DEAD Talks Grieving a Pet: Rainbow Bridge Raina on Love, Euthanasia & Healing (#208)
Grief isn’t just for people—it’s for our pets too. In this heartfelt episode of the DEAD Talks Podcast, David Ferrugio sits down with Jackie, also known as Rainbow Bridge Raina, a pet loss companion who helps people navigate the deep and often unspoken pain of losing a beloved animal.
From the soul-level bond she shared with her dog Riley, to the complex emotions of anticipatory grief and euthanasia, Jackie opens up about why pet loss can feel just as profound as losing a person.
In this episode, Jackie shares:
- Why the grief of losing a pet is valid and profound
- The emotional complexity of euthanasia and anticipatory grief
- How the human-animal bond shapes our healing
- Tools for coping with the loss of a dog, cat, or animal companion
- Ways to support others going through pet loss
If you’ve ever lost a pet—or want to better understand and support someone who has—this conversation is a powerful reminder that your grief is real, your pain is valid, and you are not alone.
For more on Rainbow follow her on Instagram @rainbowbridgeraina
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DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio engages death a little bit differently. Each new guest shares their experience with grieving or perspective on death in a way that shatters the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn't end; it evolves. Having lost his father on September 11th when he was 12, he learned the importance of discussion and sharing other people's stories. DEAD Talks Podcast hopes to make it a little easier to talk about grief, loss, death, mourning, trauma, or whatever it may be. You may cry, but you also may laugh.
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