Pet Loss: Strategies for Grief and Mourning
There are so many strategies that can help as you move through the grief of losing a pet. Here are just a few ideas to get you started: 1. Journaling: Writing about what you are feeling, writing a letter to your pet (or many letters), imagining what your pet...
The Pain of Pet Loss: What Can Help?
The intense emotional pain that comes with losing a pet can be an overwhelming experience, to say the least. If you’re navigating the grief process, the ideas below can help you find your way: 1. Know that what you are experiencing makes sense: You are not crazy. You...
Finding Pet Loss Support
If you are in the midst of the immense heartbreak of saying goodbye to a beloved pet, please know that you are not alone and there are supports out there that can help. Here are some options to consider. It’s important that you find what feels right for you. 1. Books:...
The Heartbreak of Pet Loss
I want to write about the emotional complexity of pet loss. Not only do we have intense feelings about losing our pets, but then we also worry and judge ourselves about having those feelings. I hear over and over again from people who are feeling bad or confused about...
Rehoming or Euthanasia and Behavior Problems
The last several posts have focused on what it is like to care for a pet with behavior problems. It’s crucial that part of that conversation touches on something many owners will reckon with – decisions about rehoming or euthanasia. Future posts will focus more in...
Acceptance, Expectations, and Loss When You Have a Pet with Behavior Problems
Getting a new pet is such an exciting time! We often have a whole bunch of hopes and dreams for the life to come – long walks with a new dog around the neighborhood, a pup who loves our kids, a kitty ready to cuddle up, a new furry family member who will integrate...
When Your Pet Has a Behavior Problem, Finding Support For Yourself
While finding help for your pet’s behavior issues is often the first step, I think it is equally as important for owners to have support specific to them and the ways caring for their pet is impacting their life. Below are three ideas of what that support could look...
When Your Pet Has Behavior Problems, Where Do You Find Help?
In an ideal world, the shelter, rescue organization, or breeder your pet came from will have a system of support available to assist you in getting the behavioral help your pet needs and your search will be done before you’ve even had to start! I’ve heard of wonderful...
Tips on When to Seek Help for Your Pet’s Behavior Problems
When you have a pet with behavior problems, finding help can be key for turning the tables and helping to make everything better. It can also be very daunting to begin searching for the help you need. Many pet owners I’ve spoken with have noted that it was finding the...
Caring For Yourself While Caring For Your “Special Needs” Pet
Caring for a pet with “special needs” can be really stressful. Last post we talked more about the different ways having a pet with behavioral special needs can impact an owner emotionally, in their day to day life, and in their relationships. Here are a few ideas of...