The Pet Loss Companion

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as they discuss a dilemma shared by an audience member, a situation that has implications for everybody who has more than one animal companion in their family.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.  

Quality of life scale mentioned in our conversation

To support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as we share stories from audience members that touch upon the experience of many losses occurring simultaneously and more.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

To support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation in which we'll share stories from audience members that touch upon the particular experience of losing a pet as a single person and more.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

To support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as we talk with special guest Dr. Joanne Lefebvre Connolly. Dr. Connolly is a veterinarian and author who specializes in in-home end-of-life care and euthanasia. 

She is the author of two books, Animal Teachings 1 and Animal Teachings 2, which empower families and their pets to live better and also prepare for a peaceful and dignified passing. Learn more about Dr. Connolly at hayleysangels.com.

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.

To support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the fear expressed by many people that their deep feelings of grief will never lessen, that they will perhaps never feel emotionally stable again. We'll share thoughts on this concern and talk about how thinking about grief as having an "ending" may not be the most helpful way to understand it.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

To support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio.  We'll share a listener's story about their dog, who was born in torturous circumstances, triumphed over the resulting trauma, and went on to inspire those whose lives he touched. We'll talk about how each of us may find inspiration in the relationships we forge with our pets and the life stories they leave to us.   

To learn more about the story shared by a listener see this article.

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.

To support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since opening in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation with animal communicator Zan Ottaway (zanottaway.com).   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

To support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

One in five Americans lives with a mental illness and depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez on Thurs 1/6 at 6pm ET for a conversation about how grief differs from depression and other forms of mental illness. We'll also discuss the challenges of grieving the loss of a beloved pet when one also lives with a mental illness.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

Support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation sparked by a listener's note about the way her grief awakened in her vital thoughts, feelings, and questions.    

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

Support this podcast

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation in which we'll share some of our listeners holiday time self-care practices and some of our own as well.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

We've been hearing from listeners who describe the animal companion they've lost as their "super hero," "the most cherished gift of my life," and ""the glue that holds me together." Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation that explores the depth of relationship that these and many other people experience with their animal companions and recommendations for moving forward after we lose them.  

 We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation featuring listeners' stories about the challenges involved with finding the right time to adopt again, connecting with a helpful therapist, and other matters. 

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. When you send us a personal story please include mention of whether or not you would be okay with us sharing it within a future episode.   

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the pain of losing a very young pet, the sudden unexpected death of a pet thought to be in good health, and other matters related to grief and healing. We'll share stories from the audience members who suggested these topics. 

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon 

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org. 

Please note that we will not be doing a program next Thurs as it is Thanksgiving and our next broadcast will be the following Thurs, 12/2/21. We wish you a peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

When we're grief-stricken over the holidays we face a special set of challenges. Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation on caring for ourselves and helping those close to us who are grieving at a time of year when most people are celebrating.   

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

Ken will be reading from The Pet Loss Companion and facilitating a zoom discussion on pet loss and healing in partnership with Dakin Humane Society on Tues, 11/16, at 6pm. Please register to join us.

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

While we respond to each of our losses in a uniquely personal way, it can be comforting to note the many commonalities in our experiences. Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation that we hope will help you feel less alone in your grief. During today's discussion we'll share illustrative examples from a listener's story and our own.   

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

Ken will be reading from The Pet Loss Companion and facilitating a zoom discussion on pet loss and healing in partnership with Dakin Humane Society on Tues, 11/16, at 6pm. Please register to join us.

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about how to manage when someone close to us doesn't understand what we're going through.    

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

Ken will be reading from The Pet Loss Companion and facilitating a zoom discussion on pet loss and healing in partnership with Dakin Humane Society on Tues, 11/16, at 6pm. Please register to join us. 

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation that begins with discussion of an email from a veterinarian who recently lost her beloved dog. Nancy then introduces her newest family member and we talk about the pros, cons, and real life experiences of adopting a new animal companion shortly after loss.  

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

Ken will be reading from The Pet Loss Companion and facilitating a zoom discussion on pet loss and healing in partnership with Daking Humane Society on Tues, 11/16, at 6pm. Please register and join us: https://www.dakinhumane.org/pet-loss-healing-readings-discussion.html 

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation sparked by an audience member's story and question. We'll talk about how the death of a pet can heighten our anxiety about the health of our surviving pets and strategies for addressing this.   

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Do you talk with your pets? Of course you do! Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the soulful, intuitive ways that we and our dogs, cats, horses, parrots, rabbits, and other non-human family members communicate.  

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation that responds to recent listener questions about how we can keep the memory of our pet alive, how to manage our grief when a freak accident claims the life or a young animal companion, and more.   

