Articles and Advice
Does your pet have a will?
—Your possessions. What will happen to them when you die? If you're a "planner", these things are spelled out in your will. House, car, equity go to the spouse. Heirlooms, money, et al go to the kids. And so forth. (By the way, most US adults don't have wills. Some recent surveys have put the figure as high as 60% without a will. But enough of humans.) What about your pet? What happens to their things: water bowl,... … [read more]
Pet insurance – what you need to know
—Would you ever buy a house and not insure it? Fire, wind, “Acts of God” – to name a few items covered under property insurance policies – are very real threats. In most countries, it’s actually mandatory to purchase property insurance along with such a major asset. How about your pet? Would you insure your pet against future disasters? S/He is not an “asset”. Nor would you consider them to be “property”.... … [read more]
Euthanasia: How it's done
—It's a topic most pet owners want to avoid. Euthanasia. Putting your pet down. While most ethicists would support euthanasia where a pet faces terminal illness, broken bones (where the pain is extreme and the quality of life - should the animal survive - would be very poor) or even old age, it is a very difficult decision. Guilt is a huge factor for the pet owner. How does one reconcile proactively ending your pet's life? The question is not easily... … [read more]
Your horse just died - now what?
—I was recently speaking with a friend of mine, Kathy, who told me her horse just died. In my limited experience with pet loss, I was only familiar with the death of small animals. Growing up, I had access to horses at my Granddad's farm. But, thankfully none died when I was there. After expressing sympathy for her loss, I asked if she would share details of her experience, so I could summarize the events on this blog. Kathy's story, she said, was typical of... … [read more]
A cremation primer
—Disposition. Sounds like a familiar word, but rarely is it used in normal day-to-day conversations. In funeral lingo, it means the way you dispose of human or animal "remains" (or more explicitly - the body). And there are lots of choices: Whole body burial in a casket Burial at sea "Green" burial The list goes on and on One of the most common ways to dispose of animal remains is cremation. And there are a number of reasons to consider... … [read more]
Semper Fidelus Canis Lupus Familiaris
—Loyalty. Faithfulness. Dogged determination. All fitting adjectives for Japanese canines, in light of these remarkable post-tsunami stories. We have witnessed a great tragedy of almost unthinkable scale - for humans and animals alike - in Japan these past several weeks. But, there have been some survivors and their tales are worth noting. For they speak to the enduring qualities for which humans appreciate their canine companions. In the immediate aftermath of... … [read more]
Low cost ideas for memorializing your pet
—So that dreaded day has come and gone. Your family pet has "passed" and the absence is noticeable. You no longer hear the sound of toenails on the hardwood floors. You no longer have to spell out the words F-O-O-D and W-A-L-K to prevent a near riot. Your children will also be coping with the loss of their friend / family member. We've previously covered recommended books to help deal with the death of an animal. But, there are also some hands-... … [read more]
Knut, we hardly Knew ye
—Sad news out of Berlin this week. Knut, the world famous polar bear, died unexpectedly while swimming in his enclosure. The cause of death was not determined. He was four years old. The bear captured the hearts of the German people shortly after he was born in captivity, but was rejected by his mother - the first polar bear to be born and survive infancy in the Berlin Zoo in over 30 years. However, not everyone thought zookeepers should take the extraordinary... … [read more]
Top causes of death in dogs and cats
—One would think finding out the most common cause of death for dogs and cats would be simple. For was it not The Police, nearly 30 years ago, who gave voice to our data-saturated existence with the song "Too Much Information"? Indeed. However, no national database of pet death records exists. At least not one that is publicly available. And so, we are left with a few ad hoc academic studies to piece together how pets die. One study tracked the... … [read more]
Want to be buried with your cat? You can't always get what you want.
—In these modern times a pet owner might assume that, once you both pass on, you can be buried along with your beloved pet(s). You would be wrong. These aren't modern times in the funeral biz. Oh sure, you can choose between whole body burial, cremation (and then be buried, or placed in an urn, or mixed with cement to become a barrier reef in the ocean, or launched into space, or become a human diamond) or live out that Han Solo fantasy of being cryogenically frozen.... … [read more]
