Tag Archives: losing a pet

Pet Bereavement Photography

The other day my friend Karen and I had a chance to catch up. I asked her about recent jobs she and Michael have done (they’re pet photographers) and she shocked me by telling me they’d gone with another friend who was having her dog put to sleep to photograph that. Now, they were very close friends with this person and I can understand going for support, but to catch the moment on film? That really shook me up. I admitted as much. “I know it sounds a little weird, but Donna got the idea because they’ve done some infant … Continue reading →

Going Above and Beyond

What have you done for your pets that pushes your boundaries? What have you done that you consider above and beyond the call of pet parenting? We all have our limits for things that are okay and not okay… what pushes your limits? I ask because my friend J. (who is an amazing jewelry artist) recently found out that her dog is on limited time. Cana suddenly became very lethargic and stopped eating. The veterinarian ran some tests and found that the dog was extremely anemic thanks to advanced cancer. The prognosis isn’t good — Cana may be around for … Continue reading →

Miko’s Personality Flaw

Four years ago today, my dog Miko passed away peacefully in his sleep. I’ve mentioned him here before — his adventures at the dog park, how he picked me out at the shelter, and our last days together. He was a great dog, full of personality and so very smart. He dazzled the family with tricks from the first night he was home. But if he had one flaw, it was in his digestive tract. When Miko was nervous… man that dog could pass gas! We first noticed it in his first few months with us. Miko could clear a … Continue reading →

Reusing a Lost Pet’s Stuff

This is just the first of a few blogs I’m planning about reusing the stuff that belonged to another pet. Valorie had asked me about preparing a tank to house a new type of aquarium pet, and I’ll get to that shortly — promise! (That conversation is also what led to the hysterical story of the Turtles in The Hood.) But the question got me thinking about reusing a pet’s stuff. I was devastated when my dog Miko passed away in September, 2003. I gave away what was left of his food and treats that same day — I couldn’t … Continue reading →

When Pets Pass: A Study in Grief

The topic of pets passing seems to be on many people’s minds lately. My brother-in-law recently informed me they lost their beloved 14-year-old Dalmatian, Alex. Over in the Families.com Pets Forum one of the members posted some sad news about her dog, Jax, who she recently discovered had Stage 2 cancer. Then Aimee posted a blog about her house rule (no pets are allowed to die) after a scare a friend had with her pet. When Budly, our cocker spaniel, died in 2000 it was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. He was my everything: my best … Continue reading →

The House Rule

Did you ever see a movie called “My Dog Skip”? I rented this one a few years ago and without giving too much of the plot away, was in tears at the end. In fact, I was still crying when I went to the video store to return the movie! Afterwards, I came up with a new house rule: pets are not allowed to die. Yes, I know this is a rule that’s going to get broken. But a girl can hope. The rule came up again today when a friend of mine had a bit of a scare. Her … Continue reading →

Memorializing Your Pet Becomes Big Business

The practice of memorializing pets dates back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians entombed cats alongside people in the pyramids. Ancient cultures in South America had special tombs for their dogs. Evidence goes back as far as ten thousand years to support pet burials and memorials. These days, we don’t necessarily have access to pyramids and fancy tombs for our friends at the Rainbow Bridge. That doesn’t mean you can’t memorialize your pet! A recent survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association found that one in ten dog and cat owners would buy an urn for their pet — … Continue reading →

Grieving For A Lost Pet

People grieve differently. Pets do too! Other pets in the family may respond differently to the loss of a companion. A surviving pet may: Pace the house or search for their missing friend Refuse to eat or drink Act listless and depressed Whimper or howl Change personality — an aloof pet may suddenly clamor for attention and affection or vice versa Regardless of how your pet expresses their grief, you need to try to give them more attention and affection. Make a fuss over your pet when you get home from work; you may want to leave a television or … Continue reading →

Saying Goodbye: The Rainbow Bridge

WARNING: If you have ever lost a pet, this might just make you cry. It makes me cry every time I read it. When my Miko passed away in September of 2003, I chose to have him cremated and have his ashes returned to me. The people at our veterinarian’s office were amazingly nice through the whole thing. Within a week after Miko’s passing, I got a call that he was ready to be picked up. I was expecting just a container of ashes. I got a lovely package with his ashes in a tin; a certificate promising that he … Continue reading →