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation about communicating with our deceased pets. We'll share stories of contact made directly by those who have lost beloved animal companions, including Nancy and Ken, as well as messages received through professional communicators.  

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez  and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about euthanasia in special circumstances, such as when the decision to euthanize means the end of a relationship with a canine work partner or personal service provider. We'll also touch upon other extraordinary situations, such as when euthanasia is mandated by a court decision.

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon 

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a look at the misgivings, regrets, and afterthoughts so common after the loss of a beloved animal companion. We'll share thoughts on how to live with these common features of grief.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join authors and family therapists Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the importance of the bond we forge with our animal companions and the ways that that bond adds to our health and wellbeing. Please note that we're sharing this recorded program outside of our usual Thurs schedule because of our vacations this month. We'll post our next episode after our live 6pm ET broadcast on September 9th.

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. 

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

With great sadness, Ken dedicates this episode to the memory of Abigail, who passed away only hours after this recording was made. Abigail, a soulful 16-year-old Chihuahua, was the beloved family member of Ken and his husband Tim. May she awaken into a beautiful new life. Blessed be.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about guilt and self-forgiveness.

As always, Ken and Nancy welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

Many thanks to Devin Febbroriello for sharing her moving tribute to her beloved Miso, which includes many helpful thoughts for those who are grieving: https://www.devinjane.co/post/to-grieve-is-to-love-and-to-love-is-to-fully-live

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation about a variety of perspectives on death and dying and how these shape our experiences with loss and grief. 

As always, Ken and Nancy welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a discussion of questions raised by two audience members who recently suffered complicated losses. One involves the death of a puppy who was being cared for by a family member and the other a pet with many rapidly progressing illnesses. 

As always, Ken and Nancy welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about when it makes sense to speak with a therapist and how to go about finding the right one for you.   

As always, Ken and Nancy welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org..

Helpful links: 

petloss.com

aplb.org

pet-loss.net

rainbowsbridge.com 

vetvine.com (virtual group only)

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about love, loss, and resilience with special guests Heidi Gutierrez and Dave Gruben, hosts of  Laugh at the Odds Podcast with Heidi and Dave: 

https://laughattheoddspodcast.buzzsprout.com 

https://linktr.ee/LaughAtTheOddsPodcast 

Heidi Gutierrez and Dave Gruben are no strangers to loss. They are two halves of a widowed couple, having lost Arnel and Bianca in 2014 and 2016, respectively. In early 2020, Heidi lost her Mom to cancer, and in 2013, she lost her then-eight-year-old nephew Adrian to a fatal anaphylactic reaction to cow’s milk. They also have each lost animal companions, most recently in May 2021, when Heidi had to say goodbye to Ziggy, a mini schnauzer rescue that she adopted eight months following her husband’s passing. Dave lost three of his own dogs, Quentin, Chester, and Apollo, between 2014 to 2019.   

They are the creators and hosts of “Laugh at the Odds Podcast with Heidi and Dave,” a bi-weekly podcast about love, loss, widowhood, and hope. They offer their perspectives as a young, interracial widowed couple, while dispensing advice from seasoned professionals and engaging in meaningful conversations with inspiring widows and widowers featured in each episode.   

Dave is the father of a sardonic and intelligent seven-year-old boy, Benji, and Heidi is Momma to her other adopted mini schnauzer, Xena. Together they raise and shuttle their family between their two homes in New Jersey.   

As always, Ken and Nancy welcome your stories, comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. 

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

How do you grieve? Do you listen to songs that help you get your feelings out, take walks out in nature, call upon friends who understand that you just need to vent? Maybe you pour your energy into creative activities, perhaps making collages or scrapbooks or videos?   Join authors and family therapists Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the many ways that people live through their grief. We'll share stories about the myriad healthy ways of living beyond loss as well as some caveats on unhealthy patterns that it pays to avoid.   

As always, we welcome your stories, comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Thanks to Stephanie from Illinois for sharing the poignant and beautifully illustrated story  (such wonderful photos) linked below about her family's recent loss and how she and her husband, John, honored their beloved Calvin. The story ends with an extraordinary sign from above. https://www.kendolan-delvecchio.com/w...

Join authors and family therapists Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation about living beyond the loss of our beloved animal companions. On April 29th Nancy shared the loss of her much-loved pug, Molly. This time we'll get personal again as Ken lost his beloved Chihuahua, Isabel, this past Saturday. We'll talk about how we cope personally with our losses and also about how differences such as ethnicity, spirituality, family background, and current personal circumstances shape the way people grieve.   

As always, we welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about grief and gender differences. We'll share what we've learned from our pet loss support groups and work as therapists.   

