Pet Chapel
Support Resources for Pet Loss
The Pet Chapel® is a sacred space where you can share your story about your cherished animal companion and receive support for your grief. We offer three support resources: the monthly SPCA Pet Loss Support Group; the Pet Chapel service, which is held once per month in conjunction with the support group; and by scheduling a one-on-one pastoral care meeting with Pet Chaplain founder and support group facilitator Rob Gierka, EdD. Dr. Gierka is a non-denominational veterinary chaplain who has been practicing veterinary pastoral care since 2004.
SPCA Pet Loss Support Group
Details
We meet via Zoom every third Sunday of the month
3:30 to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
Attendance is free
What to expect
Participants in the group share stories about their pets and provide support to each other. You can remain silent and simply listen if you would like. Bring photos of your pet to share as well as favorite poems and reflections. The discussion is usually unstructured and flows from the stories and photos that are shared.
NOTE: While beneficial, the SPCA pet loss support group is not intended to replace psychological counseling or physician recommendations. If this is a medical emergency and you need immediate assistance, please dial 911 or visit your local emergency room.
Sharing guidelines
- Confidentiality is required. What is said in the group stays in the group.
- Respect others and listen without judgment. Everyone grieves in their own way, and everyone’s loss is different, so it is important to respect others’ feelings and thoughts. Use “I” statements when sharing your own story.
- Recognize that thoughts and feelings are not right or wrong. Avoid telling someone else how they should or should not feel.
- Do not give unsolicited advice. If someone asks specifically for advice on how to deal with a challenge, then you can share from your own experience of what worked or did not work for you.
- Avoid “cross talk” (e.g., side conversations) or steering the conversation into unrelated topics.
- Sharing time should be shared. When sharing your story, be cognizant of others’ need to share.
Zoom meeting information
Click the following link to join the Zoom meeting via smartphone, tablet, or computer. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/634714732
Meeting ID: 634 714 732
When you enter the meeting, you will be asked to confirm your name and email address. Your information is not used for any other purpose than entry to the Zoom meeting. Once you have registered, you will not need to register again to attend future meetings. After entering, wait for the host to start the meeting.
Telephone (audio-only) attendance
Find your local number
Pet Chapel Service
Details
- We meet via Zoom every third Sunday of the month 15 minutes after the conclusion of the SPCA Pet Loss Support Group.
- 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
- Attendance is free
What to expect
Pet Chaplain founder Dr. Rob Gierka will offer a brief service to honor our lost pets that includes the following:
- A brief welcome
- A candle-lighting and opening centering
- A reading on various topics related to pet keeping and loss
- An interfaith prayer of comfort
- If time allows, attendees will be invited to share the names and photos of their beloved animal companions and a brief story of remembrance
- The service will conclude with a suitable reading and a moment of silence
Zoom meeting information
Click the following link to join the Zoom meeting via smartphone, tablet, or computer. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/634714732
Meeting ID: 634 714 732
When you enter the meeting, you will be asked to confirm your name and email address. Your information is not used for any other purpose than entry to the Zoom meeting. Once you have registered, you will not need to register again to attend future meetings. After entering, wait for the host to start the meeting.
Telephone (audio-only) attendance
Find your local number
A One-on-One Meeting with Dr. Rob Gierka
If you need more personal attention or can’t wait for the next support group or Pet Chapel service, you can schedule a one-on-one meeting and private chapel service on Zoom or via telephone with Dr. Rob Gierka.
Rob is an experienced interfaith veterinary chaplain who has been supporting people who’ve lost pets for more than two decades. He holds a doctoral degree in adult education with a research focus on pet loss and bereavement. He served as the on-call chaplain at a large veterinary teaching hospital for a year and a half and has facilitated the SPCA pet loss support since 2006.
Rob offers pastoral guidance and support for pet-loss grief with sensitivity to your unique needs. Veterinary chaplaincy is based on storytelling, and Rob is skilled at helping you tell your sacred story about a companion animal you love. Research has shown that sharing your story about your pet provides emotional and spiritual healing. Whether you’re anticipating the imminent loss of a pet, grieving for a pet who was recently lost, or if you need to discuss a loss that happened years ago, Rob can help you gain fresh insight into your experience.
Rob is also open to discussing your spiritual questions, whether you practice a faith tradition or consider yourself spiritual but not religious, atheist, or agnostic.
Fee: No charge, but you might consider making a small donation to your favorite animal charity.
Support Request Form
Please complete the following form to request a private Zoom session with Dr. Rob Gierka or if you have a question or comment about our pet loss support resources.