| Caring for People Who Care for Pets |
February 2010 | |
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 Greetings!
It's the month of hearts and flowers, the time of year when we pause for at least a day to say "I love you" to someone dear.
When love is part of a relationship, it's inevitable that loss may also come along. When you lose someone close to you, it often helps to keep a memento that reminds you of your loved one. Grief experts call these mementos "linking objects" because they connect you to the feelings and memories associated with the person, pet, home, etc. that you lost.
I know the power of linking objects from first-hand experience...
My family gathered up many sentimental items last week after we lost my 89-year-old mother-in-law Jean to a stroke. As we sifted through her belongings, I chose several things that "link" me to her...the coffee cup she always drank from, her favorite flowered sweatshirt, the photo of my father-in-law that sat upon her bedside table...
Jean "volunteered" here at World by the Tail every Tuesday morning, assembling many of the kits we send you. While she will be missed, we'll stay connected to her through her teapot, which we'll now use to brew our afternoon tea, and our memories of the love and laughter she brought to each of our lives.
May you have lots of love and laughter in your life throughout the month of February!
Laurel
P.S. Have you kept a unique or unusual "linking object" in memory of your pet? Share your story with others by telling me about it here. We'll pass them on in a future edition of this newsletter.
P.P.S. Come over to the Vet Wisdom® Café and read my post about how many objects are too many to keep as linking objects for your loved ones and pets. Leave a comment about your own experiences. |
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Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
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 Words of Wisdom
January 27, 2010
When we say, "I don't know" we open ourselves to discover what lies beyond our current levels of understanding. There is wisdom in not knowing.
'Not Knowing' gives us the freedom and opportunity to learn. People who can admit to 'not knowing' tend to be... Want to know the "rest of the story"? Go to the Wednesday Wisdom archives to read the rest of this bit of wisdom! Sign up to receive future wisdom in your email each week. | |
Encouraging Clients to
Keep Linking Objects by Laurel Lagoni
For some pet owners, it's meaningful to have an object that links them to a pet that has recently died. A 'linking object' is any physical item or image that connects grievers to their pet in a comforting way. Linking objects assist bereaved pet owners in maintaining positive memories, as well as with awareness that love received from a pet never really dies.
A 'linking object' may be something that belonged to or was used by a pet, such as a collar, a toy mouse, a bed, a special blanket, or even a food or water dish. The object may also be part of the actual animal, such as a feather, a clipping of fur, the wool of a llama, part of a horse's mane or tail, or even a paw print set in clay. As part of your clinic's grief education protocol, it's helpful to tell your clients about the comfort they may find in a linking object and to even provide that object yourself. For instance, you might help clients clip a bit of their pet's fur immediately following a euthanasia or make a ClayPaws® print when a patient dies.
If you'd like to discuss this article or other issues related to the family-pet bond, come blog with us at www.vetwisdomcafe.com
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How in the world, if a beloved pet has already passed away, can you make a duplicate of a ClayPaws® print?! Well, it truly is possible! And recommended!
Check out our "Copy Kit". Included is everything you need to make duplicate prints of existing ClayPaws® prints! We use this technique here in the office to make molds with which we create our demo prints! (We don't have a doggie here who lets us make ClayPaws® prints for you, our customers, all day!)
We know that one-of-a-kind memories like paw print impressions are so precious! This copy kit allows you to make duplicate prints.
The process is fairly simple. Use the included MoldMaker™ product to make a reverse print or mold of the print. Bake this mold and then use it to press into the ClayPaws® patties. This will press the impression of the paw into the clay, just like the original! You can help your clients with this process, or recommend the kit to them! | |
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Business Our mission at World by the Tail, Inc., is to "care for people who care for pets." This newsletter is a small part of our outreach efforts. If it's helpful to you, please use the link below to forward it on to your friends, family, and colleagues. Help us "care for people who care for pets" by building an ever-widening 'bond-centered circle' of support!
I write this newsletter with a sincere desire to help you--a compassionate pet care provider--deal more effectively with the human side of living and working with companion animals. I want you to feel confident as you face the emotional situations that arise as you care for ill, injured, or aging pets AND the people who love them. For more information about me or my company, read my bio Laurel Lagoni or visit the About Us page at www.veterinarywisdom.com
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