Support

Pet loss support

Grief after a pet dies is a normal response, and there are organisations whose whole job is to help with it. Everything below is a recognised charity, veterinary body, veterinary school or established bereavement organisation in Australia. We list no cremation providers on this page.

If you are in crisis right now

Pet loss support services are not crisis services. If you or someone you know is at immediate risk, contact emergency services on 000, or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

Checked 29 July 2026 · Lifeline Australia

4 organisations

Pet loss support in Australia

Free services are listed first. 2 of the 4 organisations below offer their support free of charge, and we say plainly where charges apply.

Griefline

Free

national grief helpline

Anyone in Australia experiencing grief, including the death of a companion animal

Phone: 1300 845 745
When: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 to 18:00 (AEST/AEDT)
Cost: No charge for the support itself.

Good to know

A general grief service rather than a pet-loss specialist service, though it covers companion animal loss explicitly and runs a dedicated pet loss forum and webinar.
Not a crisis service.

Visit GrieflineChecked 29 July 2026

Source: Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Grief Australia (Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement)

Free and paid parts

specialist bereavement organisation

Bereaved people in Australia. Counselling is free for Victorians; telehealth or telephone counselling for people outside Victoria is fee for service.

Phone: (03) 9265 2100
When: Business hours. Confirm current availability with the organisation.
Cost: Some of what this organisation offers is free and some is charged for. Check before you commit.

Good to know

Free counselling is limited to Victorian residents. People outside Victoria pay a fee for service. Final Tail states this rather than describing the service as free.
Not a crisis service.

Visit Grief Australia (Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement)Checked 29 July 2026

Source: Better Health Channel, Victoria State Government

Pets and People

Paid

pet loss counselling network

People in Australia and New Zealand seeking counselling specifically for companion animal loss

Phone: 1300 431 450
When: Confirm current availability with the organisation.
Cost: Charges apply. The organisation sets the rates, not Final Tail.

Good to know

The organisation states plainly that it is not a crisis or free service and that counselling rates apply and vary by provider. Final Tail labels it paid for exactly that reason.
It is a network connecting people to qualified counsellors rather than a helpline.

Visit Pets and PeopleChecked 29 July 2026

Source: Pets and People

RSPCA Australia

Free

animal welfare charity guidance

Australian pet owners facing or coping with the death of a companion animal

Cost: No charge for the support itself.

Good to know

Written guidance rather than a support service. There is no one to speak to.
Not a crisis service.

Visit RSPCA AustraliaChecked 29 July 2026

Source: RSPCA Australia

Final Tail does not provide counselling and is not a support service. We list organisations that do, with what each one offers and when we last checked it. Services change, so confirm current hours and availability with the organisation before you rely on them.

We do not list cremation or aftercare providers on this page, and we never accept payment for a place on it. A page about grief should not double as advertising.

Standard

How an organisation gets on this list

Reviewed against these rules, with a scheduled re-check on 29 January 2027.

Recognised national animal-welfare charities, veterinary charities, veterinary schools and colleges, established national veterinary organisations, established national bereavement organisations, and credible pet-loss organisations with a clear standard of practice.
An individual counsellor or private practice is never listed merely because a website exists.
No pet cremation or aftercare provider is listed on a grief hub, ever. A bereavement surface must not double as a commercial placement.
Availability is never asserted. Where an organisation states that its hours vary, Final Tail says so rather than publishing a fixed timetable.
Cost is recorded as free, paid or mixed against what the organisation itself states. Counselling is never implied to be free where it is not.

How we research everything on Final Tail

Questions

Common questions

Is pet loss support free?

Some of it is and some of it is not, which is why every entry on this page is labelled. 2 of the organisations listed here offer their support free of charge. Where an organisation charges, we say so rather than leaving you to find out on the call.

Is it normal to grieve this much for an animal?

Yes. Recognised veterinary and welfare organisations treat grief after the death of a companion animal as a normal bereavement response, which is why several of them run dedicated services for it.

Are these crisis services?

No, and that distinction matters. Pet loss support lines are staffed to help with bereavement, not with immediate risk to someone's safety. If you or someone you know is at immediate risk, contact emergency services on 000, or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

Can I use these before my pet has died?

Yes. Several of these organisations support anticipatory grief, including the decision about euthanasia. You do not have to wait.

Why are there no cremation providers listed here?

We do not list cremation or aftercare providers on this page, and we never accept payment for a place on it. A page about grief should not double as advertising.

Where to go from here

What to do when your pet dies

The practical first steps, if you are still in the middle of them.

Open

Memorials and keepsakes

Ashes, urns, jewellery and plaques, explained without a sales pitch.

Open

Find a provider

Pet cremation and aftercare providers across Australia.

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Final Tail is an independent directory of pet cremation and aftercare providers across Australia. We collect provider details from public listings, provider websites and information shared with us. Services, availability and pricing may change, so please confirm directly with the provider before making arrangements.