For many people, losing a pet is as painful and heartbreaking as losing a human member of their family.

Now a former senior executive with retail giants like Tesco and New Look has realised that there are too few specialist counsellors who can help grieving owners through that difficult time.

Businesswoman Tracey Peters has launched a new venture as a pet bereavement counsellor after spotting a gap in the market that desperately needs filling.

Dorset-based Pets Past and Present aims to help guide people through their mourning period and Tracey first realised people needed a special service when she was counselling an elderly gentleman with cancer.

Tracey explained: “We spent the first three sessions talking about nothing but his cat – the best part of three hours over three weeks. So I went to see if I could find him some specialist support and I realised there really wasn’t any. There are numerous services to help people when they lose a loved one but very little in the way of help and support when pets die.

“As an animal lover and someone who has had pets all her life, I thought that was a bit odd and that it was something that really needed addressing.”

Tracey has been training as a bereavement counsellor for five years and has worked with many different clients.

She said: “If you think about it, anyone who has a pet has to face up to the prospect of losing them at some stage and that can be absolutely devastating. And that’s before you even begin to talk about trauma of putting your pets to sleep. That can be incredibly traumatic. Not just going through that experience but also the questions around it. ‘Did I do it too soon? Did I leave it too late?’”

And it isn’t always simply about a pet dying. Some people are separated from a pet through a divorce or because they are going into a nursing home and can’t take their pet with them. They may have been happy companions for many years.

Tracey’s business also offers services to veterinary practices and she is currently working with the College of Animal Welfare to develop a course for veterinary nurses.

“Veterinary practices offer very professional medical services however investing in a professional training course around pet bereavement will ensure staff always offer a really caring and compassionate service.”

The name Pets Past and Present has been deliberately chosen to reflect how animals remain part of their owners’ lives, even after they passed away.

“We often talk about them as though they are still here, still part of the family,” said Tracey.

The businesswoman lives with her husband Michael in the Purbecks and the couple have a rescue German Shepherd, Bonnie, and two cats, Boris and Billy.

Counselling sessions are offered in person at Tracey’s home or the client’s, on the telephone or by Skype.

  • For more information, see petspastandpresent.co.uk, facebook.com/petspastpresent