- turning pain into purpose -Why this community exists
Hi, I’m SoniaIf you’re grieving your beloved pet right now, I’m so sorry.
I know how much it hurts because I’ve been there too.
I created this community after losing my beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Tilly,
and experiencing how lonely and overwhelming pet loss grief can feel.
Monday, 27th February 2023, was the hardest day of my life.
It was the day I had to say goodbye to Tilly, my 13-and-a-half-year-old Yorkshire Terrier.
Tilly wasn’t “just a dog.” She was my baby, my angel, and the love of my life.
She taught me the meaning of love. How to receive love and how to give love. She was the bravest soul I ever knew.
After three surgeries and a long fight with cancer, we had to make the most heartbreaking decision to let her go.
Just writing this hurts so much and brings back so many painful memories.
The day that changed everything The weeks after
After losing Tilly, I was completely broken. For six weeks, I could barely function and was in a daze.
I spent my days in my dressing gown, holding onto a soft toy just to feel some kind of comfort.
I wasn’t just sad. I felt lost, empty, and completely devastated.
Life moves on, but grief doesn’tEight months later, I was living abroad. On the outside, everything looked fine.
I was working again. The sun was shining. Life seemed “back on track.”
But inside, it was a different story. I was still carrying so much grief. I don't think I'd realised quite how much.
One afternoon, sitting on the bus on my way to a climbing gym (one of the things that got me through those early months), a grief wave hit me out of nowhere.
It completely overwhelmed me. Uncontrollable tears started streaming down my face, and I couldn’t stop crying.
I missed my girl so much. I just didn’t know what to do with the intense pain I was feeling.
In that moment, I realised something I'll never forget.
I felt completely alone in my grief, and I didn't know where to turn.
That was when everything changed.
What I needed didn't existI was lucky to have family and friends I could talk to, but they didn’t really get it.
Not because they didn’t care, but because they hadn’t experienced this kind of loss.
I wanted so badly to connect with other grieving pet parents who understood what I was going through.
I wanted to feel seen and heard. I needed to know that I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
I knew that talking to someone wouldn’t take away the pain or bring back my girl, but I knew (or maybe just wished) it might make me feel a little less alone, even if only for a few moments.
What I needed was simple.
✔ A community of people who got it
✔ A space where I didn’t have to explain
✔ A place where my grief felt normal & was accepted without judgement
I Googled “pet loss support”, but I couldn’t find what I needed.
I was looking for a small, supportive, safe space where grieving pet parents could come together, share their grief, and be with people who understood.
I was disappointed, and I really didn’t have the emotional capacity for another setback.
Which brings me to you
Sitting there on that bus, heartbroken and with tears streaming down my face, I made a promise to myself.
I would do whatever I could to help other grieving pet parents feel less alone on their pet loss journey.I didn’t have a grand plan of building a community that would one day support grieving pet parents across the UK.
In that moment, I just wanted to help at least one person feel less alone in their grief, even if it was just for one minute.
And so, the Pet Loss Support Group was born. "Sonia's devotion to those who are suffering from pet loss is boundless."— Faith lost her dog, River, in August 2025
A promise that became a community
Sitting there on that bus, I could never have imagined where that promise would lead.
Since then, more than 120 grieving pet parents across the UK have found support through our community.
Today, people from all walks of life come together with one shared experience: loving and losing a beloved pet.
I'm incredibly grateful to every member of our community who's shared their story. Every story shared helps someone else feel a little less alone.
This community exists because grieving pet parents continue to show up for one another with kindness, compassion, and understanding.
This community is dedicated to Tilly.
And it's here for you if you're hurting or simply missing your pet in ways others just don't get.
If you're grieving your precious pet right now, I hope our community helps you feel a little less alone in what can be one of the most painful and isolating experiences of your life.
With love,
Sonia 💛
If you'd like support from people who understand the pain of losing a beloved pet, you're warmly welcome to join one of our online support sessions.