Pet Caregiver Support Groups & Resources
About The Program
This program connects pet parents who are navigating chronic illness care for their dogs and cats. If any of these questions keep you up at night, you’re in the right place:
- Can I keep up with the cost of ongoing treatment?
- Is another round of testing or treatment the right choice?
- How do I know if we’re prolonging life or prolonging suffering?
- Am I making the right decisions for my pet?
- My dog gets terrified at the vet—am I traumatizing?
- When is it time to let go?
Whether you’re managing daily insulin injections, cancer treatments, kidney disease, heart conditions, caring for a pet who panics at vet visits, or facing impossible treatment decisions—you don’t need to be in crisis to join. You just need to be human.
The Caregiver Support Program is made possible by the Buffy Fund, named in honor of Buffy, Mollika’s companion dog, whose chronic illness journey was a reminder that caregivers need support too.
Because your emotional wellbeing matters as much as your pet’s medical care, and cost should never be a barrier.
How We Support Caregivers
Real Talk with People Who Get It
Monthly therapist-facilitated sessions and peer support groups where you can talk about the parts of chronic illness caregiving that others don’t always understand—the weight of life-or-death decisions, the guilt no matter what you choose, the decision fatigue, the financial stress, the anticipatory grief, the love that sometimes feels like too much to carry.
Practical Help, Not Just Sympathy
Access to workshops on quality-of-life assessments, navigating end-of-life decisions, financial planning for ongoing care, self-care strategies that actually work when you’re caregiving, and frameworks for making informed choices when there are no perfect answers.
Accessible to Everyone
Donate-what-you-can enrollment means you decide what you can contribute—whether that’s $5, $50, or nothing at all. All donations go directly to Diesel’s Footprint to support our programs and help other caregivers access the support they need. Professional mental health support should be within reach for every caregiver, regardless of financial circumstances.
Join From Anywhere
All meetings are virtual via Zoom—join from wherever you and your pet are most comfortable. No travel required, no need to find pet care, just log in and connect with your community.
Program Schedule:
Therapist-Led Group
1st Wednesday of each month, 6:00–7:00 PM PST
3rd Sunday of each month, 5:00–6:00 PM PST
Peer Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, 6:00–7:00 PM PST
To participate, you’ll need:
- To be the primary or co-caregiver for a pet dog or cat with a diagnosed chronic condition.
- Reliable internet or phone access for virtual meetings
- Willingness to maintain confidentiality and respect group guidelines
- To be 18 years or older