It provides a safe, structured place where normal, healthy people with similar experiences can come together on a regular basis to share their stories of pet loss, learn more about the grieving process, express and work through their feelings, and reflect with one another on the meaning of it all. Most pet loss support groups are facilitated by volunteers who've lost pets themselves, worked through their own grief and are committed to helping others get through the experience. Everyone sits in a circle. Information shared in the group stays there. When outside the group, members aren't free to talk about another member by name without that member's permission.
Members can exchange telephone numbers if they wish to do so.
Members may share as much or as little as they so choose. One person speaks at a time. Everyone gets equal time to share, so no one monopolizes the time. One by one, people then are invited to introduce themselves and to tell as much or as little of their stories as they wish. Experiences, thoughts and feelings are openly expressed, and painful as well as pleasant memories are recalled.