Understanding Animal Ministers and Chaplains

Twenty years ago the idea of an animal minister or chaplain would have induced a fit of the giggles. These days if you say something about an animal chaplain, you are likely to be asked where a person might find one. Animals have become the cornerstone of many of our lives and these spiritual leaders don’t preach to pets, but rather assist others in finding meaningful way of living with animals.

What is Animal Ministry?

Animal ministry is actually about people and how we interconnect with the animals around us. Most religions have traditions regarding the spirituality of animals and that intersects with human life in a positive way. Some would argue that in American culture, this reverence for feathered, furred and scaled creatures has disappeared. This is where animal ministries step in.

To read more on this story, click here: Understanding Animal Ministers and Chaplains

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These Are the 15 Longest Living Dog Breeds, Because You Want as Much Time as Possible with Fido

Dogs live forever, right? Right!? Unfortunately, like humans, dogs are mortals. Anyone who has lost a pet knows how heartbreaking it is to say goodbye. They are truly family members. If you’re someone who hates goodbyes or simply wants a companion for as long as possible, look into the longest-living dog breeds. On average, domesticated dogs live about ten years, but the dogs on our list have been known to live well into their teens. You’ll notice most of these pups are on the smaller side. While breed alone isn’t going to tell you how long your dog will live, it can give you a pretty good idea.

To read more on this story, click here: These Are the 15 Longest Living Dog Breeds, Because You Want as Much Time as Possible with Fido

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'Goodbye kisses': Alabama animal hospital gives dogs taste of chocolate before euthanasia

(Meredith) – A bittersweet photo from an Alabama veterinary hospital has gone viral amongst animal lovers on Facebook.

The photo from Smiths Station Animal Hospital in Smiths Station, Alabama shows a jar of Hershey’s kisses with the words "goodbye kisses" labeled on the jar. The photo's caption reads, "This jar is reserved for our euthanasia appointments...because no dog should go to Heaven without tasting chocolate."

To read more on this story, click here: 'Goodbye kisses': Alabama animal hospital gives dogs taste of chocolate before euthanasia

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Top-Selling Flea & Tick Collar Linked To Several Pet Deaths, Illnesses

Because fleas and ticks prove more than a minor nuisance to our dogs, there are many products out there aimed at keeping them away. However, some flea and tick collars that release pesticides onto your pet can actually be dangerous themselves.

The pesticide used in Seresto collars is supposed to kill fleas, ticks, and other pests while being safe for dogs and cats to wear. They’re designed to work for eight months, releasing small amounts of pesticide at a time. Seresto collars may be a top-seller on Amazon, but there have been several injuries and even pet deaths linked to them.

To read more on this story, click here: Top-Selling Flea & Tick Collar Linked To Several Pet Deaths, Illnesses

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Dog's Heartfelt Obituary Goes Viral: 'He Was Best At Unconditional Love'

A very good dog got one last special treat from his favorite human.

Charlie, a beloved golden retriever, was the first dog Sallie Gregory-Hammett of Greenville, South Carolina, ever had on her own. Gregory-Hammett, 30, got Charlie when she was 23, single and had just moved to a new city.

“I know it’s cliché but he was my best friend,” Gregory-Hammett wrote to HuffPost. “He went with me everywhere —work, hiking, trips to Home Depot. He was just a constant source of comfort and companionship and joy. Everyone that knew me knew Charlie and knew how much I loved him.”

To read more on this story, click here: Dog's Heartfelt Obituary Goes Viral: 'He Was Best At Unconditional Love'

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The State of New York Has Passed a Law Allowing People to Be Buried Beside Their Pets in a Human Cemetery

Options used to be limited for people who wanted to be buried with their fur babies. Basically their only choice was to be buried in a pet cemetery if that’s what they wanted.

But if people can be buried at a pet cemetery, than why can’t pets be buried at a human cemetery?

It’s a question that one state is answering with a new law.

