All of us know the enormous sadness of having our wonderful pets die. The feelings of grief, despair, and loss are sometimes overwhelming. The Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society is pleased to offer a monthly support group to help you if you are grieving the loss of a beloved pet.

Each session will begin with a half-hour discussion about a stage in the journey of grief, followed by an hour for sharing personal grief experiences. You are invited to attend the talk, the support group, or both.

When: 3rd Tuesday of each month. 7:00-8:30pm
Where: BEBHS, 2700 Ninth St., Berkeley
Cost: No fixed fee. (We do appreciate a donation to help cover costs of printed handouts.)

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Examples of Topics Covered

• Loving Our Pets ~ Why bonding with other beings (two-legged and four-legged) is necessary for health - for our head, heart, and gut. How is this the same as other grief?

• The Dying Experience ~ We explore the physiology of dying, and our own feelings about this, the euthanasia experience, guilt, and gratitude. How is pet loss different from other grief?

• The Pain of Losing Your Pet ~ We present the physiology of tears and fears, shock and thawing out. How do prior losses complicate this grief?

• Obtaining Support ~ Disappointments while seeking help, pet loss as disenfranchised grief, books and models of grief. How can we honor the memories of our beloved pets and our continuing relationship with them?

• The Common Questions ~ How vast is the landscape of grief? Am I depressed? Exploring magical thinking and becoming wise; disorientation and reorientation, hopelessness and hope.

• Coping with Your Loss ~ Exercises for the tasks of grief, and tips on how to get through especially difficult times.

• Looking at Grief Differently ~ "Hello from Heaven": How do we interpret the mysteries of grief, for example, visitations or signs of the departed?

• Special Topics ~ Children's grief, loss of an assistance animal etc.

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About the Facilitators

Roy Gesley is an AAPC Pastoral Counselor. For the past five years he has been the bereavement coordinator for Kaiser Hospice and previously chaplain to Alta Bates and Mt. Zion hospitals. As a single parent of three, he has enjoyed the company of two dogs, a cat, lop-eared bunnies, fish, and rats.

Jill Goodfriend is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly four decades of clinical experience. She has developed a specialty in offering group and individual counseling and therapy to people who have experienced loss and are dealing with issues of grief. Most recently, as the Disaster Mental Health coordinator for the Alameda County of the Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, Jill has been involved with providing crisis intervention, grief counseling and referral to families of local house fires and disasters, many of whom have lost their beloved pets along with their material possessions. In her personal life, Jill has been a lifelong animal lover and advocate. Over the years, her pets have included dogs, cats, birds, goldfish, and a turtle. She currently has two rescued cats and volunteers for a local animal rescue organization. Jill feels drawn to offering her experience and skills to meet the needs of the bereaved individuals facing life without their special animal friends.

For more information, please call Jill at (510)393-1359 or Roy at (510) 752-7757.