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Chat Room – Welcome

APLB Host Chat Room Rules

  1. Be considerate, empathetic and respectful to chatters and each other.  We don’t allow inflammatory, racist, sexist, offensive, transphobic, homophobic, etc. posts in the chatroom. Posting impacts about abuse to animals is allowed if it is part of the visitor’s grief.  
  2. Do not allow unsupportive content, including targeting or attacking others in the group. Disagreements may happen, but always maintain a respectful tone and try to move the conversation forward in an on-topic, constructive way.  Sometimes this means to agree to disagree. 
  3. Do not give medical advice.  Medication and drug names may be shared, but do not give advice about giving a pet specific medications.  If the pet dies as a result of your suggestion, the APLB could be sued.
  4. Keep chatters focused on pet loss and bereavement. The chatroom is not a social hangout.
  5. Do not let chatters talk about personal issues.  It is disruptive and can cause others to feel ignored or disrespected.
  6. Avoid posting long messages.  Encourage chatters to keep posts to no more than four sentences to keep them  focused, and to make it easy for them to participate.
  7. When giving advice to a chat visitor, ALWAYS explain why you are giving it. Otherwise, it may be confusing and/or disappointing and they may end up leaving before they get the assistance they came for.
  8. Refrain from using “I” statements when giving advice. Instead of saying, “This is what I would do…” you can say, “Some people find it helpful to try, or “In our experience we see, or find that. …”
  9. When closing the Chat Room for the evening, turn on ADMIN mode and leave this message: The Chat Room is now closed.  The next scheduled chat is [specify date, specify time].  If you need to contact us before then, please use the After Hours Support button below.  National Suicide Hotline is 1.800.273.8255.
  10. Be on time for a chat unless an unforeseen situation arises. If you are going to be late, notify your team members ASAP.  Evening chat starts at 8 pm, Eastern  time, and you are expected to be in chat shortly before that time. Sunday afternoon chat starts at 2 pm, Eastern time.

Banning a Chatter

  • If a chatter has been given 3 warnings about their behavior in a chat session and they need to be banned, you have administrative rights to ban that person/s (use ban, not disconnect).  The person/s will be banned for one month.
  • Advise the Chat Team about the ban through the CD. Turn the chatter’s row purple and add “Banned until mm/dd/yy” next to the chatter’s name.
  • Hosts can find out who is banned and when the ban expires by checking the CD.
  • If the banned person enters the Chat Room during a ban,  advise them through a personal message that they are banned and eject them.
  • If a person returns from a ban and exhibits the same behaviour, they are to be banned permanently.  One warning is enough. Make note of their ban on the CD.

The APLB disclaims any and all legal liability for anything that takes place in these chatrooms, or as a result of them. The service we offer is intended to be short term. If you do not accept our guidance, or are unable to do so, we will suggest that you seek psychological counseling by a licensed professional. Despite the highly trained and experienced supervision, our chat rooms are not a replacement for licensed counseling service. No fees are charged and all legal liability is disclaimed. 

APLB Chat Room Schedule

Topic – Pet Loss Grief Support
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 8pm – 10pm ET
Sun: 2pm – 4pm ET

Topic – Anticipatory Grief Support
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month: 8pm – 9:30pm ET

By entering our Chat Room you agree to accept and uphold the terms and conditions and to abide by the Chat Room Rules as listed above.

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Special Holiday Schedule

We understand that the holidays can be a difficult time for pet parents missing their fur babies. APLB will be extending our hours this year to help you – we’ll get through this together.

Chat Room

Sun Dec 24: 2 – 4 pm EST
Sun Dec 24: 8 – 10 pm EST
Mon Dec 25: 8 – 10 pm EST
Tues Dec 26: 8 – 10 pm EST
Wed Dec 27: 8 – 10 pm EST
Fri Dec 29: 8 – 10 pm EST
Sun Dec. 31: 2 – 4 pm EST
Sun. Dec 31: 8 – 10 pm EST
Mon Jan 1: 8 – 10 pm EST

Video Support Group

Sat Dec 9: 7- 9 pm EST
Sun Dec 10: 7- 8:30 EST
Sat Dec. 23: 7 – 9 pm EST