New York is changing up the rules when it comes to pets and where they’re allowed to be buried. They passed a law that allows people to be buried alongside their pets if they so choose, in a human cemetery. And the law isn’t just limited to dogs and cats. It allows for a range of different animals to be buried with their owners.

It’s a decision that many pet owners are applauding, as their fur babies are part of their family. There are some exemptions to the law, of course. Religious cemeteries don’t have to comply with this new law, and individual cemeteries can still choose to refuse to bury any pets if they so please.

A pet cemetery in Westchester County stated that, every year, at least five people choose to be buried with their pets in their cemetery, rather than being apart from them in a human cemetery. It’s a way for them to stay close to their loved ones even after they’re gone.

New York is finally allowing pet owners to rest in peace next to the living creatures who provided so much comfort, companionship, and happiness during their time on earth. After all, it doesn’t quite make sense that humans could be buried in pet cemeteries, but not vice versa.

Sometimes family is who we choose, not who we’re blood-related to — and that applies to our pets too. Pets are family. Why make such a distinct separation between what constitutes as family?

With New York leading the way, hopefully other states will fall in line and create similar laws.

For some people who wish to be buried with their pets, they have to resort to somehow sneaking them into the cemetery. This can be dangerous for the friends or family members who are asked to do this after the pet owner has passed away.

But now, in New York at least, there doesn’t have to be any slinking around in a cemetery, performing secret burials for loved ones. You and your pet can be together forever, if you want to!

Again, each cemetery must agree to let you be buried with your pet — it’s their right to opt out. However, for people whose pets are family, it’s certainly a step forward.

New laws seem to crop up all the time, and they can be confusing — but this is one law that many of us understand the importance of.

Share this information with the animal lovers in your life who want to be buried with their pet family.

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People Need To Be Taken Seriously When They Grieve The Death Of A Pet – Here’s Why

One of the most difficult days for any pet owner is the day their pet passes away. That’s because pets are more than just furry creatures that live in our homes — they’re part of our families.

If we take a moment and think deeply about our relationships with our pets, it’s easy to see why they’re so beloved. If we’re upset or depressed for any reason at all, our pets can often cheer us up. Their loyalty and devotion are unmet by most humans, and they each have their own personality.

Because pets play such a pivotal role in our lives, our grief when we lose them is genuine and devastating. For most pet owners, our emotional ties to our pets are powerful.

But there are some people who don’t understand that grief, often because they have no pets of their own and simply don’t quite understand the pull they have on our lives. In turn, they don’t understand the empty spot in our hearts that immediately appears when they pass away.

When someone you know is grieving the loss of their fur baby — which is bound to happen, as their lives are impactful but far too short — here are a few tips to keep in mind:

To read more on this story, click here: People Need To Be Taken Seriously When They Grieve The Death Of A Pet – Here’s Why

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‘Boo,’ Crowned The ‘World’s Cutest Dog,’ Dies Of A Broken Heart At Age 12

LOS ANGELES (CBS/CNN) — Get your tissues ready. If the January blues hadn’t already got to you, the world’s cutest dog, Boo, has died of a broken heart.

The Pomeranian Boo and his companion Buddy, who died last year, became internet sensations when their American owners started sharing pictures of their adorable antics.

His death was confirmed in a post made by his owners to his 16 million Facebook followers. He was 12 years old, in human years.

“Shortly after Buddy died, Boo showed signs of heart issues. We think his heart literally broke when Buddy left us,” his owners wrote. “He hung on and gave us over a year. But it looks like it was his time, and I’m sure it was a most joyous moment for them when they saw each other in heaven.”

“Our family is heartbroken, but we find comfort knowing that he is no longer in any pain or discomfort,” they added, noting that Boo “brought joy to people all over the world.

To read more on this story, click here: ‘Boo,’ Crowned The ‘World’s Cutest Dog,’ Dies Of A Broken Heart At Age 12

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A Child's Heartwarming Response to, "Why Do Dogs Leave Earth First?"

I did not write this story, but sometimes out of the mouths of babes comes the most intelligent explanations to life. Please read...