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

This program is a friend of Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Mass. Dakin is a 501 (c) (3) community-supported animal welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay/neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals and people each year. Since its inception in 1969, Dakin has become one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in central Massachusetts and a national leader in animal welfare. You can learn more about Dakin and make a donation at dakinhumane.org.

Join authors and family therapists Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton Lopez for a conversation about how to take care of ourselves while grieving. We'll share thoughts on how to respond when people say unhelpful (although generally well-intended) things and sources of help.  We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the many different ways--each of them perfect and beautiful--that those of us who love our animal companions create memorials and hold onto our memories. Send us your stories and Images (nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and kenddv@gmail.com) and we'll share them on future broadcasts and on The Pet Loss Companion FB page.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation focused on recently asked questions and comments from audience members. We welcome your questions and comments before, during, and after the broadcast. 

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Quality of Life Scale:  https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default...

It can be difficult to decide whether and when to adopt a new pet after losing a beloved animal companion.  Join family therapists and coauthors Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation about this and other challenges that we may encounter as we grieve  We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Just before publishing our book, The Pet Loss Companion, a journalist friend generously gave it one last review. He loved the book and also questioned our use of the words "soul" and "who" (rather than "that") when referring to animals. Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the meaning of the word soul, whether animals have one, and the relevance for grieving the loss of our animal companions. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

"Who rescued who?" The question on this popular bumper sticker may go deeper than we think. A number of researchers suggest that dogs and human beings co-evolved, with wolves partnering with us to hunt and teaching us valuable lessons about cooperative living.  Join family therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about our ancient partnership with dogs and other animals, the importance of the human-animal bond today, and the implications for grieving the loss of a beloved pet.  We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Nancy's beloved dog, Molly, died on Tues 4/27. At 6PM ET on Thurs, 4/29, we'll share thoughts on the immediate impact of loss and first steps forward on the journey of grief.   

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Grief can bring an onslaught of gut-wrenching questions: Will we ever see one another again? Did they know how much I love them? Will they be reincarnated into a new life? How will I go on without them? Join therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about the questions that may pursue us in the aftermath of loss.  We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Grief has a time frame of its own and grief's persistence can make us wonder if we'll ever see its end. Authors and family therapists Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio can assure you that better days are ahead and offer this conversation on how to care for yourself along the way.   We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

When a pet's health deteriorates greatly there may come a time when we question whether their suffering outweighs the benefits of living. Join Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about navigating the complex questions that arise when we consider euthanasia as an option for ending a beloved animal companion's suffering.  We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions for future episodes. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

It can be hard to know how to help a friend whose beloved animal companion is gravely ill and nearing the end of their life. Join Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about this and other challenges.  

We welcome your questions and comments.  Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. 

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

If we are fortunate enough to see our animal companion reach advanced age and/or if they encounter a terminal illness, we will enter a time during which we feel their death approaching. This is our time of anticipatory grief. We grieve the loss of our expectation of an expansive future together. Join Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation about anticipatory grief. We'll share thoughts on how to take care of your beloved friend and yourself, and how to make this challenging time also a time of remembrance and celebration.  

We welcome your questions and comments.  Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Join therapists and authors Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio as they respond to questions about how to help young children prepare for their pet's euthanasia, how to manage when we face a number of losses all at once, and more.  We welcome your questions and comments.  Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com. The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Join Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation about deciding  when to adopt another pet, handling the feelings that happen if your companion dies during or immediately following a medical procedure when you cannot be present, and more.

We welcome your questions and comments. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

Join Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a conversation focused on questions we've received about the tensions that arise when members of a couple have vastly different grieving styles, a pet guardian can't forgive themselves for not being present during their pet's euthanasia, and more. We welcome your questions and comments. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

The circumstances of a loss sometimes load additional uncertainty and pain onto an already terribly sad situation. When a pet disappears from our yard, hurts another person in a way that brings legal action, or dies as a result of a personal error we suffer such a loss. Join Nancy Saxton-Lopez and Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio for a discussion on grief and ambiguous and complicated losses.

We welcome your comments and questions. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

We may feel terribly sad, confused, and exhausted when we're grieving but what's the difference between  normal grief and clinical depression? Join Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation in which they'll answer this question. They'll also discuss how to seek care for yourself or a loved one who shows signs of depression. 

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  

The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 (24 hours, 365 days)

How many times have we heard stories from those who are grief-stricken about family members, friends, or coworkers saying things that hurt rather than help? Join Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Nancy Saxton-Lopez for a conversation about why people say unhelpful things and how you may want to respond. We share dos and don'ts for helping those who have lost a beloved pet. 

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics. Nancy can be reached at nsaxtonlopez@csmpc.com and Ken at kenddv@gmail.com.  The Pet Loss Companion (book) on Amazon.