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Grieving the loss of a pet...
by David Messer, Founder

The loss of an animal companion can take a toll on both the pet's family members and any additional pets in the family. This website was founded in memory of the recent loss of our beloved companion of ten years, Cookie (a bassett-beagle mix). As a child I experienced the death of our family dog, Tip. At only ten years of age when our dog was poisoned by a disgruntled neighbor, it was tramatic and confounding lesson learned for my family. Later, while I was in junior high school, I had to put our dog, Rip, to sleep after a massive heart failure from heartworms (before the common application of heartworm prevention).

The sorrow and pain of loss experienced as a child and young teen are no different than those I've experienced recently as an adult. Grief can even be seen in our pets that have spent time with a litter mate or another household pet member for years; as observed in our dog, Dixie, who still paces the yard waiting for her sister to come galloping home.

These are depressing stories but a part of life we most must go through as we typically outlive our pets. So how do we prepare ourselves and our families to cope with these events?

To begin, there are several professional resource websites online that provide advice and services to assist with the loss of an animal companion.

Resource Sites:
Humane Society (HSUS) - Kindred Spirits Memorial Program
Humane Society (HSUS) - Honoring Your Pet's Memory

We all wish we could prolong our pet's lives and many of us go to great lengths financially and emotionally to do so, however there are no guarantees.

Following these simple preventative measures may prolong your pet's life;
• Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly
• Watch for signs of change in your pet's behavior or eating and drinking habits (we found out our cat was diabetic by the amount of water he was consuming)
• Maintain proper diet and medications for your pet as prescribed by your veterinarian
• Keep the name and number of your local emergency veterinarian/clinic close by on the fridge or by the phone
• Purchase safety-designed devices such as break-away collars for your pets
• Check escape access points around your yard or house (doors that open easily, holes in or underneath fences, etc.)
• Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date and make sure your contact information is on the pet's collar along with the county vaccination tag
• Pet insurance, yes there is such a thing, check with your veterinarian.

With love and care, we will bring as much joy into our animal companions' lives as they have brought into ours; no matter how long they are with us.

Quotes:
"Heaven goes by favour. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." - Mark Twain

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
- Will Rogers, 1897-1935

A STUMP FOR A TAIL
You can't buy loyalty, they say.
I bought it though, the other day.
You can't buy friendship, tried and true.
Well just the same, I bought that too.
I made my bid...
and on the spot bought love and faith...
and a whole lot of happiness.
So all in all the purchase price was pretty small.
I bought a single trusting heart,
that gave devotion from the start.
If you think these things are not for sale,
buy a brown-eyed puppy...
with a stump for a tail.
- Author unknown

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