Pet Loss

Has there ever been anyone who didn’t wonder why their beloved dog had to die so soon? If there is, I’ve never met them.

Tragedy brings out the best in many people. But there’s always one or two people who just know how to be jerks. Especially when someone’s pet dies.

Your friend is suffering. She tells you about how her pet is declining and may not be around much longer. I know you feel sympathy. You want to help. To reassure. But don’t say this to someone whose dog is dying…

It’s the one power we have that can save our dogs from immense suffering. And it’s the great responsibility that no one wants to have. If you love animals and have them in your life, one day you will face hard choices about treating your pets and extending or ending their lives. As we struggle …

“I’ll never have another dog. It hurts too much to lose them.” I hear that sometimes from people I meet. But I don’t understand it. For me, any pain is worth suffering to enjoy the love of a dog. But that doesn’t mean it’s smart to rush out in your grief and adopt a new …

Every morning I peek to see what search terms brought people to Something Wagging This Way Comes the day before. There’s the usual mix of funny and disturbing queries about dogs and sex. I always have a few people searching on poop, because, really, it’s all about the poop. And then there are the boring …

Usually the more experience you have with something, the less scary you find it. That’s not true with cancer. I’ve worked for a head and neck cancer surgeon, had several family members stricken, nursed two dogs with it, and married a childhood cancer survivor. And it still freaks me out. Approximately 60% of golden retrievers …

Some folks like little smushy faced dogs. Others like tall elegant dogs with needle noses. There are dog lovers who take their pups everywhere. And dog lovers who just stay home. And let’s not even think about the different ways people feed their dogs. But there’s one way every dog lover is the same. And …

If you love a dog, someday you will lose a dog. Everyone grieves differently. But I’ve noticed a pattern in my own grief. And watching friends on Facebook, I suspect I’m not the only one who grieves the way I do.   10 Stages of Grieving a Dog   Luckily, I’ve never lost a young …