Pet Loss on Instagram, Podcast Interviews and more
For people grieving the loss of an animal friend
It’s been a while since I’ve shared a newsletter, but please know that I’m notified every time someone new subscribes. Whenever I see a new name, I think of all the heartbreak that person (and their family) is enduring, and I hold all of you, and your grief, in my heart.
New Podcast Interviews
I’ve done a number of interviews in the past eight months, all of which focused on grieving the loss of an animal friend/family member. Each interview has a slightly different focus:
The Stress Nanny, hosted by Lindsay Miller. In this interview, I talk about how the unique connections we have with the animals in our lives creates an equally unique type of grief, one that our culture often doesn’t recognize. This one is ideal for families with young or teen children, though I’d also like to believe it will be comforting for all listeners.
Dog Words, presented by The Rosie Fund. This was a beautiful conversation with host Phil Hatterman about the role of dogs in our lives, how to make the most of the time we have with canine family members, as well as coping with the pain after they’re gone. I recommend this for any dog lover, whether or not you’re experiencing acute grief.
A Conversation with Berns Galang — This wasn’t a podcast per se, but rather a video interview in which we discussed the joys of living with cats, as well as the challenges as they age, how to prepare for eventual loss—and what you can do after a loss to care for yourself or a friend.
Wake the F*ck Up — Despite the irreverent podcast title, this was a serious, warmhearted conversation with Lori Hoover about the animals we love and how to cope when they’re gone.
ICYMI: Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang Last fall, John Fugelsang interviewed me on his SiriusXM radio show about all things related to pets, pet loss and grief. I just discovered that I had the wrong link on the More Than Tuna website (🤦🏼♀️), so I’m including the correct link here.
Pet Loss Accounts to Follow on Instagram
I often say that I’m not a grief counselor; I’m just someone who has loved and deeply grieved a furry family member. When I started @morethantuna five years ago, there were no pet loss professionals on Instagram. Fortunately, that has changed. I recommend following these two accounts for empathy and support.
@petlosspsychologist is Katie Lawlor, Ph.D. She offers supportive, heartfelt memes as well as virtual grief counselling and other resources. Katie and I had a conversation on IG Live last winter; this is another conversation I hope will help many people during their grief.
@honoringouranimals is Beth Bigler, another professional pet loss grief counselor. Her videos are warm, empathetic and honest. As with Katie, Beth offers one-to-one support.
Please Leave Reviews
We have nearly 400 ratings and reviews on Amazon US. THANK YOU to all who have taken the time to rate the book and write reviews. If you haven’t, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased the book (Amazon, B&N, Chapters). These reviews help fellow animal lovers find the book. They’re particularly important on Amazon, which uses reviews to determine which books to recommend. Thank you in advance.
Are You on TikTok?
In the spring of 2021, a young man in Dallas created a TikTok about Tuna that went semi-viral (not quite a million views). I didn’t believe it when an IG follower told me about it! TikTok has become a major platform for book recommendations, so if you’re active on the platform and you feel inspired to talk about Tuna, we’d really appreciate it! I’m not very active on TikTok, but I’ll share any Tuna-related videos on Instagram and Facebook. Please let me know via DM on Instagram if you do create one (and thank you!)
Follow My Next Project: Living the Mess
Some of you know that I’ve been writing about practicing mindfulness and finding inner peace since 2014, on a blog called Living the Mess. I’ve often called P.S. I Love You More Than Tuna “Living the Mess through a paw-shaped lens.”
If my writing and worldview resonate with you, and if you’re (like me) looking for ways to find more inner peace and equanimity, I invite you to subscribe to Living the Mess. You can subscribe from the Home page or the sidebar on any post page (bottom of the page if you’re on a phone). Some recent posts include Five Practices to Connect More Deeply with Nature, Eight Tips for When You’re Feeling Meh, and How to Differentiate Between Thoughts and Feelings. The most popular post on the site is Learning How to Observe Thoughts.
You’re also invited to follow @livingthemess_ig and/or me (@sarahkchauncey) on Instagram
That’s all for now. I hope that each of you (and your loved ones) are staying as safe and well as possible. Remember to be gentle with yourselves and each other. 💙