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; customized Pet Chapel services, such as memorial services and Zoom eulogies for your pet, as well as other services upon request; and a one-on-one meeting with Pet Chaplain founder and support group facilitator Rob Gierka, EdD. Dr. Gierka is a non-denominational pet chaplain who has been practicing interfaith spiritual care for pet loss since 2004.

SPCA Pet Loss Support Group

Details

We meet via Zoom every third Sunday of the month
3:30 to 5:30 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 Services

Pet Chaplain founder Dr. Rob Gierka offers customized memorials for lost pets in the Pet Chapel via Zoom. This gives you the flexibility to invite family and friends who live in different locations. Complete the form at the bottom of this page to schedule a free consultation. Services include:

  • A candle-lighting and opening reflection
  • A eulogy for your pet based on an interview with you and your family
  • Prayers of thanksgiving or healing in your faith tradition or secular reflections according to your preference
  • Time for sharing stories and photos
  • We can also build a slideshow and/or an interactive PDF with your photos and reflections that you can keep as a memento of your beloved pet

One-on-One with Dr. Rob Gierka

If you need more personal attention or can’t wait for the next support group, 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. Pet 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: Dr. Gierka offers his one-on-one support services on a sliding scale that’s based on your ability to pay.

Support Request Form

Please complete the form below to schedule a free consultation for an online memorial service, request a private Zoom session with Rob, or if you have a question or comment about our pet loss support resources.

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