About
Melanie Savage
As a Registered Social Worker with 16 years of extensive experience, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that companion animals have on human well-being. My practice is founded on the principle of honoring the human-animal bond, recognizing these relationships as among the most significant and influential connections in people's lives.
In 2024, I established a private practice dedicated to supporting
bereaved pet owners, addressing a critical gap in social work services. With the hope of providing a safe space for pet parents to feel acknowledged, I now spend time helping pet parents transition from a relationship of presence to a relationship of memory.
I bring a strong background in advocacy, education, and awareness which is best seen in my work facilitating lectures as well as Talk and Shares pertaining to the human-animal bond and navigating pet loss. My work has now extended to the veterinary community where I spend some of my time talking about the complexity of pet loss and the ways in which clinics can enhance support for pet parents pre and post loss, as well as amongst their teams contending with the loss of patients and their own companions.
I hold a Master of Social Work degree from Dalhousie University, where I focused the majority of my time researching ways to enhance support for human-animal relationships. My academic work included a collaboration with Community Veterinary Outreach, where I spearheaded a mental health and social support service for pet parents accessing the charity's Ottawa region clinics.
My hope is to provide high-quality, empathetic support to individuals experiencing pet loss, while also contributing to the broader field of social work through education, advocacy, and community engagement.
My Journey
As someone who has had the privilege of growing up with animals, I have encountered the inevitable challenge of bidding farewell to beloved companions. The loss of my soul cat in late 2021 was particularly devastating. While I knew it would rock my world, I was not prepared to have my core beliefs challenged, while also feeling like I had lost my identity and sense of purpose.
Teeka was unapologetically herself- something I only truly took notice of after her passing. She made me realize that as humans, we often have two selves: the self that we portray to the outside world that is "socially acceptable" and our truest form of ourself that we show our animals. This has stayed with me throughout my journey.
Like many companion animals, Teeka was present for significant milestones and challenging periods in my life. Her intuitive understanding of my needs and her constant presence made me feel unconditionally loved and supported. It was the most uncomplicated relationship I had experienced in my life. All she wanted from me was love, affection, and food. Always food.
In retrospect, I recognize the significant benefit that anticipatory support could have provided me in the remaining 11 months of her life while I acted as her caregiver. This includes:
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Exploring options for end-of-life care, including what the appointment could look like
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Processing difficult emotions and learning to better regulate my emotions during high stress moments
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Addressing personal needs and additional responsibilities during the remaining days, weeks, and months
Post-loss, I encountered difficulties in finding appropriate support. The complex and often conflicting emotions associated with this grief proved challenging to navigate. As a social work professional, I experienced additional layers of shame and embarrassment at my perceived inability to process this loss “effectively”. Over time, I learned to release the expectation of managing grief "correctly" and instead embraced the inherent complexity of the mourning process. This approach allowed me to:
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Develop a personalized grief blueprint
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Understand the emotions, thoughts, and subsequent behaviours that were a direct result of my loss
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Live with grief and joy simultaneously (this was a hard one!)
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Find a supportive community, and
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Grieve unapologetically
In the subsequent two years, I welcomed new animal companions into my life, only to face loss three more times (onset of sudden unknown illness with no treatment outcome, old age, and surrendering). These experiences, while painfully difficult, provided ongoing opportunities for growth and a deeper understanding of why these losses felt so different from one another as well as an awareness of what I needed to heal.
By leaning into this journey, I’ve discovered meaningful ways to honor Teeka's legacy. This private practice represents one of the many ways I have chosen to commemorate our relationship and the profound impact she has had on my life.
