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The grief of losing a pet is something only a pet owner can
truly understand. Animal companions share so much of our life, even if they
don't talk. Losing a pet can be unexpected or it could come in the form of terminal
illness. It might happen with death or divorce. Regardless of the way in which
you lose your pet, the loss is devastating. Only time heals the pain of loss,
but there are some things you can do to help the grief process.
Grieve. Grieving
a pet is natural. The important thing is to not hold it in. It is
acceptable to take a day or two off of work to help yourself greive. Though four-legged, this is a death of a
family member that you are dealing with.
 Memorialize. Life
is short, and some things are worth making some extra time for. Give your pet
some extra devotion in it's last weeks if you have that option. Once your pet
has passed away, memorialize the pet. This will help all family members to feel
like the pet remains part of the family – especially children. You can write
about what you love and miss about your pet, make a scrapbook, create Christmas tree
ornaments or other memorials of your pet. Many families decide to cremate the
ashes of their pet and keep the ashes in the home. This is up to you.
Give yourself time. When
faced with the loss of a furry companion, we not only miss the love and
affection of our beloved friend, we also miss the comfort that only a pet can
provide. This makes many rush right out and try to heal their wounds (or their
child's wounds) with a new pet. It's best to give yourself some space; allow
yourself and your family to grieve the loss and avoid attempting to replace
the pet. This new pet might become a scapegoat for the emotions of grief.
Experts recommend a 3-6 month minimum time for new pets, depending on how well
you've navigated the grief cycle.
Remember that the loss of your pet can happen suddenly. The
most important advice is to make the most of each day with your pet, with lots
of playing, petting, and getting cozy. As tiring as your pet's constant need for
attention may seem now, you may find yourself missing it one day.
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Before
you go to a pet store or a local breeder for a special type of dog,
consider adopting from your local animal shelter. These homeless
critters come in a variety of animal types, breeds, and ages. In fact,
your local animal shelter likely has a better selection of animals than
anywhere else. Most areas have several shelters to visit – a sad
reality of the misfortune that befalls many animals. Cats, kittens,
dogs, puppies and sometimes even rabbits, hamsters, gerbils and other
small pets can all be found in animal shelters. You are almost sure to
find someone that captures your heart.
The
animal shelter is your top source for a new pet. They have information
concerning each pet in their facility and are vested in ensuring that
the pet and owner are a good match with one another. While they might
look like a ragtag lot, pets at animal shelters are all screened for
good health and behavior. They will address any concerns with you and
most shelters work with troubled pets before adopting them out. Most
shelters will even help you with spaying and neutering.
When
you rescue a homeless animal you are giving it a new lease on life. As
with any new pet ownership, be sure to budget the expenses involved in
creating a new space, buyingg food, getting essential care items, and
the possibility of additional vaccinations that might be required. You
should also plan some extra time to spend with your pet. Likely, you
won't want to adopt a pet and leave it home alone the very next day.
Adopting a pet is a richly rewarding experience. With a little time,
care and patience, you can be sure that it is a smooth process.
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The next time you are heading out for the day, or maybe even
the night, consider taking your dog. More and more places are becoming dog
friendly. You probably won't be able to sit down at a restaurant with your dog,
but you may be surprised to discover that your favorite bar, store, or coffee
shop allows pets.
This trend will vary from location to location, but you can
still take Rover along on your next excursion. Go for a city walk to allow him
or her to greet new people if the animal is a social critter. Check out doggie
parks, or go for a hike on nearby trails.
If you'd like to run some errands and bring along some four-legged company here are
a few things to consider:
Doggie seatbelts. Yes, they make them, and are a great way
to restrain your pet and keep it from sustaining serious injuries in the case
of an unfortunate incident. Its also a good way to keep him from jumping out of
the window.
Don't leave them in the car. Not
even in cool weather. A cracked
window doesn't do that much to keep an automobile cool. A hot car is
like an oven, with temperatures that can rise by a startling 34 degrees
per minute! People have been known to break windows to retrieve
dogs in danger from hot cars, and if they don't do it the Humane
Society most assuredly will.
Tether. If you take
your pet into town, be prepared to tie him or her up if you are going to be
going into a store. Be sure to securely fasten the tether and ensure it is short
enough that your pet cannot run into traffic. You should not leave pets alone
in a crowd if they have any issues with any type of people. Give your pet
gentle reassurances and be sure to keep your eyes on your pet when you go into
the store.
There are plenty of
ways to include your beloved furry creature into your life. Many dog owners
enjoy an active healthy lifestyle with their dogs by their side. Talk to your
favorite establishments about allowing dogs - you might be surprised to find
that they do – or you may inspire them to start allowing dogs!
