Pet loss resources · Louisville, KY
Pet Loss Resources For Louisville Families
Free pet-loss grief support is available in Louisville right now: the Tufts (508-839-7966) and Cornell (607-218-7457) pet-loss helplines, APLB's online chat, and the 988 crisis line for heavier moments. Kentucky allows home burial on your own property with specific depth and setback rules, and cremation is the alternative if that's not practical.
You can reach these today
Support & local help
Someone to talk to — free
If the grief feels heavy
- If you're feeling unsafe or in crisis, please reach out — free, confidential, 24/7.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Preferred Louisville vets
Local Louisville resources
Free to read & download
Gentle guides for the days ahead
A few free, independent resources many families find comforting in the first days and weeks — plus a booklet offered at no cost by Pet Passages, the local provider we recommend.
Coping with the loss
- ASPCA — Pet Loss Support
aspca.org · grief guidance & hotline info
- The Rainbow Bridge Poem
aplb.org/rainbow-bridge · a comfort many families return to
- "The Loss of a Pet" — Wallace Sife, Ph.D.
· widely recommended book on pet grief
Good to know
Thinking about home burial?
In Kentucky, you can generally bury a pet on your own property if you bury at least 5 feet deep and at least 100 feet from any water source, well, spring, sinkhole, or public roadway, within about 24–48 hours. Indiana allows it too, but rules vary by county (Marion County/Indianapolis prohibits backyard burial). Louisville Metro ordinances and HOA rules can add limits — check your local city or county ordinances and ask your veterinarian first. If home burial isn't practical, cremation lets you keep your pet close wherever you live.
Keeping them close
Gentle ways to remember your pet
Memorial keepsakes & urns. If you'd like a lasting way to honor your pet — urns, jewelry, paw-print keepsakes and more — you're welcome to browse the memorial products offered by Pet Passages Louisville.
Browse Memorial Products →
Talking with children about pet loss. Be honest and simple; avoid phrases like "put to sleep," which can confuse young children. Let them ask questions, include them in a small goodbye if they want, and reassure them that all feelings are okay.
You don't have to face this alone
When you're ready to talk to someone, the local provider we recommend — Pet Passages Louisville — answers 24 hours a day, gently and at your pace.
Call (502) 793-5154
or reach Pet Passages →
