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Chester, my heart dog, by Becky S.

Chester was my “heart dog.” I lost him when he was only nine years old to lymphoma. It wasn’t until he passed, and I was reading about grieving and trying to figure out how to live without him that I realized the special bond we had was that of a “heart dog”.

Chester was a Toy Fox Terrier, the runt of his litter, weighing only five pounds. I got him to be a companion to my other Toy Fox Terrier I had at the time, Mickey, who was four years old then.

Looking back, I realize the special bond Chester and I shared started when I first went to see him at the breeder’s house when he was only four weeks old. At that moment I fell in love with him and knew he was going to be more than “just a dog.”

Throughout his short life, Chester and I went through a lot. He had reactive aggression when out walking. I hired a personal trainer to work with us and eventually he learned how to go on walks successfully.

A few months before he got ill, Chester ingested an acorn cap. I had no idea what was wrong with him. I took him to the emergency room vet, and they saved his life. Three months later he took ill again. After countless trips to our vet and the emergency room over a period of six weeks, we got the devastating lymphoma diagnosis. I did everything I could for him, but four months after being diagnosed, Chester passed.

I had no idea how I would go on. I developed anxiety and depression. It was through the Pet Loss Certificate program that I took with Dr. Sife and the APLB that I put everything into perspective. I also started to write about Chester’s life and that helped as well. I hope one day to publish Chester’s memoir as a way for him to live on.

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Exclusive APLB Webinar:
A conversation on pet loss and children

A conversation with Dr. Lynsey Rinelli, veterinarian and author of a children’s book on pet loss, Goodbye for Now, and Colleen Rolland, President of the APLB

Event Details
Date: Thursday, July 10th
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM, ET
Location: via Zoom (registration required)

Exclusive APLB Webinar: The Benefits of Hospice Veterinary Care

Ensuring Comfort and Dignity for Pets in Their Final Days

Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM, ET
Location: via Zoom (registration required)

We are excited to invite you to an exclusive members-only live webinar exploring the experience and benefits of hospice veterinary care—a compassionate approach to supporting pets and their families through end-of-life care.

APLB Video Support Groups

We are now offering Online Video Support Groups every Saturday from 7 pm - 9 pm EST/USA.

1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays from 1 pm - 3 pm EST/USA and every 2nd and 4th Sunday from 7 pm - 9 pm EST/USA.

Our Video Support Groups are available to all Silver and Platinum members.

If you want to learn more about our Video Support Groups, please click or tap the button below.

Webinar: A Conversation on Pet Loss with Author E.B. Bartels

Join us for this exciting event

Rainbow Bridge
Memorial Celebration

In honor of Rainbow Bridge Memorial Day (August 28), we are offering a 20% discount on Silver and Platinum memberships throughout the entire month of August.

By joining us, you will have the unique opportunity to create a lasting online memorial for your pet, complete with photos and stories you can cherish.

Live Webinar

Navigating Pet Loss & Grief

Thursday, June 6th, 2024
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern

Sponsored by:

Navigating Pet Loss & Grief, hosted by Moose’s
March, this webinar is designed to support pet
owners through the difficult journey and depth of
pet loss, anticipatory grief and understanding
guilt. This webinar will also provide 3 key
takeaways for the management of grief,
Featuring insights from renowned experts
Colleen Rolland, Association of Pet Loss and
Bereavement and Dr. Nancy Curotto, Pet Loss &
Bereavement Specialist. Attendees will have an
opportunity to ask questions of the experts.

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

This year the Association of Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB) is participating in Giving Tuesday, December 3rd. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. 

Please give generously. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those grieving the loss of their cherished pets.

This year the Association of Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB) is participating in Giving Tuesday, on December 3rd. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. 

Please give generously. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those grieving the loss of their cherished pets.