APLB also includes access to features like pet memorials, where people can honour their animal companions by sharing stories, photos, and tributes. These memorials can serve as a powerful healing tool, validating the depth of the relationship and creating a lasting legacy. Whether a pet has passed away, is approaching the end of life, or is simply cherished in the moment, members are welcome to celebrate their animal’s place in their life. “A very high percentage of people will say to me, very shyly and sheepishly, ‘I grieved more for my pet than I did for my mother, father, uncle, grandparent – you name it.’ And guess what? That’s not wrong,” says Colleen. “It’s the nature of the human-animal bond.”
For Canadian Kennel Club members, the work of the APLB is especially resonant. Whether you’re a breeder, an exhibitor, a dog sport competitor, or a lifelong purebred dog lover, chances are you’ve experienced the profound connection that forms between humans and their animals, and the heartbreak that comes with saying goodbye.
Many CKC members devote their lives to their dogs and the preservation of purebred dogs. They raise litters, forge deep bonds through training and competition, and often share their homes and hearts with multiple generations of beloved companions. When one of those animals passes, the loss can be overwhelming, sometimes quietly so, as the demands of daily life, family, public roles, or professional responsibilities continue on. In these moments, having access to compassionate, specialized grief support can make a world of difference.
APLB recognizes that grief looks different for everyone, and their services are designed to meet people where they are. For those preparing to say goodbye, their resources on anticipatory grief and end-of-life care offer clarity and support during an incredibly difficult time. For those grieving after a loss, APLB’s chat rooms and support groups offer space to be heard, validated, and gently guided toward healing. And for professionals within the CKC community – such as breeders, judges, veterinarians, or handlers – the Pet Loss Grief Specialist Training Course provides an opportunity to deepen their understanding and better support their clients and peers.
Pet loss is still often misunderstood or minimized in broader society, but organizations like APLB are working to change that. And for CKC members, acknowledging and tending to this grief isn’t just important – it’s part of honouring the depth of our bond with dogs. "It takes an enormous amount of strength and courage to reach out for help over the death of an animal,” says Colleen. “You know what, pat yourself on the back. This is a huge step in your grief journey. And I promise you; I will get you through it."
Grieving the loss of a beloved animal can be an incredibly isolating experience, but it doesn’t have to be. The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement is a trusted resource for those navigating this unique and deeply personal journey. With free support services, guided group sessions, professional training programs, and a wealth of educational tools, APLB offers compassionate support every step of the way. Whether you’re mourning the loss of a pet, supporting someone who is, or looking to deepen your understanding of pet loss grief, visit www.aplb.org to explore everything they have to offer.