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If
you have ever traveled away from home and left your pet
behind you know it can be a nerve wracking experience. Determining what
to do
with your pet while you are gone is equally stressful, as there are
many
options – all with their own pros and cons. The decision will
ultimately come
down to what works best for your pet and what you feel most comfortable
with; armed with the right information you are better able to make that
decision.
 Kennel. Taking your pet to a kennel means that someone will be with him
more often, and there is likely easy access to a veterinarian in the
unfortunate event that your pet gets ill or injured. It is also the most secure
option for you, as you will not have liability concerns with your pet, nor will
you need to be concerned about someone in your house without you there. The
downside is that kennel's require additional vaccinations. Your
pet might feel additional stress at being in a different location and not
having their beloved human around. Usually, the boarding facility is adept at
dealing with these issues and will take extra steps to dote on your pet while
you are away.
Friends. Having a friend come over to watch the pet or paying a neighborhood kid to take care of kitty while you are gone is the most
affordable method, and is probably fine if you are gone for a night or two. The
problems you might run into are the experience level of the person taking care
of your pet. Dogs, for example, can get extra aggressive when you aren't home –
would the neighborhood kid be able to handle that? There are some additional
liability concerns as well. If your friend forgets to lock the door behind them
and things go missing, you have little recourse. Despite this, the benefits of
leaving pets at home are numerous. Pets are happier and experience less stress
at home, diet and exercise routines are uninterrupted, and a pet's exposure to
illness is minimized.
Professional Sitter. A
professional
pet sitter has the experience and qualifications necessary to
appropriately
care for companion animals. There are a variety of accreditation
programs available. Professional education and training in the care of
companion animals include topics
such as health and nutrition, canine and feline behavior, separation
anxiety
and pet loss. Professional Pet sitters might also be bonded and have
liability
insurance. These policies fully cover pets and property and provide pet
owners
peace of mind while they are away. Professional pet sitting companies
often screen their employees, allaying any security concerns. While
they cost more
than the neighborhood kids, the payoff could greatly benefit your pet,
particularly
in an emergency.
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Reasons Not to Get a Pet
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Baby Animals are Cute
Animal companions are a welcome addition to any family, and
as cuddly as a kitten, puppy, or bunny may be, they require a lot more than
affection as the years go by. Pet ownership requires a lot of patience, effort,
and money.
Christmas / Birthday
Gift
When you surprise a friend or child with an animal for a
gift, you should be positive that the person is ready, able, and willing to take
on the responsibility of feeding, training, and meeting the needs of an animal
companion. Kids in particular receive pets as gifts that they are not ready
for. If you want to get a pet for your child, start with something simple – like
goldfish.
Death of a Beloved Pet
When a pet dies, it's tempting to run out and fill the void
right away with a new pet. However, you'll soon be disappointed to realize that
your new pet is not the same as your deceased pet, and you may find yourself
neglecting your new pet. Give yourself the time and space to heal from your
loss before opening your home and heart to a new animal companion.
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Choosing the Right Pet Food
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Today there is a wide variety of food to choose from and a
lot of concern about food safety. With multiple pet food recalls occurring in
recent history, it can be daunting to make the right choice in pet foods. Here
are a few tips to get you started:
Talk to your veterinarian. Vets know pets, so its important
to check in with your pet doctor about the ideal food for your animal. They
will likely be up to date on food safety issues, and can recommend trusted
brands.
Consider the age and weight of your pet. Food for cats and
dogs come specifically formulated for kittens and puppies, senior pets, and
even overweight animals.
Pet's choice. Some animals prefer wet food to dry food, and
vice versa. Consult with your veterinarian regarding this, as there may be
reasons (such as dental care) for you to opt for one over the other. Often a mixture of the two is ideal.
With
some careful planning and the recommendation of your pet's
veterinarian, you can be sure to select the right pet food for your
furry friend.
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Heroic Pets
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Animal companions are incredibly heroic when it comes to
their beloved humans. Trained dogs protect us from bombs and toxic chemicals and
help to find missing or lost children among other things. Pet dogs are
notoriously a great security system, sensing dangers that not the human
eye nor ear, nor nose can sense. There are countless of heartwarming stories
of dogs protecting children by rescuing them when they fall into water or by keeping dangerous animals and people away.
Even cats are heroic. They might make a strange meowing
sound to alert you about a fire or a dangerous chemical smell, or make
ferocious noises about an impending intruder or dangerous animal nearby. Cats
can surprise you with their protective nature – and they often forget how small
they are when protecting their people.
It is mysterious what drives pets to be so protective of us,
and sometimes miraculous to think about how they sense danger before we
do, or are able to rescue a family member before we are. Pets truly are
our angels when
we need them the most.
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