Enhance the support you give to bereaved pet owners by gaining an accredited certificate in pet bereavement and loss support awarded by CPD.

This e-learning course will give you the skills you need and counts towards 32 hours continued professional development (CPD). The course can be completed in a maximum of up to 12 weeks. You will work through one module per week which is roughly three to four hours per week. The course will close after 12 weeks.

This course has been designed for anyone wishing to gain more knowledge and experience in supporting bereaved pet owners. It is particularly helpful for veterinary staff and those working with owners whose pets are facing rehoming, euthanasia or have died. Please be aware that this is not a counselling qualification.

Course start dates are as follows

13th January 2025
7th April 2025
30th June 2025
22nd September 2025

When booking your course, you will be able to select your preferred course start date.

BOOK NOW to get 2024 price.

Choosing a course

Course booking and secure payments are taken via Eventbrite. If you cannot complete the course within the timescale, you can defer to another course once free of charge. If you are still unable to complete the course after deferring you will be required to pay the full price of the course again to continue.

If you have any questions, please contact our Pet Loss Support training team by calling 01993 867216 or email pbsstraining@bluecross.org.uk

Modules covered during the course

Module 1 – BEREAVEMENT This module introduces you to the core theme of bereavement by encouraging you to tap into your own experience of pet loss. You will develop your understanding of human relationships with animals throughout history including your knowledge of the Human Companion Animal Bond (HCAB) and attachment theory.

Module 2 – BOUNDARIES AND POLICIES During this module you will develop your understanding of personal boundaries and take your first steps in learning self-care. You will investigate burnout and compassion fatigue, and research the critically important issue of confidentiality. By the end of this module, you’ll know the ways in which data can be lawfully recorded and stored, and have new skills in working with vulnerable people, including clients who are, or who might be, thinking about suicide.

Module 3 – EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SKILLS This module will allow you to skill up in support techniques and launch your practice in person-centred support. There are practical tasks in empathic communication and active listening. You will also learn how these skills help with supporting clients face-to-face, by phone and by email.

Modules 4 & 5- GRIEF AND LIFE STAGES This module will investigate how people grieve and the disenfranchised nature of pet loss. You will develop your knowledge of how people experience the loss of their pets at different life stages, including childhood, mid-life and old age. You will also learn about how to best provide emotional support to those who are grieving.

Module 6 - EUTHANASIA Within this module, there are articles and videos giving practical information about how smaller animals and horses are euthanised. You also consolidate your learning about reasons for euthanasia and its emotional consequences. You learn about responsibility grief and how some bereaved clients can struggle to identify as legitimate grievers. In these two themes alone, you'll become aware of just how much your understanding of bereavement has grown.

Module 7 – GRIEF IN SURVIVING PETS, AFTER DEATH BODY CARE AND RITUALS OF REMEMBERANCE This module starts with the pets that are left behind. Through case study observations and research evidence, you explore grief in animals. You come away with some useful strategies to share with clients who are concerned about their grieving pets. In the second part of the module you investigate ritual and you take a tour of the many ways in which pets and other animals are memorialised by their humans.

Module 8 – ASSISTANCE ANIMALS Assistance animals make an incalculable difference to the lives of people who have physical, sensory, learning or mental health disabilities. There are a whole range of needs for which assistance animals can provide planned extra support. As well as bringing a host of practical benefits they can help increase independence and self-esteem. It is no surprise therefore that when an assistance animal retires or dies this can have a huge impact on their user emotionally and physically.

Equality and Diversity

We ensure good practice in the area of Equal Opportunity and equality of opportunity. Further information about our equal opportunities policy can be found in the training manual or upon request.

Quality Assurance

This qualification is subject to our quality assurance and validation process to ensure that new and revised qualifications are fit for purpose. Qualifications are reviewed to ensure the alignment of the qualification with agreed design principles, regulatory requirements and to ensure accuracy and consistency across units and qualifications. Through our quality assurance and validation process, we ensure the qualification, its units and assessments, are fit for purpose and can be delivered efficiently.

Prior learning

There are no pre-requisites that a learner must achieve prior to taking this course. IT Application Skills qualification, all knowledge, skills and understanding about the subject will be covered within the training

To see a 5 min short feedback video from Vet teams on the benefit our training has please see below.

Blue Cross Accredited Pet Loss Support training course 2025