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New Growing Trend Across the U.S. - Freeze Drying Pets

Growing up on the family farm, Anthony Eddy learned early on not to get too attached to animals, including household pets.

His devoted customers are a different story. Pet lovers across the country count on the Saline County, Missouri, taxidermist to faithfully preserve Brutus, Fluffy and other beloved companions for posterity.

Even if it means shelling out thousands of dollars and waiting more than a year for the pets' return.

"They're very distraught, because their child has died. For most people, this animal is their life," said Lessie 'Les' Thurman Calvert, Eddy's office manager.

"Some are kind of eccentric. But most of them are just like you and me. They don't want to bury or cremate them. They can't stand the thought. ... It helps them feel better about the loss."

The front showroom of Eddy's Wildlife Studio in downtown Slater is a testament to pet owners' perseverance.

Lifelike dogs and cats of all sizes are scattered along the floor, from a perky-looking Brittany spaniel to a regal Persian cat, a lone iguana and the stray cockatiel or two.

Departed pets of all persuasions spend up to one year in hulking, freeze-dry metal drums before they are painstakingly preserved and returned to their owners.

Eddy said his business is one of the few in the country to specialize in pet taxidermy and has a two-month waiting list.

A former high school chemistry and biology teacher, hog farmer and Air Force veteran, Eddy started out in traditional taxidermy, stuffing great horned owls and pheasants with the help of a local veterinarian.

He originally used the freeze-dry technique to preserve mounted turkey heads for hunters before realizing in the mid-1990s it could also work with pets.

Eddy, 64, compares his line of work to the mortician's trade. He'll share broad details about the process with customers but likes to keep some mystery to the process and steer clear of the gross-out factor.

He's quick to embrace the artistry of his craft, especially when it comes to the primping and prepping required once the internal organs and body fat are removed and the carcass is fully dry.

Depending on the customer's preference, pets can be posed with a skyward gaze, an extended paw or with eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

"You just have a knack for it," he said. "It's like an artist painting a picture".

The degree of difficulty - and the scrutiny of demanding pet owners who can immediately detect flaws or imperfections in their loved ones - keep many traditional taxidermists from the domestic animal sector, said Steve Wolk, president of the National Taxidermists Association.

"No matter how perfect your pet comes out, there can still be something wrong," said Wolk, who owns Little Creek Taxidermy in Festus, Mo. "When you go deer hunting, you don't know what that deer looks like. Everybody knows exactly what their pets look like".

Debbie Rosa, a 59-year-old teacher who splits her time between southern Maine and Port Charlotte, Fla., had her 17-year-old fox terrier, Lexi, preserved by Eddy when the dog died just before Christmas 2005. She said the choice was an easy one.

"I could stare at an urn, or I could stare at the ground in the cemetery, or I could hold and pet her," Rosa said. "Her spirit is in heaven, but her body is here on Earth".

Eddy and Calvert estimate they receive two to three pets each week, every week. The studio charges $850 for pets under 10 pounds and $40 for each additional pound.

Allen McConnell, a psychology professor at Miami University in Ohio who studies pet owners' behavior, said those who opt for animal preservation can be motivated by grief, a need for belonging and anthropomorphism - the act of ascribing human attributes to animals or even inanimate objects.

"It's very common for people to memorialize important members of their family," he said. "We often visit relatives in family gravesites on birthdays. ... It's part of an extended connection that people have".

Eddy said he is no longer surprised by unusual requests from customers.
It seems that as long as humans embrace animals as four-legged friends, those bonds will continue past the pet's expiration date.

"It runs the whole gamut," he said, mentioning turtles, guinea pigs, snakes and more. "If you've got a pet of some kind, somebody's going to want you to preserve it".

