We all grieve in our own way at our own time, but grieve we must, to honour our own emotions and to give voice to the love we shared in our hearts. If we deal with our emotions healthily our hearts do not close down with loss, they crack open.

My best friend Oscar, a boisterous, playful yellow Labrador passed away
when he was only two years old. The pain of loss is deep. I wish Debbie McLeod’s book had been
available at that time because just reading the words of others who have experienced the same kind
of pain is a tremendous comfort that also gives hope, brings back fond memories, and even laughter.
David Hamilton - Author of The Five Side Effects of Kindness
Pet Loss is such a heartbreak, I get it, I have been there many times and also with Humans. The bond between ourselves and our pet is based on unconditional love. The best buddy who has been there when we have sobbed over the loss of something, job, career, relationship, home, family upset, when we have jumped for joy and happiness. They are family, no other way to put it, they are, if we choose to embrace them as such.
Your family and friends have moved from compassion and understanding to head nodding, not knowing what to say, or appearing interested, but you know they are not.
How you process grief and loss is how you do everything in life. Do you withdraw, have a numbness and an ache so deep inside of you that you cannot access it maybe for fear of not being able to bare the pain. All can feel overwhelming. These emotions are real and need to be honoured. The life and love of your pet was real and needs to be honoured.
I want you to know there is another way. That you can have connection to your pet even though they are in Spirit. You can have a deeper understanding of loss and come to peace. Achieve deeper compassion for yourself and then others. Learn the wisdom that your pet brought to you on the journey you shared together.
Grief and Loss is heavy energy, it is draining, tiring and it can be stuck and stagnant energy. Working with our emotions is so important because it will allow them to flow which in turn helps you to feel lighter, freer, kinder to yourself and more compassionate, and allows you to honour the loss.
A pet isn't 'just' an animal, they're family, and their loss deserves the same reverence as any goodbye. I create a healing ceremony around your pet's story and your bond with them, creating a space for you to connect with your beloved whether that's a quiet private ritual or a gathering with loved ones. There's no right way to grieve an animal, this ceremony honours yours.
After my dog Goldie passed away, I read Debbie's book Best Friends Forever. A few weeks later, I felt drawn to learn more about Goldie and to better understand the emotions I was experiencing.
Working with Debbie was a truly comforting and healing experience. Through her connection with Goldie, I gained insights that not only deepened my understanding of him but also brought awareness to unresolved aspects of my own past. Our sessions gave me clarity, comfort, and a sense of peace at a time when I needed it most.
Debbie helped me navigate my grief, come to terms with Goldie's passing, and find a way forward with greater acceptance and understanding. I will always be grateful for her support, compassion, and guidance.
Gary
A pet isn't 'just' an animal, they're family, and their loss deserves the same reverence as any goodbye. I create a healing ceremony around your pet's story and your bond with them, creating a space for you to connect with your beloved whether that's a quiet private ritual or a gathering with loved ones. There's no right way to grieve an animal, this ceremony honours yours.
Midlife · Mystic · Mentor and Inner Witch
Helping women in midlife remove the masks and remember the wise, wild woman within.
© 2026 Debbie McLeod. All rights reserved.
Website designed and built by Intune Business Solutions