What are Joy Sessions?

Spending time now–in this moment–to love, celebrate,
and create lasting memories with your best friend.

Our Mission

To provide inspiration, resources, compassion, and JOY on your pet loss journey.

We believe that pets are family, and whether they've been with you a short time or a lifetime, saying goodbye is one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do. It's scary, and confusing, and it totally sucks.

Our carefully selected resources can help you make preparations, lasting memories, and the tough decisions. Find services near you in our growing business network, and share your experiences with others.

Let's navigate this journey together.

Every step of the way, we're here to help you feel:

Empowered

Resources, expert advice, and a network of caring professionals to help you make informed pet care decisions.

Joyful

Celebrate the JOY pets bring to your life, by being fully present and mindful with the time you have left.

Supported

Connect with others who have experienced pet loss, and learn how to cope with losing your best friend.

Explore our resources

Learn about holistic treatment options, quality of life and pain management, end-of-life care and ideas to remember and celebrate your best friend.

Memorialization Ideas

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Managing Grief

We're sad to report that we have a Boxer-shaped hole in our hearts. We let her go yesterday afternoon at home. It was peaceful, and she was surrounded by love. We’re so thankful we had the extra time to work on her “bucket list!” Read more ~ Jen + Jason

Talia, Boxer

Just writing to let you know that we had to say goodbye to Itch this weekend. It was very sudden and happened very quickly. Thank you so very much for the work you did for us. It has helped us heal in a way I never imagined. Read more ~ Marcy

Itch, Tuxedo Cat

Oh Sarah, the photos are simply remarkable. I can't tell you how much they mean to me now, and how many thousands of times I'll look at them in the future, and be taken right back to that sweet face. Read more ~ Rebecca

Harry, Rottweiler

FREE Grief Support Guide

Developed with a professional grief counselor,
this guide is essential for anyone who's lost a beloved pet.
Sign up for our mailing list to download it today!

Recent Blog Articles

Gracie’s Journey: After the Ophthalmologist Appointment

It's only been 7 weeks since it all happened, but it feels like much longer. We've all been learning to manage our new normal: putting rug treads on the steps, keeping any obstacles off the floor, watching Gracie closely on walks so she doesn't run...

Living with a Senior Cat with Arthritis

Guest post by: Rebecca Welters, pawsomekitty.com After many years of loving cat ownership, you may run into problems as your cat begins to age and reach the final stages of life. Living with a senior cat is challenging, but there are plenty of...

6 Natural Remedies to Strengthen Your Dog’s Immunity

Guest Post by Jenny Perkins As pet parents, we wish for our dogs to stay healthy and free from all sorts of diseases. But many of us may not be aware that the key to ward off infections and bacteria is having a strong immune system. Various factors...

Gracie’s Journey

It began with a hesitation. Just a little unsure about going down the stairs, or jumping out of the car. She’s older now, her eyes are getting a bit cloudy, but still look good; probably just a ubiquitous symptom of aging. Then came the behavior...

Abby Loving Boldly

Story Shared by: G, Chino, CA, US My baby girl, Abby, and I dress alike most days. One glorious day in Santa Barbara (although for some reason I did not remember to take our picture that day) we were walking along the Santa Barbara Harbor Pier and...

A Boy’s First Dog

Shared by: Andrea Webb, Palm Harbor, FL, US When my son, Ian, was twelve years old, we had to move to a new state due to a job loss. After packing up all of our possessions, we left Texas and began the long drive to Florida. Everything was...

About Sarah Beth

Minneapolis-based pet photographer, Sarah Beth Ernhart, created Joy Sessions® in 2010, after a particularly moving photo shoot with a service dog named Joy. Joy Sessions® – special photo shoots for terminally ill and elderly pets – are the heart and soul of her business. She’s been honored to provide this resource to hundreds of owners facing the impending loss of a beloved pet, and isn't planning on stopping any time soon. This website is her "pet project," connecting owners with helpful resources, a directory of services, and each other, to provide support on their pet loss journeys. Read more

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