Losses That Don't Get Flowers: Disenfranchised Grief in Animal Care

a Let’s Get Real conversation sponsored by the Phenix Advocacy Center (PAC)

Hosted by Colleen Pelar with special guest, Melissa Trevathan-Minnis, PhD

Monday, October 27, 2025, at 12:00 pm Eastern via Zoom

Cost: $10 (donation to the non-profit PAC)

Join us for a conversation about the grief that doesn't get acknowledged—the kind that comes with saying goodbye to animals you've known for years, euthanizing animals you've cared for, or carrying the emotional weight of decisions that happen behind the scenes.

This is disenfranchised grief: loss that's real and painful, but that the world around you doesn't recognize or validate. For those of us in animal care, these unwitnessed losses can accumulate quietly, leaving us feeling isolated or wondering why we can’t stop thinking about a situation that occurred months ago.

In this discussion, we'll explore why these losses matter, how they affect us differently than grief that gets seen and supported, and most important, how to honor them in ways that actually help. Whether you're carrying fresh grief or old grief that never quite got processed, this is a space where your feelings make sense and your losses count.

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We will share a recording of the discussion portion for those who sign up - but the live Q&A will not be recorded so participants can freely share.

Once you have made your $10 donation, we will email you the Zoom link for this event.

Thank you for supporting the PAC! We are advocates for R+ canine professionals.

Disclaimer: This PAC-sponsored event is for educational purposes only. If you are in need of professional help from a qualified mental health professional, please visit the resource section of our PAC website: www.phenixadvocacycenter.org/resources

Let's Get Real PAC Chat: Losses That Don't Get Flowers: Disenfranchised Grief in Animal Care

By Phenix Advocacy Center for Canine Professionals

Let's Get Real PAC Chat: Losses That Don't Get Flowers: Disenfranchised Grief in Animal Care

Grieving the loss of an animal who was in your heart, but not part of your household. This grief is real. Let's talk about it and help one another heal.

Team Members