Love Beyond Loss: Painting Posthumously
Many of the dogs I paint are no longer with us.
There are words to go with this - posthumous, past, tribute- but I think the main word that comes to mind here is pain.
Grieving our beloved friends is hard. I’m no fool; my spaniel is now 13, so I’m treasuring each day with him, but of course, our dogs don’t live as long as we humans.
American author Agnes Sligh Turnbull said that "Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." How true this is - also relevant to cats, horses, goldfish, birds - any pet you love is a loss.
Here in the UK, there has been recent media attention on losing our dogs and pets.
Greg James and his wife Bella Mackie recently lost their brown Labrador, Barney, rather wonderfully; they have spoken openly about how devastating the experience is.
Greg and Bella took a"Grief Trip" following Barney's death; the couple took a road trip to the Lake District and Lancashire to process their grief. Taking time out to honour their loss.
The media beast being what it is, they used their spotlight to bring light to something so painful for them - I salute them for it.
There is support and help out there, though. You may not know this, but there are national groups and individual bereavement courses dedicated to helping us through
(I’m listing them at the end of this post with the help of Google)
Many of the dogs I am contacted about are no longer here. I receive letters of interest containing beautiful stories of friendships lost.
I’m considering doing a Pet Loss Support course myself. So I might hone my responses in the best way I can.
I think my first stop is going to be this one:
‘Introduction To Pet Loss Support Skills’ with The Blue Cross. It’s a two-hour online course at £45.
If you have lost a dog (cat, horse, goldfish, bird, lizard) that you just can’t seem to process the sadness of, please do consider asking for help. It’s there and waiting for you. My list is below
Much love and more soon
Sam x
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National Pet Loss Support Organisations here in the UK. (There will be organisations in your country; please do check)
Blue Cross Pet Loss Support: This is one of the UK's longest-running, completely free, and confidential services. They provide a helpline (0800 096 6606), email support, and a daily webchat service staffed by trained volunteers from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
Cats Protection – Paws to Listen Grief Support: A free and confidential phone line (0800 024 94 94) specifically tailored for those experiencing the loss of a cat. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Pet Loss Support Group: A dedicated network offering small peer-led online support sessions, a private WhatsApp community, and gentle in-person nature walks to connect with other grieving pet parents. [
Professional Bereavement Counsellors & Coaches
If you are looking for one-on-one coaching or structured therapy, these specialised networks connect pet owners with qualified professionals:
Association of Pet Bereavement Counsellors (APBC): A comprehensive directory and network of accredited, qualified pet bereavement counsellors across the UK who adhere to strict ethical and professional standards. [1]
Living with Pet Bereavement: Founded by specialist Dawn Murray, this organization provides advanced training for bereavement counsellors and offers direct support resources for owners experiencing pet loss. [1, 2]
Cruse Bereavement Support: While primarily focused on human loss, Cruse provides exceptional educational resources specifically dedicated to understanding pet grief and finding a path forward. [1, 2]