Preserving: Joe Pycke prepares a deceased cat before placing it in a freeze dryer at Anthony Eddy's Wildlife Studio

Posterity: Animal lovers from across the country call on Anthony Eddy and his team to faithfully preserve their beloved departed pets

Full house: Receptionist Lessie Calvert sits behind her desk surrounded by freeze-dried animals

Frozen: Pycke pulls a cat out of a freeze dryer, an essential step in the preservation process

Resting: A freeze-dried squirrel and dog wait for their loved ones to take them home

A freeze-dried dog is displayed on a table at Anthony Eddy's Wildlife Studio in Slater.


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Overcoming The Heartbreak Of Losing Your Dog

This story is about the loss of my little ShihTzu, Sugar who crossed over the "Rainbow Bridge" in 2008.

The loss of a pet can be devastating! I speak from experience. I am Sugar's Mom. I have and always will love animals. I lost my little Sugar on October 2, 2008, just a month before her 12th birthday.. Sugar was a sweet lovable dog. We got her from a pet shop in 1997 at 6 weeks old. She stole my husband the first week! I stayed home with her for about a week to bond with her and to get her use to her new home. She adapted very quickly and was soon running the house...literally! Up and down the stairs, jumping on the couch and she loved to hide and jump out on you! This little dog changed my whole life.

When she was about 2 years old we decided to get her a companion, another shih-tuz. We got a handsome little black and white shih-tzu that we named Domino. They quickly bonded and became inseparable. As I sit and write, I can feel my emotions stirring up as I remember October 2, 2008.

In the months prior to her death Sugar was in and out of the animal hospital. She was coughing a lot and was on medication. I was very careful to give her the medication on time. Nothing seemed to work as she got sicker. She had been put in on oxygen for several hours and finally I was allowed to take her home. I could not sleep for 2 days. When I did sleep, I slept on the sofa with her and Domino's little beds right beside me. I awakened to find her in Domino's bed beside him. She had never done that before. The beds were only designed for one dog, but somehow she had managed to cuddle up with him. That's when my heart began to sink and an overwhelming feeling of sadness consumed me. I knew that she was telling him goodbye.

I gently picked her up and took her upstairs and placed her in my bed next to me. I can remember her eyes where sort of squinting and starring at me. I kissed her and told her that I love her and that she could go now. She had been in so much pain. Every time that she coughed her little body would shake all over. Frightened I carried her downstairs and called to my son. Just as I sat her down all of her legs seemed to give away under her and she when flat on the floor. We rushed her to the animal hospital a few blocks away and waited while they stabilized her. They told me that she was very sick and needed treatment and it would cost approximately $2,000. Once home I can remember looking down at my wedding rings...yes, I was going to sell them if I could to get the money needed for her treatment.

My sister heard of Sugar's illness rushed to my house. I can remember sitting at the table on the Internet trying to find somewhere to sell my wedding rings. When it happened...the phone rang. I saw the words P.G. Animal Hospital come across the phone. I hesitated and my sister kept telling me to answer the phone. I picked it up and a soft voice said, I am so sorry but Sugar has passed. I don't remember what happened next because I collapsed, when I came too I was told that I had grabbed Domino and was squeezing him so tight that someone had to take him out of my arms.

I felt like I was going to die! The pain was one that I had never felt. I thought I was having a heart attack...but soon realized that it was my heartbreaking! I could not eat or sleep for several days. I felt guilty. Although, anyone that knows me would tell you that my dogs had a wonderful life. They had their own love seat that I purchased to put in front of a large window so that they could climb up on the window seal and look out, nice comfortable beds and never missed a vet or groomers appointment. I know that I took good care of Sugar, but I still felt that I should have done more.

The next few days where really hard. The first thing that I notice was there was no barking to go outside. Sugar was the leader and Domino was a follower. She is the one that would bark loud and come and get you if necessary when she wanted to go out. I had sugar cremated. I then turn to God. I asked him to take this pain away, and he did. I asked him to help me deal with this and he did. I went online and went into every blog or chat room I could find to talk with people who are going through a loss, and reading their stories, was a great help. I realized that I was not the only one who was grieving a pet.

