Susan, your host, welcomes Coleen Ellis to today's episode. Coleen faced the death of her pet in 1998 and that moment changed her forever. It was the beginning of her vision of how to best meet the needs of pet parents in their desire to mourn, memorialize, and pay tribute to their beloved pets when they die. In 2003, the experience of the death of her dog, Mico, guided her in starting the nation's first stand-alone pets-only funeral home, Pet Angel Memorial Center. In 2009, Coleen founded Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, to guide people who wish to provide meaningful pet death care services in their communities, as well as to be an educational resource in the pet grief discipline. In 2009, she received the first Death and Grief Studies Certification specializing in Pet Loss Companioning by Dr. Alan Wolfelt as well as releasing her first book, Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief. Her second book co-authored with colleague Dr. Mary Gardner, Forever Friend, released in 2022. She is Certified in Thanatology and is a Certified Pet Loss Professional.

By 2014, Coleen was ready to take her vision to a new level. She was a co-founder of The Pet Loss Center and assisted the company in opening pet loss operations across the United States, with this operation being acquired by a national acquisition company in 2020.

Coleen is an internationally sought-after speaker on the topics of pet loss and grief. Through her delivery style, pet care professionals learn a variety of techniques immediately applicable to implement on how to companion families in their grief journey. Furthermore, her talks to pet parents give them the permission they need to not only grieve but mourn the loss of their beloved pet.

Key Takeaways:

• Coleen talks about how pets are considered family members for most of their owners and as a result, the grieving process is as profound and painful as it is when we lose a relative.
• Coleen advises people to choose wisely who they will be surrounded by when they are grieving, some people just don't get it.
• Coleen talks about the anticipatory feeling of loss when a pet owner has to take the tough decision of ending their pet's life.
• Coleen explains how hospice for pets works.
• Please remember to be kind to yourself.
• Wherever you are right now is exactly where you should be.
• Honor the journey you shared with your pet every day.
• Ask your pet for a sign.
• You are not losing your mind, allow yourself to receive the signs as you notice them.
• Every grieving process is different.
• Mourning is the active part of grieving; you have to do something with your grief and honor the time you spent with your pet.

Resources

Tendrilsofgrief.com

Email Susan: [email protected]

Meet

Learn more about Coleen Ellis

Two Hearts Pet Loss Center,

Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief, Coleen Ellis

Forever Friend, Coleen Ellis

Foreverfriend.pet