This study sought to discover how pet owners experiencing anticipatory grief can benefit from art therapy before and after the loss of an animal companion. The literature review provided information about the nature of  human/animal bonds, pet grief, the importance of the veterinarian at the end of life, and art therapy with grief. The nature of pet grief highlighting attachment theories and the tasks of grief are discussed and  considered in the design of the sessions. The study explored the answers to the questions: How could art therapy help pet owners in the grieving process during the palliative care of the pet? What are the benefits of exposure to art therapy directives for pet owners in different stages of grief? How might using art therapy before the end of the pet's life can help the owner cope better once the pet is gone?  Six participants were involved in this phenomenological, art based case study. Six of them experienced anticipatory grief, and during the period of the study, two participants experienced grief from the loss of their animal companion. The data collected for this study consisted of qualitative (interviews, and art) and quantitative (survey and questionnaire). The result indicated that art therapy could be very beneficial for the pet owner to connect more deeply with their grief and their animal companion. Art therapy exposure before the end of life of the animal companion provided comfort, healing, and memories, making art therapy a useful tool for processing pet loss. 

 

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