You are reading this because you have lost a pet or you have a very ill pet. To comfort you let me just say, I am so sorry for your loss...and yes, I do know what you are going through. I am listing several things that have helped me through my grieving process, and hope that it will help you.

The Pain:

The pain is almost hard to bear, but you will be okay. Cry as much as you need too, believe me this helps. I cried until I had no more tears.

Your Pet's belongings:

Do not immediately get rid of you pet's belongings. You would think looking at their little bowl, toy or blanket is going to make it worst. It is not. The first thing I did was took Sugar's picture off of my screen saver on my computer and bagged her little toys, and other items up and put them in a bag. I felt worst! It was like I was hiding her existence. I put her back on the screen saver and put all of her items in her bed. I gave Domino her blanket. It was hard seeing these items on a daily basis but as time went on I began to accept my loss. it has been over a year now and I have stored her items away. Sugar's cremation box sits in my curio cabinet with the picture that is shown on my profile on it. When you walk by her eyes seem to follow. My husband and I still talk to her. It now brings a smile to my face when I see her looking at me and I thank God for the privilege of having her in my life.

Don't blame yourself!

The guilt can be strong. It was not your fault and you did nothing wrong. Just as we humans were born and will die someday...so will our pets. Just remember that your pet was a gift from God, and will someday return to him. After Sugar's death I could not understand why this happened to me. I had to pull myself out of the guilt and understand that I did nothing wrong. I became very protective of Domino. If he coughed I would rush him to the vet. I was afraid that he was going to die too.

Most importantly

Don't let other's decide how you should grieve. Sometimes people are insensitive to a person's feelings when they have lost a pet. They will say things like, "it was just a dog"! To these people I say as -- Anatole France says:" Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened". I had it said to me a couple of times and it made me furious. My first instinct was to lash out at this person. I politely told them that what they called, "just a dog", was a family member that I loved dearly.

Time does heal

It's true, time does heal. `You will smile again, you will have happy days and you will go on with your life. However, you will never forget your precious pet...and you shouldn't. It took about a month for me to come around. I was really out of it. Every time someone gave me their condolence, I would think about her and cry. I knew that I had to pull myself out of the depression that was slowly creeping up on me. I continued with my daily activities and started giving Domino a lot of attention. The first week after she passed, I would dream about her every night. They would be fun filled dreams with her running and chasing Domino. I would only awaken to realize that she was no longer with me.

The companion left behind

Domino is 2 years younger than Sugar. She was full grown when I got him at about 6 weeks old. She was just like a little momma. She taught him all of her sneaky little begging tricks...and he learned well! A couple of days after she passed he started sniffing around the house and crying a lot. I did not know what to do and called my vet because he started chewing on his leg. I took him in and he explained that he knew she was gone...but did not understand where. You can not explain to a dog that his mate has died. It was touch and go for a few months with him constantly sniffing and looking. He then became very quite no more playing, no barking. My vet said that with time he would get better...and he did. Now he is the boss! I gave him a stuffed dogie to sleep with him and it has helped. We allowed him to sleep in our bed for about 2 weeks after her death. I don't know if it was to comfort me or him.

Should you get another dog?

That decision is strictly up to you. We plan on getting another dog in the future. However, we will be getting a shelter dog. We want to give a good home to a dog in need. It will be a hard choice because I am allergic to dogs. I picked the shih-tzu breed because they don't shed. I will be checking the shih-tzu rescue sites when I am ready to adopt.

Thank you for taking the time to  read my story. I hope that some of this information will help you. 

May god bless you and your pet!
Blog Administrator

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Personality and Pain in Animal End of Life Care

Why it is so important to treat each animal as an individual.

How Ethology Can Help Improve End of Life Care for Animal Patients: Part 1 in a 3 Part Series

Pain is arguably the most important clinical and ethical issue in end of life care for companion animals. Research suggests that many companion animals—perhaps numbering in the millions—are not being treated for pain or are being treated inadequately. [i] A significant portion of missed diagnoses, misdiagnoses, undertreatment, and overtreatment likely can be tied to incorrect behavioral assessments, particularly on the part of pet owners but also, perhaps, on the part of veterinarians.

