Animal Medical Centre of Greensboro PA
4113 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27407 (336) 855-5821

Support Program Available

Purpose

The purpose of the Pet Loss Support Program is to provide an open and supportive place for grieving pet owners to share their loss experiences, get and give comfort, and learn more satisfying ways of living with their losses. Drawing on the experience of similar programs, PAW is backing this program to provide a service convenient to greater Greensboro.

About The Group

Each group meeting is led by a team of professional counselors and volunteers and includes a brief educational session on grief experiences. Veterinary professionals are being recruited to answer medical questions that may come up. Most of the time is reserved for open discussion in which participants are invited to share their loss experiences and any feelings, questions, or concerns they have. Specific guidelines for the group include the following:

1. Meetings begin promptly at 7:30pm and end at 9:00pm. Socializing before and after meetings is subject to any ground rules for using the facility.
2. Attend as many or as few meetings as you like.
3. Please protect the privacy of other group members - what others say at a meeting should stay there unless they specifically give permission to do otherwise.
4. Please wear a nametag and sign the guest book each time you attend.
5. Listen with compassion and respect when others share, because each person's grief is unique and personally sensitive. Offer support to each other but avoid giving advice unless specifically asked for it.
6. Share as much or as little as you like in a meeting. Listening to others can do much.
7. Feel free to ask questions - they are normal, important, and helpful.
8. Consider bringing pictures, possessions, or other memories of your pet.
9. Help yourself to literature and resources available at the meetings.
10. If you want to help with the program, make yourself known at a meeting, call PAW, and spread the word!

Time & Place

Meetings are held 7:30pm - 9:00pm on the second Tuesday of each month at First Lutheran Church (3600 W. Friendly Avenue.), Room 12. The first meeting was on December 8^th, 1998.

Cost

The program is offered at no cost. While they are not expected, donations are welcome to help cover the costs of publicity, materials, and purchasing literature on pet loss. Persons interested in giving back to the program are encouraged to get in touch with PAW (below). Persons interested in volunteering to help staff the program are encouraged to make themselves known at meetings or get in touch with PAW.

For More Information

For further information about the support group, references on pet loss, or other pet-related services, contact PAW by calling (336) 333-0PAW or by mail at 5710-K High Point Road #160, Greensboro, NC 27407.