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- Memorializing a pet (8)
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Recent Articles
- Clay Paw Print Alternatives March 27, 2020
- We’re still here March 26, 2020
- MN Pets COVID-19 Plan & Precautions March 16, 2020
- Pets teaching us about love February 13, 2020
- We Had So Many Plans January 27, 2020
- The Guilt of an Unready Heart January 9, 2020
Author Archives: Kristi Lehman, MSW, LISW
Clay Paw Print Alternatives
During the current COVID-19 crisis, MN Pets will continue to take significant precautions during home visits to reduce the potential risk of transmission and exposure. These precautions are crucial in keeping the doctor and her family, you and your family, … Continue reading
Interactive Quality of Life Assessment
This scale, called the JOURNEYS scale, is designed to help you rate your pet’s quality of life. Each letter stands for a different aspect of quality of life for a pet. This assessment will walk you through each aspect and … Continue reading
Posted in End-of-life decisions, Quality of Life
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Anticipatory Grief: The Sadness Before the Loss
When we learn that our beloved pet has a terminal illness, or we realize that they are struggling with the changes that old age brings, many of us feel a deep sense of loss or grief even though our pet … Continue reading
Coping With Grief During the Holidays
For many people, the holidays are a time spent with our loved ones, celebrating our relationships and togetherness. When you have lost a family member, including a beloved pet, the holidays can magnify your sense of loss. Suddenly, the merriment … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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Am I ready for another pet?
The ifs and whens of getting another pet can be complicated and emotional, and no two experiences are exactly alike. While there isn’t necessarily a “right” or “wrong” decision, there are some questions you should ask yourself to help explore … Continue reading
Grief Role-Modeling
For kids of all ages, losing a pet can be a confusing, heartbreaking and scary experience. For many kids, it might even be the first time they have had to grapple with death and grief. But, along with all of the … Continue reading
Posted in Children and families
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Healing Through Remembering
If you have ever lost a human family member, you know that funeral services, public announcements, obituaries, visitations or wakes, and many sympathy cards usually follow the death. Often, there is a period of mourning that is acknowledged, respected … Continue reading
Pet Loss Hotlines
When you are grieving the loss of your beloved pet or you are wrestling with painful end-of-life decisions, it is important to identify your support system so that you know where to turn when you are feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes our … Continue reading
Posted in Grieving the loss of a pet, Support
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9 Ways to Memorialize a Pet
When a beloved companion animal dies, the void they leave behind can feel overwhelming. When their physical presence filled every space in your lap, bed, home and heart, the emptiness you feel after they are gone can be the most … Continue reading
Posted in Memorializing a pet
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A Place to Start (When You Don’t Know Where to Start)
This decision is not easy. In fact, the question of whether to help end your pet’s suffering through euthanasia can be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. So many factors play a role in whether or … Continue reading