Pain is a quintessentially personal experience. Indeed, the most common medical definition of pain is “what the person says it is.” A large body of research has explored how the experience and expression of pain can be influenced by gender, age, past experiences, and cognitive priming. Even individual personality can influence how people experience and express pain. For example, people who rate high on “extraversion” are more likely to express their experience of pain yet may, at the same time, experience pain less intensely than introverted individuals. People who score high on “neuroticism” have higher emotional stress responses to pain than those who score low. [ii] A similar dynamic appears to be at work in nonhuman animals, with individual personality shaping the experience and expression of pain. (Personality can be understood as individual differences in behavior that remain stable over time.) This has important implications for the assessment and effective treatment of animal pain.

To read more on this story, click here: Personality and Pain in Animal End of Life Care

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Nursing Juliet

In a world that relentlessly enforces limits, the love of a pet is a refuge for unconstrained emotion, especially for a child.

Here’s the moment when I knew. Juliet — the wiry lab-mutt we’d recently adopted from the pound — raced into our bedroom. In her enthusiasm, her gangly paws entangled a loose rug and she lost her footing. She catapulted through the air, an ebony mass of fur soaring toward the bed where our three-week old infant was lying flat as a Kansas pancake. It happened so quickly that all I could do was watch in fear as she plowed toward our 7-pound baby.

It was over in a split second. Somehow, in all of Juliet’s airborne frenzy, she managed to retain awareness of that speck of life beneath her and landed four paws safely around the baby. That’s when I knew everything would be fine. We parked the baby’s bassinet atop Juliet’s crate — our earliest iteration of bunk beds — and the love affair began.

A dog is both Rorschach and receptacle, a two-way highway for love unbounded and unadulterated. In a world that relentlessly enforces limits, the love of a pet is a refuge for unconstrained emotion, especially for a child.

It became even more apparent as Juliet aged. That infant on the bed is finishing high school, with two other teenagers right behind. While adolescents tend to be blithely self-centered in all manner of human interaction, when it came to Juliet, my three were solicitous, tender and concerned. They treated her as a treasured child whose every fault could be forgiven and whose every personality quirk was lauded like a work of Mozart, retold with the pride of parentage.

To read more on this story, click here: Nursing Juliet

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Woman Had to Put Her Dog Down - Boyfriend Gets Her a Puppy, See Her Reaction (Video)

This woman’s boyfriend got her a puppy when her dog had to be put down.  Her reaction is priceless.

When his girlfriend had to put down her beloved 10-year-old beagle, this thoughtful guy knew just what to do to cure her broken heart.

See her touching reaction to his gift below.

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Do You Know What To Do When Your Pet Has Died at Home?

Do you know what to do when your pet has died at home? A recent incident that happened in the Dale City area of Northern Virginia has prompted me to share this story with you.

In February, 2011, I allowed my little Shih Tzu, Domino, who had cancer to die at home. I was with him when he crossed over. I had already made preparations because I knew his time was near. The animal hospital a few miles away had told me that if he passed and they were closed (they close at 6:00 p.m.) that I should take him to a 24 hour animal hospital immediately.

Domino passed about 4:00 p.m. My husband wrapped him in a blanket and we took him to the animal hospital, where they immediately took him to the back to prepare him. I had already planned for cremation. I received his urn a week later, and his urn now sits in my curio cabinet next to his sister, Sugar.

Cremation for a pet can be very expensive, especially if the pet is big. Domino was down to about 8 pounds when he passed. His sister, Sugar crossed over in 2008, she was about 12 pounds so of course, it cost me more to have her cremated.

Everyone can not afford pet cremations…and some don’t choose to do so. Some bury them in their backyards.

In the case in Northern Virginia, the pet owner tried to cremate his dog himself in his yard and set his house on fire.

Firefighters say Charles Harris was trying to cremate his 11-year-old Rottweiler in the backyard of his Dale City home. Authorities said he used gasoline to get the fire going, but it quickly spread to his home.

