Losing a pet is one of the hardest things that some people will ever cope with. To most people, pets are family members, and losing one is just like losing one of your close family members. It can truly feel like losing a child to some. Having worked in the humane society world for years I know all about the joys, frustration, and pain that our animals bring us. Pets are there for you when others are not. That pet may have been their only true companion. The fact that these pets were always there for them may have made them more valuable to them than their human friends on a daily basis and in moments of crisis. The deep sense of grief experienced by some pet owners is beyond what many other people understand. The depth of the emotional pain we experience after any loss is directly related to the power of that relationship in our lives. It is difficult to imagine how painful the grief of the loss of this companion is to the griever if we have never had a similar attachment to an animal. If a close friend of yours (or a family member) has recently lost a pet, there are ways that you can help them get through this stressful and emotional time for them. Here are a few ways to help a friend through the loss of a pet:
Without loss there is no life, but it stings, doesn’t it?Category: Pets
Pets make the house a home.
Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens, kitten fostering 101
If Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens came with an audio soundtrack it would be the sound of elementary aged children laughing, oohing, squealing and ahhing. Then there’d be nothing, because they’d be too occupied with reading the book. This book knows its purpose, is squarely dedicated to that one segment and hits the nail on the head. Hannah Shaw is the founder of the 501c3 Orphan Kitten Club, has appeared on Animal Planet and provides rescue and adoption services to orphaned kittens in San Diego. This is a book that takes an honest, kid-friendly look at fostering kittens.
Cats, they’ve fascinated us since the time of the pyramids. This book is a go-to, kid-friendly way about being a kitten fosterCat’s Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Care-Vera Bradley bag #giveaway
June is National Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month. At our heart we’re a cat guy. If the internet had a sense of smell its number one use would be bacon, however, because it doesn’t its go-to calling is cat videos. Before being a dad I did PR for an animal shelter. During that time I learned lots about human behavior, various social media strategies as it relates to animals, animal control vs. a humane society and lots of other things. As part of Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month we’re giving away a Vera Bradley Camocat Tote courtesy of Oil-Dri Corporation of America.
Continue reading Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light Ultimate Care-Vera Bradley bag #giveaway
How Abby lost a leg, but gained a life and made ours better
I’m thinking about a teenager who I’ve never met. I don’t know anything about them other than the fact that they were almost hit by a car about 12 years ago. Were it not for a flat coat retriever and her love of children that car would’ve hit that child. It’s a dog story so unbelievable I wouldn’t give it a second glance, had we not lived with the dog for 12 years.
Continue reading How Abby lost a leg, but gained a life and made ours better
The Rainbow Bridge is not a sequel to the Rainbow Connection
To those without pets The Rainbow Bridge could be confused with the song from Kermit the Frog, The Rainbow Connection. In reality the rainbow bridge is a euphemism for a pet dying. If you’re like me then ‘sexual’ is often implied with euphemism, which is much more pleasant than this euphemism. In this case hide the sausage and feed the kitty take back seat to the more permanent process of putting a terminally sick pet to sleep.
Continue reading The Rainbow Bridge is not a sequel to the Rainbow Connection
Man’s best friend in the military,Dogs On Duty does it right
As a family we have two dogs. For five years I did social media and fundraising for an animal shelter. I’ve toured the dog training facility that trains most of the dogs that you see in airports. I know lots about dogs, but learned even more as to how helpful dogs can be in combat situations by reading Dogs on Duty. Continue reading Man’s best friend in the military,Dogs On Duty does it right
I’m co-hosting #DadChat 11/8 at 9 PM EST, all about Pets
Prior to being a stay at home day and social media guy I worked full time at an animal shelter doing their fundraising, PR, social media and basically whatever was needed. On Thursday, November 8 at 9:00 PM EST I’ll be combining my skill sets and co-hosting #DadChat where we’ll be talking all about pets. Continue reading I’m co-hosting #DadChat 11/8 at 9 PM EST, all about Pets
Children with dogs in the home have fewer health issues
A wonky study from Finland came out entitled, “Respiratory Tract Illnesses During the First Year of Life: Effect of Dog and Cat Contacts”. That title is academia speak for; ‘if you have a dog that goes outside it’ll be beneficial to the health of your child.’ Continue reading Children with dogs in the home have fewer health issues