The Bello Project

Honouring the bond between a pet and their person

300,000 residents of Canada will be facing death this year. More than 1/2 of them are pet owners.

The Bello Project eases the worry of “what may happen?” for a pet owner with a terminal illness and of “what just happened?” for the pet when their owner dies.

About The Bello Project

The Bello Project’s mission is to bring comfort, support, and compassion to those facing the end of life, alongside their furry companions. Through this program, we provide in-home pet care assistance for pets whose owners are facing death, allowing them to remain together sharing companionship and love when it is most needed.

Along the illness journey trained Bello Project team members assist in a pet’s basic care needs. When the time comes, if there isn't a family member able to take ownership of the pet, The Bello Project works with the dying owner to find their pet’s next home. In this way, we can provide the pet owner peace of mind that their beloved pet is in the best possible hands.

This program is offered free of charge to those who need it and to any organization interested in taking the lead in bringing The Bello Project to their community.

Get Involved

Volunteer

PAWcasso’s Studio Volunteers: The Bello Project raises money with this paw-painting experience at festivals and events, and we always need animal lovers to assist pets with their art works!

Help provide pet care assistance for Bello Project clients’ pets in your community or, if you're an RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician), assist with training and on-going support for Bello Project Pet Care Volunteers.

Join our Bello Project Program Team and help build the capacity of this program including volunteer engagement, community outreach, agency partnerships and financial sustainability.

Complete your Post Secondary Education as our Program Manager. Ideally suited for someone currently enrolled in a Social Worker, Social Service Worker or Community Worker Program.

Join our Moonlit Memory Walk

Help us raise money for The Bello Project by joining our Moonlit Memory Walk, and celebrate the lives of parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and colleagues who have died. We also honour loved ones lost before, during, or after a pregnancy, the memory of pets that are no longer with us, and those who donated life-saving organs to others.

You can support our "Boxers Who Crossed the Rainbow Bridge" team, walking to honour our pets who have died. If there is a boxer in your life you wish to honour, join our team! If your furry or feathered loved one is a different breed or species, you can start your own team and bring others who are passionate about your kind of pet together under the full October moon.

Partner

Have you identified a gap in how your community / agency / organization approaches the pets of your clients or patients? If the answer is yes, then we want to partner with you. Visit our Community Partnerships Page to learn more.

We’re always looking for new pet-themed corporate or event partners to help us increase public awareness and fundraising for this important program. To inquire about partnership possibilities, please get in touch!

How The Bello Project Helps

In-home pet care

Some examples of services offered are: dog walking, pet grooming, litter cleaning and facilitating socializing between owner and pet. When required, transport to vet or grooming appointments may also be part of the in-home care.

Re-homing

The Bello Project works with the dying owner to find their pet’s next home. Applicants are secured and vetted with the owner making the final decision. When the new family is chosen the program works to slowly transition the pet to its new home, ensuring it remains with its dying owner until death occurs. When vital vet care is required to facilitate the adoption and the dying owner is not able to afford the care, The Bello Project offsets costs so that money does not become a barrier to the decision the dying owner makes.

Grief support

The person facing death, the family members struggling with not being able to take ownership of a pet, and even the pet, all need help processing their grief. One of the most unique aspects of The Bello Project is working with the funeral home to allow the pet time to spend with the body after death has occurred.

Bello Project training for frontline care staff and agency volunteers

As someone is nearing death there are many different care providers coming in and out of the home and interacting with the pets in the home. The Bello Project offers pet-care-specific training for those individuals. Having as many members as possible of a care team trained to assist in the pet’s care increases the ability to minimize the risk of a pre-mature separation of pet and owner.

Pet Lovers Death Cafe

For pet owners who have experienced the loss of a pet, HHA's Pet Lovers Death Café brings together the pet lover population so that the topic of pet death can be normalized and compassionately discussed through encouraging open and honest conversation.

Learn more about our Death Cafe programming or register for an upcoming date.

If you would like to inquire about The Bello Project's services in your area, please contact us at info@homehospiceassociation.com

Your donation will make a real difference in the lives of those who need us, allowing us to provide in-home pet care assistance for pets whose owners are facing death, so that they can remain together sharing companionship and love. Together, we can bring comfort and solace during this difficult time of transition.

You can also honour the memory of a loved one or beloved pet by making an "In Memoriam" donation to The Bello Project (a registered Canadian charity). We’re so grateful for your support - if you can donate, please do!

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Our Partners

We are incredibly thankful for the meaningful collaboration and generous support of our partners:

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