Hello,
I would like the opportunity to meet and visit with you about a special project or service that I call:
“Mandy’s Memories: a Pet Loss Support Group.”
Every pet lover knows that pet loss is devastating on those who are left behind. Pet loss and grief can have an adverse affect on people. It is especially difficult for the elderly and disabled living alone, individuals with no family, and children who have social challenges.
Many individuals will tend to hide their pain and true feelings because they do not want to appear as being weak or irrational or have to deal with others who may feel their grief is too extreme or even absurd. Yet, grief caused by pet loss has been recently accepted in the mental health profession as being as traumatic as any other loss we might experience in our lives.
Assistance has developed over the years such as hot lines, web sites, and professional counseling. These are very helpful tools and should continue. Additionally, pet loss support groups have been forming with tremendous success across our nation. These groups offer a more personal and informal way to share with others who are facing the grief of not only losing a pet, but also for those facing the terminal illness of a pet as well.
I have firsthand experience with pet loss and the grief that follows. On December 22nd of 2008, I lost my companion animal of 13 years after almost a year of treating her for lung cancer. Mandy, my cocker spaniel, was my only family for 8 years. After many hours of researching information on both pet loss and small group support formation, I approached Jean Regenwether, the former administrator of the Clinton Humane Society, in Clinton, Iowa, about starting a group. With Jean’s help, on August 18th of 2009, Mandy’s Memories Support Group became a reality.
Since that time, I have moved to Ames. I would like to personally meet and visit with you about starting such a support group in this community with a target start-up goal being September, 2011. I am already receiving some confirmations about potential meeting spaces. Please take a moment and review the information accompanying this letter. My hope is that you and I can work together to help bring some relief to those who are suffering from a pet loss or terminal illness of their beloved pet. Please contact me to arrange a meeting. I believe that together we can make a big difference.
Sincerely,
Doug Hill
2619 Browning St. Ames, Iowa 50010
(515) 298-4012 E-Mail cavaliers74@yahoo.com
Our Mission Statement
Grieving people who have lost a pet or those currently facing terminal illness of a pet is our primary concern. Their emotional need for support, compassion, and understanding is followed up with educational information on pet loss and group support meetings.
Our Primary Goal Is To:
1. Offer a safe and respectful place to share pet loss or terminal illness of a pet with others who are also suffering from these debilitating conditions.
2. Show care and compassion to everyone who attends our meetings.
3. Offer up to date information on pet loss from various types of media.
4. Invite guest speakers who are involved in pet loss.
Our Future Goals Are:
To diminish society’s misunderstanding of (alleged) over reaction from emotional severity of stress and pain due to pet loss/terminal illness
By:
· Introducing to vet students the serious repercussions of pet loss and terminal illness by offering free programs at ISU regarding this subject.
· Reaching out to the general public with public awareness
programs through local media, clubs, and organizations.
Our Meeting Format & Style
· Our meetings are very informal and in no way are intended to be a replacement for professional therapy.
· We encourage both current pet loss/terminal illness victims as well as those who are further along with their recovery to attend our meetings in hopes that the former may benefit from the experience of the latter.
· Provide individuals time to discuss their situation and explain their feelings about their grief.
· Allow individuals time to ask questions dealing with pet loss/terminal illness grief to our professional mental health therapist.
· We will assist individuals in both the planning and creation of memorial services of some kind for the deceased pet for anyone who request it and invite family members to those memorial meetings.
· Religious faith will not be a standard part of the meetings but will be allowed if introduced in discussions or individual statements of faith regarding the deceased pet.
· Refreshments will be served following the meeting.
Doug Hill
Founder and Program Coordinator
Mandy’s Memories Support Group
The idea of this group came about as a result of the death of Mandy, Doug’s companion animal in December of 2008.
He moved to Ames in November of 2010. He is introducing the first of it’s kind pet loss group to the Ames area.
Doug has no formal education on the subject of loss and the grief it causes. However, he feels the education brought on by a life time of loss due to a steady decline of vision and the devastating loss of his companion animal, Mandy, gives him first hand knowledge through experience.
He feels, learning through experience offers a more intimate understanding of loss and the grief it causes. Doug is legally blind and understands pet loss is especially hard on the disabled, senior citizens, and children with special challenges. Doug has spent many hours of research on the subject of grief caused by either terminal illness or loss of a pet. He hopes that by sharing what he has learned, he can bridge the gap between suffering pet loss victims and a general population who doesn’t understand or, in many cases, accepts the devastating affect of pet loss.
At the same time, offer a safe haven to those who are suffering from the loss of a beloved pet or the agonizing reality of terminal illness of a pet a place to share their pain with other victims. Through our meetings and other resources, Doug hopes to minimize the pain by being a partner to pet loss victims for the long journey of healing that’s ahead of them.
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Kim Abbey, L.M.H.C., C.C.D.P.
Licensed Family Therapist
Certified Chemical Dependency Professional
Certified Chemical Dependency Professional
Kim Abbey, L.M.H.C., C.C.D.P. is an individual, couples, and family therapist. She particularly enjoys working with teens, parents, and adults.Kim believes that most people desire to improve their lives and relationships and are looking for a fresh perspective on how to make this happen. She strives to build mutual trust and a meaningful relationships with those she serves.Kim utilizes a variety of therapeutic theories and approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family systems, and interpersonal and attachment theory. If desired by the client, she will utilize a Christian context for therapy. Kim believes that the spiritual health is as important as body and emotional health. Kim specializes in adoption, attachment issues, substance abuse, mood disorders such as depression and bi-polar disorder, anxiety disorders, spiritual concerns, relationship problems, adolescent/parent problems, parenting concerns, trauma, and grief/loss issues. Kim has been in the counseling profession since 1996. She has a B.S. in Psychology from Iowa State University and a Masters in Human Relations with an emphasis in counseling from the University of Oklahoma.
Veterinarians Supporting The Group
Pet Medical Ctr of Ames
1416 S Duff Ave, Ames, IA 50010
E-mail Bellloona@yahoo.com (515) 232-7204
Story County Veterinary Clinic
23909 580th Ave, Ames, IA. 50010
(515) 232-8766
401 Main St, Slater, IA. 50244-7781
(515) 228-3545
Madrid Veterinary Clinic
411 E 6th St. Madrid, IA. 50156-1607
(515) 795-2261
Nevada Veterinary Clinic
611 W 4th St, Nevada, IA. 50201-2255
(515) 382-2400
Heartland Pet Hospital & Mobile Practice PC
626 Garfield Ave. Story City, IA. 50248-1616
(515) 733-2218
Helping Hands Veterinary Clinc
107 Mamie Eisenhower Ave. Boone, IA. 50036-3425
(515) 432-0031
Jewell Animal Hospital (South Hamilton Animal Alliance)
548 Main Street P.O. Box 354
Jewell, Ia. 50130 (515) 827-5700
Mental Health Professional Referral List
Ames Counseling & Psychological Services
3600 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA
(515) 239-4410
Liza Griffith LMHC
Youth And Shelter Services
420 Kellogg Avenue, Ames, IA 50010-6226
(515) 233-3141
Illuminations Inc
416 Douglas Ave. Ames, IA. 50010
(515) 232-7157 http://www.traumatx.com
Creative Counseling Services
208 5th St. Ames, IA 50010
515-233-1699
Clinical Associates of Ames
113 Colorado Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-3499
(515) 292-2703
Kimberly Benton-Herzberg, MSW
118 Hayward Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-7259
Office (515) 268-3179
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