The Associate Press reports that the man tried to get several animal shelters to help him dispose of his dog’s body, but they all told him the Rottweiler was too large.

Firefighters have not said how extensively the home was damaged. No injuries were reported.

If you have this situation, please do not try and cremate your pet in your yard. Consider contacting your Vet, animal control, animal hospitals and animal shelters.

Please have this conversation with your Vet while your pet is alive to get an idea of what you should do when the time comes, especially if you have big pets. Also, for more information on what to do, click here: What to Do if Your Dog Dies at Home  or What do you do if your cat dies in your house? What do you do with the body? 


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A Dog's Last Will and Testament

I did not write this poem, I am sharing. I must warn you that tissues are a requirement.

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Heartbreaking Letter: “Grown-Ups Killed My Kitty”

In the piece, an anguished 8-year-old boy in Logan, Utah, named Rayden Sazama recounts the accidental euthanasia of his pet black, long-haired cat, named Toothless.
The beloved Logan family cat was named after the disabled dragon from the movie How to Train Your Dragon, as he resembled the animated creature’s black coat and green eyes.

An indoor-outdoor cat, Toothless left the home one night and didn’t return. Queries to the neighbors about the animal’s whereabouts came back negative: No one had seen the beloved cat…or so they claimed.

Rayden’s father, Jason, then went to the local animal control office one evening, but after business hours. A clerk let Jason in the building, and there, in a cage behind the counter, was Toothless.

Yet, as it was past business hours, Jason was unable to pay the fine and take the cat home. He promised to return the following morning to settle up and collect the cat. The family was relieved and slept well knowing Toothless was safe.

To read more on this story, click here: Heartbreaking Letter: “Grown-Ups Killed My Kitty”


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Why Do Cats Go Away to Die?

We’ve all heard the story of a cat who was sick or old and one day just vanished. This has lead many people to believe that cats will go away to die on their own. But is this true?

Not all cats will hide when they are dying. We have sadly had enough cats who have died to see this ourselves. They have tended to stick close by when they are dying, spending large amounts of time sleeping. Cats are individuals and may have different preferences when it comes to how they handle being sick. Some will seek out the company of their human companions or pets, others prefer to be alone in a quiet place.

Do cats know they are dying?

According to Desmond Morris in his book Cat World – A Feline Encyclopedia, cats have an advantage over humans in regards to death, they don’t actually know what death is. They go away and hide because they are sick and feeling vulnerable. This makes perfect sense from an evolutionary point of view. It’s a cruel world out there and cats have larger predators who seek out the weak and the vulnerable as they are easier targets.

This also explains why cats can be quite seriously ill before obvious signs appear. They are hardwired to hide signs of sickness and weakness making them vulnerable to predators. It is for this reason that pregnant cats will seek a quiet and often out of the way spot to give birth and care for her young kittens. She, as well as her babies, are vulnerable at this stage in their lives and want to remain hidden from any potential dangers.

And finally, cats hide when they are dying is that they simply want to be alone. A sick cat isn’t feeling well and prefers to be somewhere quiet and dark so they can sleep in peace. I know when I’m sick I just want to be left on my own to wallow!

To read more on this story, click here: Why Do Cats Go Away to Die?


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A Dog's Last Will and Testament

I did not write this poem, I am sharing. I must warn you that tissues are a requirement.






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The Gruesome Death of a Beloved Pet at an Upscale Boarding Facility for Dogs Has Left its Owner Distraught and Grieving

Now, her lawsuit over the demise of the 4.5-pound teacup Yorkie, attacked by a Labrador mix puppy seeks to prove that animals are far more than property.

Falen LaPonzina filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court last week against Wagtime Too, which operates doggy day care and boarding facilities in Washington. She alleges that the business was negligent in allowing her dog, Dax, to be kept alongside another canine four times its weight. She is seeking $150,000 in damages.

