Beyond Pet Care
Where has the compassion gone?
This post was written by Brien, who is a pet bereavement counsellor from Pet Loss Canada. Read Brien’s other articles WARNING — THIS POST DEALS WITH ANIMAL ABUSE AND EUTHANASIA AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL READERS. Recently, on CNN, I watched a report shot in Philadelphia, Penn. A person, or persons unknown, are pouring combustible materials on animals, usually dogs, and then lighting them afire. There was one animal that, even though being dead, was burned beyond recognition. But, lest we look at others and point fingers — we must also look at animal shelters that euthanize healthy living animals for a “lack of room” — not because...
Read MoreOur Angels | Tigger
This post was written by Claudia Gale Email: claudia@bittypaws.com Read Claudia’s other posts Our Angels is an ongoing series where we honour cherished pets who have passed away. Today’s angel is Tigger, a gorgeous kitty who brought so much joy into Claudia and Cleo’s lives. Tigger was an excellent cat. From the very beginning there was something special about her. We adopted her from a shelter where I volunteered, and she instantly bonded with a family full of people and many pets. Tigger became buddies with our dog and our other adopted kitties. She made a best friend who remained very close to her until the day she died – Cleo, another stray...
Read MoreAnticipatory Grief: When it’s gone too far…
This post was written by Brien, who is a pet bereavement counsellor from Pet Loss Canada. Recently I have been working very intensively with a family that is experiencing Anticipatory Grief. Many of us are aware that, if practiced in the proper way and with guidance, the overall experience may lead to a reduction in post-mortem grieving and mourning. BUT, simply because individuals and families have the opportunity to become aware of what is to come, can have its own tragic turns. For, one thing that we do know for certain, is that if Anticipatory Grief goes on for an extended period of time it can be incredibly counter-productive for all concerned. Such is the...
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