Tara K.
“When I was faced with having to euthanize Peter, my first dog of eleven years, I thought I’d feel relief when it was all said and done. Peter had been ill for several years, fighting off one MRSP staph infection after another. We tried everything under the sun. Some things helped short-term. But when he died, I spiraled down into a deep pit of depression, compounded by the winter depression I was already experiencing, and felt completely helpless. As a woman of strong faith, I put my trust in God and prayed that He would lead me to the right people and resources who could help. Kathy was one of them. She validated my feelings by making me realize that I wasn’t crazy or abnormal for grieving Peter in the most profound way. She actually said that losing a soul pet is one of the most painful kinds of losses. The grief work (writing assignments), while tedious and hard to focus on at times, were well worth the effort. The memories of Peter are already starting to fade, after nearly six months, and I know that reading those notes will always keep a smile on my face. According to Kathy, I navigated the grieving process rather quickly because I was willing to do the most painful work right away. Not willing to stuff or deny emotions, I laid my bleeding heart out on the table. I love that Kathy truly cares about her clients. I could sense it from the first conversation. While sensitive, I appreciate that she can take a “tough love” approach when needed. I needed it at times. She was readily accessible during times of crisis. I could text her on a really rough day, and she would make time to speak with me. You don’t find that often in counselors. Her encouragement and guidance prepared me for my second dog that came within three months of Peter’s passing. Thank you, God, for the gifts of loving animals and wise counselors.”
Laurie K.
Laurie K.
Laurie K.
"Allow me just state this up front - I have never ever been to a therapist nor did I ever consider myself to be a 'support group' type of person. But when I lost my beloved 'soul-mate pet' Cosmo (pictured), my world came crashing down and sent me into such profound depths of despair that I knew I had to seek out expert help to move forward in my grief. Kathy is a consummate professional in pet loss grief and bereavement support who provides a safe haven to share feelings of grief over our beloved pets - a concept that is only now gaining traction in acceptance in our society. As an authority on dealing with companion animal loss, Kathy guides all who are suffering through the many stages of the grieving process in an approachable, common-sense way. Her mforting words of wisdom, experience, and steadfast guidance through pet loss has meant all the difference between living and simply existing. I encourage all who are suffering from pet loss to not hesitate to reach out to Kathy for her expert assistance on beginning their own personal journeys through the healing process."
Megan W.
Laurie K.
Laurie K.
"As Executive Director of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria I saw first hand how truly passionate Kathy was about helping people cope with the loss of their animal companions. She deeply understands that the death of a pet can be a life shifting event that can leave people feeling tremendous sadness and grief. For four decades, Kathy has volunteered her time to lead meetings at local animal shelters for people struggling with this loss. She started this far before the general population acknowledged the deep connection and bond that can be created between humans and animals. She provided (and continues to provide) a safe place for people to share their feelings and to heal. Kathy has performed training's including a class on compassion fatigue for shelter staff. She also facilitated a powerful ceremony near Christmas for pet owners to remember companions. Personally, I benefited greatly from Kathy's incredible listening skills, empathy and support. Kathy helped me deal with the tragic and unexpected loss of my two dogs. I will always be so grateful to her and know that hundreds even thousands of other people feel the same way."
Laura C.
Laurie K.
Laura C.
"When my dog Leah died suddenly I was crushed. She was not just my pet - because I am a dog trainer and Leah was a tracking dog, she was my partner. Because I live by myself she was my sole housemate and constant companion. More importantly though she was my cherished friend and my pride and joy, so when I lost her I felt like I lost everything. Fortunately, I found my way to one of Kathy's support groups. It helped to tell my story at the meeting and to learn that I was not alone in my grief. Unfortunately however, this was not enough. It took several individual sessions with Kathy for me even to accept the fact that I had lost Leah, much less to start to heal from that loss. Now, two years later, I am doing much better. I have gone back to training other dogs and have adopted another dog to be my new companion. This progress is due in no small part to Kathy's excellent counseling. Her experience is evident in her insights and her understanding and compassion were and continue to be vital to my grief recovery process. Without Kathy's help, I am not sure I would have made it through and I definitely would not be where I am today."