But LaPonzina said she wants more than money. She wants the courts to recognize the role pets play in the lives of their owners. She said the 12-year-old Dax, with a giant underbite, was a friendly and loyal companion who had been a constant through her transient twenties and thirties.

“I had no idea when I dropped my dog off there I would never see him again,” LaPonzina said. “Yorkies live to be 18 to 20 years old. He had many good years left.”

Wagtime Too has denied that the business was negligent in its care of the dog. Lisa Schreiber, a co-owner, said the dog’s death was a “freak accident.” She said that an employee had been watching all the dogs and that by the time he saw the lab mix attacking Dax, it was too late.

LaPonzina said she traveled to Alaska in July, dropping off Dax at Wagtime Too, which advertises itself as a cage-free facility. There are two locations in the District, where owners can board their pets for $55 a night. LaPonzina, a 36-year-old lawyer, and Dax had been regulars at the company’s facilities, first in Shaw and later in Navy Yard, since 2010.

LaPonzina said she did not check her phone during her week-long cruise. But when she got off the ship in Canada, she found missed calls and messages from Wagtime Too indicating there had been an emergency. Dax was dead.

An 18-pound Labrador mix puppy had picked up the teacup Yorkie with its mouth, and moments later the miniature dog was no longer breathing, Schreiber said in an interview.

The Labrador, a rescue, was screened before it came to Wagtime and never displayed aggressive behavior, she said. After the incident, the dog was evaluated by a canine-behavior specialist who also found no signs of violence in the rescue dog. The Labrador has since been adopted by a woman with no children and no other dogs.

“This is not anything that anyone who works for me could have prevented,” Schreiber said. “I do want people to understand this is a cage-free facility, and there are inherent risks here. We are not negligent here, but it is horrible that it happened.”

Bruce Wagman, a partner at Schiff Hardin in San Francisco who specializes in animal law, said that a six-figure settlement awarded to LaPonzina would be an unprecedented amount in the death of an animal.

That seems an unlikely outcome, however, Wagman said.

If someone intentionally kills a pet, it occasionally might yield a significant penalty. But for LaPonzina to receive a sizable settlement, Wagman said, she would have to prove that Wagtime was not just negligent but had intentionally killed Dax. When owners do receive significant cash settlements for the death of a pet, such as when a police officer kills a dog during a home raid, Wagman said, it is typically because the officer violated the civil rights of the homeowners, not because their pet is dead.

“Every state, in every court everywhere, animals are considered property,” Wagman said. “That said, there is no question that courts are more and more appreciating that animals are not like computers. They are not vases, and they’re not books.”

This is not the first time Wagtime has faced complaints about its care of animals or how it operates its facilities.

In 2015, a dog walker dropped the leash of a 9-month-old puppy being boarded overnight, and the dog was struck by a car. Its owner sued, but the case was settled out of court.

Wagtime ran into trouble in 2003 for moving into a now-closed location near Logan Circle without a certificate of occupancy. It also squabbled with neighbors over noise and cleanliness complaints.

LaPonzina’s lawsuit also accuses Wagtime Too of not having the correct license to operate its Navy Yard location. Dog-care facilities operate under a D.C. basic business license, and the District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs said the Navy Yard location has not been issued one. On Nov. 3 the owners applied for a certificate of occupancy, which is not the same as a business license.

Schreiber said that she has been in touch with city agencies and that the absence of a license is the result of a paperwork error. Matt Orlins, a spokesman for the DCRA, said there is no evidence of a clerical error.

Wagtime see hundreds of dogs a day, and until Dax, none had ever died in its facilities, Schreiber said.

Last week she sent a letter to customers informing them of the July death of Dax and ensuring them that their canines are safe in Wagtime’s care. “This incident was not in any way caused by negligence,” the notice stated.

LaPonzina said she will be going beyond the courts and pushing for regulatory reform in the D.C. government to tighten operating standards for dog-boarding facilities.

“Dax was just so adorable, you couldn’t ever be mad at him — you couldn’t not love him,” LaPonzina said. “This dog has been through it all with me.”


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