When Sydney's dog, Bella, was diagnosed with cancer, Sydney ran up to her room and would not leave for hours.
"She was five, and it was Sydney's first experience with any sort of death and loss," says Emily Mallett, Sydney's mother. "Telling her [about Bella's diagnosis] was one of the worst experiences of my life."
A new online hub from OVC Pet Trust at the University of Guelph is blending personal narratives with expert insights to help pet caregivers like Sydney and her family navigate loss.
The Pet Loss Support Resource Centre, launched by U of G's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), offers free evidence-informed tools to navigate the grief of losing a beloved companion animal: a new video series, an expert interview library and four downloadable guides, along with links to counselling, support groups and educational materials.
Curated by OVC Pet Trust, these resources are among the first of their kind in North America and combine expertise with empathy to help people navigate the loss of a pet.
At the heart of this initiative is Always Near Me: Navigating Pet Loss a six-part documentary series created in partnership by OVC and award-winning Canadian filmmakers that shares real stories of love, loss and healing. Each episode follows families as they reflect on the profound bond they shared with their pets and the ways they've honoured their memory.
From environmental stewardship to acts of service and remembrance, families share how they remain connected with their pets long after they're gone.
For Sydney, a memorial walk at the Island Lake Conservation Area honours her beloved Bella's favourite place.
"Every year, we come here with white roses, and we put them along the path where she walked," she says, "thinking of all the good memories we had with Bella."
OVC resources combine compassion with education
Dr. Jeff Wichtel, dean of OVC, says that supporting the human-animal bond means taking care of people's emotional well-being on top of providing them with clinical excellence.
"At the Ontario Veterinary College, we understand that pets are family," says Wichtel. "These new resources reflect OVC's leadership in compassionate, people-centred veterinary medicine, addressing the emotional and relational dimensions of care that are so often overlooked."
OVC Pet Trust's expert interview library features professionals in veterinary medicine, social work and mental health. Experts like Sarah Bernardi, veterinary social worker at OVC, share insights on key topics such as the human-animal bond, grief before and after loss, end-of-life decision-making, helping children with pet loss and aftercare and memorialization.
"Losing a pet is never just losing a pet' it's saying goodbye to a family member, a source of unconditional love and a companion integrated into everyday life," says Bernardi.
"Deeply grieving a pet is a natural human experience, yet it's often a form of disenfranchised grief, a grief that isn't always recognized or understood by others or society itself. Through these resources, we hope to validate that experience, offer gentle guidance and remind people that they are not alone."
New Banjo Fund honours beloved Basset Hound
Both the video series and expert interviews were made possible thanks to The Banjo Fund, created in 2024 in memory of Banjo, the beloved Basset Hound of anonymous OVC donors who established the fund in their dog's memory.
The fund supports OVC Pet Trust's mission to provide meaningful resources for families experiencing pet loss and for the veterinary professionals who support them.
"Banjo was more than a dog he was family. I will cherish his generosity and kindness each moment and every second for the rest of my time," says OVC donor and benefactor of The Banjo Fund.
"When we lost Banjo, I wanted to create something lasting that could help others through the same kind of loss, while honouring the bond I had with him. OVC was the natural choice. Its world class reputation, expertise and genuine compassion make it the ideal place to invest in resources that blend science, empathy and real understanding."
The Pet Loss Support Resource Centre represents a vital step in OVC Pet Trust's dedication to advancing the human-animal bond, not just through clinical and scientific innovation, but through empathy, education and support for grief and loss.
Since 1986, OVC Pet Trust has raised more than $100 million to support innovative discoveries, health care and education that improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of pets.
To explore the full collection of videos, guides and support resources, visit pettrust.ca/petlossresources
