After losing her beloved cat, Di Kendall founded a Pet Grief Support Group to help other pet owners cope with the loss of their own pets.
South Africa (01 March 2024) – Losing a pet is as devastating as losing a family member because they really are part of the family! The loss is often overlooked but thanks to Di Kendall, there is now a Pet Grief Support Group aimed at helping people cope with the loss of a beloved pet.
Di was inspired to start the group after her own cat had passed away. She said that the moment left her absolutely shattered. She launched the STIG Foundation with the support of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and runs two Pet Grief Support Groups.
“In realising that there is really not much support out there specifically designed for pet parents, I reached out to SADAG about my idea of a foundation, having resources, and listing support groups for pet parents. As a support group leader for SADAG, I have received so much support from them, and my journey as a support group leader has been amazing. I now have three groups of my own, an anxiety and depression support group and two pet parent support groups. The newest group launches on the 1st of March 2024.
Any pet bereavement groups we list will be SADAG based, and any trainee support group leaders will be supported and trained by SADAG.”
STIG stands for Support Through Immense Grief and is being embraced by the community with open arms. It is a much-needed support group that is helping change how we look at pet bereavement.
“The name was coined by one of my support group members who recently lost a very special boy too. I created the space to share resources specifically for pet bereavement so anyone who has lost a pet can feel seen and heard.”
While it is still early days for the support group, Di hopes to expand and offer support to people who are losing their pets over long periods due to illness.
“Once our organisation is established we will assist with end of life veterinary care and creations to help pet parents through an immensely difficult time with their fur baby, especially those who are not financially able to care for their fur baby at the end of their life.”
If you or someone you know needs a Pet Grief Support Group, they can find all the information via the website or Facebook page. There are also posters below detailing information regarding monthly meetings and WhatsApp groups.
Sources: Di Kendell
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