Fairhaven Memorial Expands Free Pet Grief Support Group into South Orange County

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. - March 9, 2016 - PRLog -- A Pet Loss Support Group for South County residents struggling with the pain of losing their beloved dog or cat will begin Wednesday, March 16, sponsored by Fairhaven Memorial Services (http://www.dignitymemorial.com/fairhaven-memorial-park-mortuary/en-us/index.page) in Mission Viejo. The no-charge, three-part series is an extension of the program which began in 2015 at the historic Fairhaven location in Santa Ana.

“When we started our pet grief support group in Santa Ana last year, we were quite surprised at the response. People were so relieved to be able to share their grief with others who understood their own pain. And even those who couldn’t attend thanked us for doing this,” said Marla Noel, president of Fairhaven. “We realized that bringing this resource to our Mission Viejo facility, for animal lovers in South County, was an important resource we could provide.”

The monthly support group will meet at 6 p.m. on three Wednesdays: March 16, April 20 and May 18. Topics include grieving the loss of a pet versus a person, reactions and emotions to pet loss, and support for grieving.

A Fairhaven grief recovery specialist, certified through the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement (http://www.aplb.org/), will lead each session and engage with participants to help them come to terms with their loss. Participants will discover that there are both tears and laughter, plus shared fond memories of their furry loved ones.

With locations in Santa Ana and Mission Viejo, Fairhaven has a respected history of community involvement and support. The 105-year old memorial park created the Pet Loss Support Group in 2015 to expand its existing grief support services to a new, underserved population.

To register for an upcoming session, contact Ruth Velez at ruth.rincon@dignitymemorial.com or call (714) 633-1442 ext. 229.

About Fairhaven

Founded in 1911 by Oliver Halsell to provide a peaceful and comforting place for families to honor their loved ones, Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary is Orange County’s most beautiful full-service mortuary, crematory and cemetery. With the memorial park and mortuary in Central Orange County (http://www.dignitymemorial.com/fairhaven-memorial-park-mortuary/en-us/index.page) and an elegantly appointed mortuary in South Orange County (http://www.dignitymemorial.com/fairhaven-memorial-park-mortuary/en-us/index.page), Fairhaven provides funeral, cremation and burial services both at the time of need and through advanced planning, maintaining its steadfast commitment to care and compassion. Fairhaven is dedicated to celebrating the individual, providing services that are as unique and wide-ranging as the people they celebrate. Additional information is available at http://www.dignitymemorial.com/fairhaven-memorial-park-mortuary/en-us/index.page. Connect with Fairhaven at www.facebook.com/fairhavenmemorial or www.twitter.com/fairhavenoc.