A lot of people in their twilight years have pets to keep them company. Because at this age they can plan to have a pet and friend with them for ten or twenty years and be sure that their lifestyle will be in keeping with that choice. Unfortunately, if we die Charlie the Poodle … Read more
I’m thrilled to be guest posting on Judy Helm Wright’s blog! Judy asked me to write about loving and caring for an older dog. I am grateful to share my experiences with Judy’s audience. Kathleen Mueller, Guest Author Are you caring for an older dog? Me too. I suppose my first thought is that the … Read more
Breaking the Power of Guilt by Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed. If any emotion rules supreme when a pet dies, it is guilt. No matter what the circumstances of our loss, guilt is there, grabbing us by the throat. It haunts our days, ruins our sleep, and tarnishes our memories. Often, guilt goes beyond the loss … Read more
All life is filled with Hellos and Goodbyes. The longer we live, the more we will suffer the loss of loved ones: people, beloved family pets, things, ideas, jobs, house, friendship, season and so on. As Pet Partners how do we say Goodbye to a beloved family pet? I want to read you a … Read more
“I know well enough that there have been dogs so loving that they have thrown themselves into the same grave with the dead bodies of their masters; others have stayed upon their masters’ graves without stirring a moment from them, and have voluntarily starved themselves to death, refusing to touch the food that was … Read more
Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, a chef, took her … Read more
This answer was provided by Karen Tiede to a question of a young adult on Quara. I found the answer so fullfilling that I asked permission to quote it here. This particular question and others are often asked of me on my radio show on the Human/Animal Connection. Please join us at www.blogtalkradio.com/auntieartichoke First, … Read more
This blog post was submitted by Becca Poliquim, a student at Carroll College in Helena, Montana Becca will be working as an publishing intern at Artichoke Press LLC this summer. “There is a story in the lore of my family about my aunt, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was nineteen. As a … Read more
Growing up; we were always surrounded by feline pets, cats of all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities. There was one particular “Kitty,” who I adored as much as she adored me. They say a “rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Well this “Kitty,” was like no other, she would patiently wait for … Read more
How do caring adults assist young children or teens to cope with a death of a beloved pet or loved one. Perhaps the question is: how much do children understand about the process of death, and as adults what do we want to share with them? This may bring up issues in our own life … Read more