When The Greatest Bond Is Broken

Saying farewell to a pet, for whatever reason, can cause untold grief. But many don’t understand the bond between owners and pets. Maria McCarthy speaks to those who are there to help at the hardest of times

In 2013, Lesley Winton, 51, experienced the heartache of losing her beloved Labrador, Holly. During low times, she called the Blue Cross charity’s Pet Bereavement Support Service (PBSS), which is a free service manned by volunteers. It provides emotional support and information via phone or email to anyone who is affected by the loss of a pet.

‘I reached out to the PBSS as I was struggling with my grief,’ Lesley, from East Lothian, Scotland, admits. ‘I found it invaluable as it really helped me come to terms with losing Holly and to accept things.’

Holly was a rescue dog adopted by Lesley in 2008. Poorly treated, the dog had been used to breed many litters of puppies and was overweight.

‘She could hardly walk and needed lots of medication,’ Lesley explains. ‘But Holly came into my life when I’d been made redundant from my job at an animal welfare charity and was feeling depressed. She was a wonderful companion and we had five years together – we even inspired each other to lose 3st apiece!