Tameside woman offers lifeline to grieving pet owners with new bereavement counselling service

When Tracey Walsh lost her beloved dog Sunnie, she was plunged into a depth of grief she hadn’t anticipated and didn’t know where to turn.

“I’d never known pain like it,” Tracey said. “Sunnie wasn’t just a pet, he was my go-to, my comfort after long days working in healthcare. When he passed, I felt completely lost. And I didn’t even know pet bereavement counselling existed.”

Now, Tracey has turned her own heartache into hope for others. Through her new service, Paws of Comfort, she offers pet bereavement counselling to people struggling with the often-overlooked grief of losing a companion animal.

“People often think they should ‘be over it’ quickly or that their grief isn’t valid because it was ‘just a pet,’” she explained. “But pets are family. And grief is grief.”

Inspired by her own healing journey, Tracey researched and completed training in pet bereavement counselling, a natural extension of her healthcare background.

“It was during one of those tough days when I really missed Sunnie that I thought, what if this kind of support does exist? And it did. I threw myself into the training, and it was so healing for me that I knew I had to offer it to others.”

Tracey’s service is remote and tailored to each client’s comfort level. Support is available through phone or video calls, voice notes, email, text, even WhatsApp.

“Some people might not feel ready to talk, that’s okay,” she said. “I always say, if you just want to cry for the whole session, cry. If you can’t speak, I’ll speak, and you can just listen. It’s all about what helps them.”

Tracey is already receiving heartfelt feedback from the local pet community, from groomers, dog walkers, and pet supply shops who have seen first-hand the toll of pet loss on their clients.

“They see those pets regularly, they form bonds, too. So, when someone loses a pet, they often want to help, but don’t know how. Now they can pass on my details and know support is out there.”

She’s steadily building her online presence through Instagram (@pawsofcomfort_) and has been distributing cards and materials locally to raise awareness.

Paws of Comfort is more than a service, it’s a tribute.

“This is Sunnie’s legacy. It’s something I’m doing in his memory. He gave me so much love and comfort, and now I want to give that back to others.”

If you are interested in the services that Paws of Comfort offer, you can reach Tracey via Instagram @pawsofcomfort_ or by email at traceypawsofcomfort@gmail.com.

You can watch the full interview here, or catch it on Tameside Radio Thursday 24^th July at 7pm: