Bereavement support

We recognise that grieving for an assistance dog can be a very difficult time. Grief can come in many different forms including when your dog retires, when they move home, when they’ve been given a terminal diagnosis and when they pass away.

Alongside the supportive packs below, should you wish to gain further support please email bereavementsupport@caninepartners.org.uk

Supporting children through grief

Below are some links on how you can help support children through grief:

• Volcano: how to cope with difficult emotions so they don’t build up and erupt (via Child Bereavement UK)
• Pet loss support for children (via Blue Cross)

Memorial Ideas

There are many special and creative options available for memorialising a dog that has retired or died. You might want to consider a personal option, a memorial at our training centre, or a combination of both.

Below, we have listed various ideas to help you get started on looking for options in your local area.

• Jewellery – There are many options for memorial jewellery on the market these days. Some of your dog’s fur can be included in a bespoke piece of jewellery.
• Paw Prints – A paw print of your dog can be used to create a memorial item in various mediums.
• Plant a Tree or Rose Bush – A tree to remember your canine partner’s working life could be planted in your garden or possibly even at a place that you both used to visit. An online search might help to identify whether there is a rose bush or other flowering plant that shares the same name as your canine partner.

Other ideas include:

• Plaques
• Wind Chimes
• Personalised hanging ornaments, Christmas tree ornaments and wooden hearts
• A Memorial Frame
• Name a star
• Pet Crematoriums

There are many pet crematoriums around the UK and we recommend sourcing one from The Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria

Please note: Our Bereavement Support Group have researched the links on this page, however Canine Partners is not affiliated with the websites or associated companies