Welcome to Bittersweet

About BitterSweet

BitterSweet supports the human-animal relationship during the difficult period of the animal’s end-of-life. This period of time can be consuming with emotional and practical challenges around the animal’s physical changes, but with support, it can also be a time of unique closeness and emotional honesty that transforms the experience into a special, albeit still difficult, time. BitterSweet’s services include providing people with information so they can make care decisions that are best for them and their animal, assist them in communicating with their chosen veterinarians, and support them during their grieving process. In all that we do, we are committed to respecting and supporting each client’s unique relationship with their animal. We do not provide medical advice or medical care, and we do not advocate any particular methods (natural process or euthanasia at some point).

We know from our experience with our clients that being able to reachout and make contact during the pet loss makes a difference in the quality of their time together. In our society, the dying process has been removed from our view for the most part, and it can be frightening to observe, on top of anticipating the loss of a special bond with an animal. For children, as well as for many adults, it’s often their first experience with death. Some of the areas BitterSweet supports are assisting people in finding the key deciding factors for themselves about whether, when and where to euthanize; finding and putting in place the practical support they need for managing care; assisting them in asking for medical information and options their vet can provide; addressing their pain and their animal’s pain; and ease the feeling of isolation throughout the dying and grieving processes.

BitterSweet offers Healing Memorial Workshops at various locations, including the Marin Humane Society.  Workshops run 4 to 5 hours on a Saturday or Sunday. In this workshop we delve into the nature of grief. We discuss the feelings that you may experience, including shock, anger, difficulty in focusing and sleeping, physical pain, sadness and many, many others. We provide methods of coping with these feelings and of dealing respectfully with others who may not acknowledge or understand the depth of your loss.

Memorials come in many forms, some very direct and some more subtle that may only be significant for you. We discuss what memorials mean to us and ways of creating memorials both from mementos and things that simply express the way you feel in the moment. You will also have an opportunity to share the story of your unique animal if you choose to.

This is not an art class and no skills are necessary!

This workshop is held monthly at various locations. For additional dates, other workshops or for reservations, call (415) 760-9462. Some reduced rates may be available.

Click here for Services Offered
Click here for information about caring for a dying animal
Click here for information about caregiving
Click here for information about anticipatory and realized grief and loss
Click here for information about children and grief
Click here for information about opening up to another animal
Click here for information about supporting friends through loss