A guided grief journal written for the loss of a pet — with separate editions for a dog, a cat, a horse, and for a pet in general.
The short answer. Still With Me is a guided remembrance journal with 80 written prompts across 9 chapters in 120 pages, sized 6 × 9 inches, in paperback at $29.99 or hardcover at $39.99. For the loss of a pet there are four editions: Dog, Cat, Horse, and a general Pet edition. Every copy is printed to order in the United States and ships within 3–5 business days.
A note before anything else
People will tell you it was just a dog, and some of them will mean it kindly. It was not. For many people a pet is the relationship with the most daily contact in their life — the one who was there every morning, through the illness, through the divorce, through the year nobody else saw. Grief that the world does not treat as legitimate is harder to put down, not easier. Nothing on this page suggests writing makes it smaller; it is only somewhere to put it. If today is unbearable, please look at our help page; in the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be called or texted at any hour.
Which pet loss edition to choose
| Edition | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| For the Loss of a Dog | The prompts say dog throughout — the walks, the greeting at the door, the last morning. |
| For the Loss of a Cat | The prompts say cat throughout — the chosen spot, the routine, the particular way they were only yours. |
| For the Loss of a Horse | The prompts say horse throughout — the years of care, the riding, the yard. |
| For the Loss of a Pet | Any other animal, or you are buying as a gift and do not know. Neutral wording throughout. |
The named editions use their name back to you rather than the word animal, which is most of the difference between a journal that reads as personal and one that reads as generic.
What is inside
The same nine chapters run through every edition, written to be worked through slowly rather than finished:
- Who you were — their character, their habits, their voice
- Our beginning — the earliest things you remember
- Everyday moments — the small ordinary things that go first
- What you taught me — what you carry from them now
- The hard parts — the last months, the things left unsaid
- What I miss — named plainly, without tidying it up
- Letters to you — open pages for writing directly to them
- Carrying you forward — rituals, dates, what stays
- Still with me — where you are now
Every prompt is a question with room to answer, not a blank page, and nothing has to be answered in order. The full specification and a comparison with a blank notebook is on the guided journal vs blank notebook page.
Try the prompts before you buy anything
There is no need to buy a journal to start writing. We publish free prompt sets for this loss, with a printable PDF at no cost:
- 25 pet loss journal prompts, with a free printable PDF
- 25 grief journal prompts grouped by relationship
If you want the reasoning behind the practice first, read our gentle guide to grief journaling and what research says about writing through loss.
Giving it to someone whose pet died
Pet loss is the grief people most often apologise for feeling, which is exactly why a gift that takes it seriously lands so well. It asks nothing of the person who receives it — no reply, no thank-you note, no using it — and it still makes sense months later, when everyone else has stopped mentioning the animal by name. Our sympathy gift guide covers what to write in the card, and the gift sets page pairs a journal with a memorial candle. Shipping is $6.49 within the US and Canada and $9.00 to the rest of the world.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best grief journal for the loss of a pet?
One written for that specific animal rather than for grief in general. Still With Me publishes separate dog, cat and horse editions plus a general pet edition, each with 80 prompts across 9 chapters in 120 pages, in hardcover or paperback.
Which edition should I buy for a rabbit, a bird or another animal?
The general pet edition. Its wording stays neutral throughout, so it fits any animal, and it is also the right choice when you are buying as a gift and do not know what they had.
Is it normal to grieve a pet this hard?
Yes. A pet is often the relationship with the most daily contact in a person's life, and the loss removes an entire daily structure at once. That the grief is socially underestimated tends to prolong it rather than shorten it.
Can I use it after putting my pet to sleep?
Yes, and the chapters on the hard parts and the things left unsaid are written with that decision in mind. Guilt after euthanasia is one of the most common things people write about, and there is room for it here.
How long does it take to arrive?
Every copy is printed to order in the United States and ships within 3–5 business days. Shipping is $6.49 to the US and Canada and $9.00 to the rest of the world.
Is journaling a substitute for grief support?
No. Writing can give grief somewhere to rest, but it is a personal practice, not a treatment. Pet loss support lines and groups exist and are worth using. Our help page lists places to turn; in the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be called or texted at any hour.
See all twenty editions on the shop editions page, or find the right one on who it is for. Prefer the illustrated overview? Visit the pet memorial journals page.