Did you know that more than 20,000 people a month search for help coping with the heartbreak of losing an animal companion?
That number tells a powerful story. Grief after losing a beloved animal is real, intense, and often misunderstood. For many people, the loss of a pet is one of the most painful experiences of their lives. Yet society does not always acknowledge the depth of that heartbreak, which can leave grieving pet parents feeling isolated and unseen.
This is the work of Kaleel Sakakeeny, a grief educator, ordained pastor, animal chaplain, and Executive Director of Animal Talks. He helps people understand why losing a pet hurts so deeply and how true healing begins when we allow ourselves to feel grief
instead of burying it.
Why Pet Loss Can Feel So Overwhelming
When Kaleel lost his beloved cat Cairo, the grief shattered him. It did not feel like depression. It felt like heartbreak. But when he sought support, the system tried to medicate the pain instead of honoring it. Nothing touched the ache in his spirit.
That experience changed the direction of his life.
Kaleel went on to become a grief educator and animal chaplain, dedicating himself to supporting others who are grieving their animal companions. Today, through Animal Talks, his work reaches people around the world who are navigating painful loss and searching for meaning.
His message is simple and profound:
Grief is not a problem to solve. Grief is love trying to find a place to go.
Grief and Mourning Are Not the Same Thing
One of the most powerful distinctions Kaleel teaches is this:
- Grief is what we feel inside.
- Mourning is how we express it.
Grief only begins to heal when it is expressed. But in our culture, people are often encouraged to keep emotions quiet, stay strong, and move on quickly. Pet loss especially is sometimes minimized by others, even though the pain can be life-altering.
When grief stays locked inside, it lingers. When it has a voice, the heart slowly begins to mend.
The Loss of Ritual … And Why It Hurts Us
There was a time when communities gathered to mourn. Funerals. Wakes. Processions. Shared space for shared sorrow.
Today, grief is often private. Quiet. Hidden.
Kaleel believes that the disappearance of ritual has left many people emotionally adrift after loss. Ritual helps us:
- Externalize grief
- Honor the being we loved
- Create meaning
- Receive support
Without it, people often feel alone in their pain. And when the one they lost is an animal, that isolation can feel even stronger.
How Losing a Pet Awakens Deeper Grief
Kaleel has seen a fascinating pattern. Around nine out of ten people who come to him eventually realize that the loss of their pet has reopened unresolved grief from earlier in life. The passing of a beloved animal becomes the doorway into emotions that were never fully processed.
This is not a setback.
It is an opportunity for deep healing.
Grief rises not to harm us, but to be acknowledged, felt, and released.
Animals as Our Teachers and Healers
Kaleel describes animals as “the angels of our better selves.” They soften us. They stretch our compassion. They teach presence, patience, and unconditional love.
Sometimes people fear that when their animal dies, the softness will fade too. But grief does something beautiful when we allow it. It invites us to stay open rather than self-protective. To remain connected rather than shut down.
Grief itself is not what hardens us. Avoiding grief is.
Compassion Begins in the Smallest Moments
We do not need loss to learn compassion. It can begin in the simplest daily interactions. Kaleel often talks about something as ordinary as walking your dog.
Let it be their walk. Slow down. Notice what they notice. Respect their pace, especially as they age.
These tiny moments reshape who we are becoming. Compassion grows from awareness and presence.
How Meaning Grows From Loss
There is a question Kaleel encourages grieving people to sit with:
“What will you do with the gift your animal gave you?”
For some, the answer leads to volunteering. For others, writing. Advocacy. Service. Kindness. Presence.
Meaning does not replace grief. Meaning transforms grief into purpose.
It becomes a way of continuing the love.
Grief as a Gateway to Deeper Compassion
Something powerful happens when we allow ourselves to fully experience grief. Our compassion expands.
We begin to recognize animals not as property, but as emotional and spiritual beings with lives of their own. We see the depth of the bonds we share. And we often grow more conscious of the way all animals are treated, whether in homes, sanctuaries, or other settings.
Grief makes the heart more open, if we let it.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction
[03:30] Grief versus depression.
[08:45] The domino effect of loss and grief.
[14:00] Teaching the lesson of coexistence with all species.
[25:00] Healing ourselves to heal the animals.
[30:30] Creating a culture of compassion.
About Kaleel Sakakeeny, MA, MS
Kaleel Sakakeeny is a credentialed grief educator, certified professional life coach, and ordained nondenominational pastor who has dedicated his life to guiding individuals and communities through loss, healing, and transformation. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Kaleel serves as Executive Director of Animal Talks, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an international reach, including programs in Cape Town, South Africa.
At Animal Talks, he leads initiatives that provide compassionate grief support, with a special emphasis on the human-animal bond and the profound experience of pet loss. Under his leadership, the organization engages thousands worldwide through global Healing Circles, specialized workshops for veterinarians, faith groups, and nonprofit leaders, and community rituals such as animal blessings.
With advanced degrees in speech, communication, and performing arts, Kaleel integrates education, counseling, and pastoral care to create spaces of understanding and hope. He is widely recognized for his ability to blend faith-based and holistic practices with practical counseling, offering support that is both deeply spiritual and accessible. His media presence spans major outlets such as ABC, CBS, People Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Reader’s Digest, along with frequent podcast and print features.
Kaleel’s work continues to illuminate the psychological and emotional benefits of the human-animal bond, while raising awareness of grief’s impact and the healing power of compassionate connection.
About Cheryl Moss –
Cheryl Moss is the host of the Better Life for Animals podcast, where she shares uplifting stories from sanctuaries and highlights the work of vegan activists, ethical consumers, and animal welfare leaders. She is also the founder of the Funding Blueprint for Sanctuaries summit designed to empower those involved with sanctuaries sustainable funding streams.
A passionate advocate for animal welfare, she is dedicated to ending factory farming and is working to raise $100,000 for Mercy For Animals to support underrepresented sanctuaries.
Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she promotes plant-based living through her books, Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig, which inspire young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.
When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates, and spending time with her rescue dogs and grandchildren. Through her work, writing, and activism, Cheryl continues to inspire positive change for animals and the planet.
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