Jessica
End of Life Pet Doula

“To have loved a pet is to have known the purest form of love.” ~Unknown

An inevitable and heartbreaking part of loving a pet is that there comes a point in time when their short lives are nearing the end. Anticipatory grief and pet loss are painful experiences. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

I've been on this journey too.

As a Certified End-of-Life Pet Doula, I provide compassionate support, guidance, information, and advocacy to pet guardians and their animal companion during their pet’s final stages of life and beyond after loss.With empathy and understanding, I offer a comforting presence to pet lovers. Your beloved pet is an important part of your life. My hope is to help you feel seen, heard, and understood. From planning a peaceful goodbye, to holding space for all emotions that may arise, I am here to walk alongside you during this most difficult time.

• About Me
• Services
• FAQS
• Contact

My Approach

Listening & learning more. That is my first step in getting to know you and your treasured pet. My approach comes from my social work background and focuses on a strengths based belief system. You are the expert of your life and you know your pet better than anybody else. I recognize that we all need social support especially during difficult times and not everyone in your circle understands the human animal bond. Navigating the end of life with a dog or a cat is a disenfranchised type of grief, but you and I both know that our animal companions are beloved family members.

Jessica
End of Life Pet Doula

About Me

Hello, my name is Jessica LeBeau-Richman. I am a lifelong animal enthusiast who intuitively feels a connection to pets and the people who adore them. Understanding the human animal bond has led me to this work. My background in working with animals started in 2020 advocating & volunteering with homeless animals through the Voorhees Animal Orphanage. My support for animals in need continued when I began fostering for the Pennsylvania SPCA. I'm also a proud supporter of Pennsauken Community Cats & Tiny Life Rescue. In 2023, I deepened my love for pets by working as an independent, 5-star cat sitter in Southern New Jersey through Meowtel.After my soul cat, Sammy, began his slow decline in 2022, I felt a strong need to provide him with a peaceful goodbye. I wanted to love him & honor him until his last breath and beyond. I was fortunate to have the loving support of my family, friends, and our veterinary team. My goal is to provide comfort & support to grieving pet guardians to honor their bond & create a safe space to share their feelings about their beloved pet.I currently have 3 cats, Ralphie, Georgie, & Missy, who are my feline family members. They bring me joy, laughter, comfort, & peaceful purrs each day. I am a dog enthusiast as well and had the pleasure of growing up alongside 3 loving pups named Melanie, Sara, & Maggie.I hold a certification from the University of New England as an End-of-Life Pet Doula and am a Licensed Social Worker in the State of New Jersey. Additionally, I have earned a MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BA in Psychology from Rider University.

Jessica
End of Life Pet Doula

Services

Services are uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each pet guardian and their companion animal.

Jessica
End of Life Pet Doula

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Certified End-of-Life Pet Doula?
A Certified End-of-Life Pet Doula is a non-medical professional who provides compassionate support, guidance, information, and advocacy to pet guardians and their animal companion during their pet’s final stages of life and beyond after loss.2. When should I contact an End-of-Life Pet Doula?
Any time you would like to discuss end-of-life topics with a Pet Death Doula is a good time to reach out. Many pet guardians find it helpful to reach out when they notice their pet’s health declining. However, trust that you know yourself and your animal companion best, so whenever feels right for you is the optimal time to contact an End-of-Life Pet Doula.3. What can I expect from our sessions?
You can expect to be greeted with a calming presence. I have an open minded, nonjudgmental approach and I’ll make space for whatever feels most present in you & your pet’s life. Each pet guardian and animal companion are unique and I’ll tailor my services to best meet your needs. My hope for our time together is that you feel understood & supported as well as experiencing some emotional relief during this challenging time.4. How is an End-of-Life Pet Doula different from a Veterinarian?
End-of-Life Pet Doulas provide focused & dedicated nonmedical support to pets and their family. Veterinarians provide medical exams and treatment options typically in a more clinical setting. Often, general practice veterinarians are limited by the demands of a busy animal hospital and their expertise is in animal medical care. While veterinarians can be excellent sources of support as your pet ages, their focus is more on the medical aspect of your pet’s health. This can lead some pet guardians to seeking emotional support from other trained professionals who understand the human animal bond.5. What training and experience do you have?
I am a licensed social worker and a newly certified end-of-life pet doula. As a professional working in both nonprofits & social services for over 15 years, I’ve assisted many people & families with navigating a wide range of social challenges.I have earned a MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago and have a BA in Psychology from Rider University. Most recently, I obtained my certification as an End of Life Pet Doula from the University of New England.Additionally, I’ve completed the NASW-NJ Navigating Grief & Loss certificate program and am a former Mental Health First Aid instructor.Outside of my career, I have been volunteering at the Voorhees Animal Orphanage since 2020 with a focus on facilitating feline meet & greets and teaching Safe Cat Handling classes to new volunteers. I’ve also been working as an independent, 5-star cat sitter through Meowtel.6. How much do your services cost?
At this time, I am offering donation based end-of-life pet doula services.

Jessica
End of Life Pet Doula

Contact

E-mail: [email protected]
Phone/Text: 856-433-1778