Wednesday Pet Roundup- Jun 18, 2013

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup!

*This month we've been getting fit with our dogs. We're so excited about how all our K9 Kamp Featured Bloggers andKampers are doing! Don't forget this Friday is the last day of Kamp. We'll be sitting around the kampfire singing kamp songs and reminiscing about all the fun. Join in the FitDog Friday blog hop on Friday to share your K9Kamp results.

*And don't forget to enter to win our great K9 Kamp prize package too, with leashes, glow in the dark toys, Dieting with my Dog books, and more, valued at $200!

* The Dog Time Petties awards are coming up, and there's a category for "Best Blog Post." If you liked my post, "When To Get a New Dog after Pet Loss" post, I'd be honored if you'd consider nominating it. To nominate:
1. Go to http://petties.dogtime.com
2. Click on Nominate
3. Scroll down to Best Blog Post
4. Paste this URL: http://peggyfrezon.blogspot.com/2013/04/when-to-get-new-dog-after-your-pet-dies.html
5. Click Submit Ballot
If you decide to nominate this post, thank you so much! At the same time, you can also nominate a rescue or shelter to win a Petties grant.

* Every pet is cute, and sometimes pets get messy too. If you have an adorable photo of your dog or cat or rabbit or ferret, you can enter it in Pruven's "Cute but Caught" photo contest for a chance to win Pruven pet products and a $3,000 gift card. In addition, Pruven will donate to the Greg Biffle Foundation which benefits animal advocacy.  Enter the contest at http://www.pruvenpet.com/cutebutcaught.

* Speaking of contests, we had winners!
The Possibility Dogs by Susannah Charleson- Chris R, Sandy W, Angela C
Natural Balance Fat Dog food- Melissa M
Bumperpet t-shirts- Gizmo G, Deanna T
toothbrush- Deborah D

I hope you all are having a great week!

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When to Get a New Dog and Dog Time Petties

Something cool about the Dog Time Petties awards is that each time you nominate a blog or blog post, you can also nominate a nonprofit animal shelter or rescue to compete for a $10,000 Petties Grant. The shelter with the most nominations will win the grant. And each winner will also be able to choose a rescue, and each winning blogger will be awarded a $1,000 donation to the rescue or animal shelter of their choice. If I won an award, I'd choose Petsmart Charities because they do great work for pet adoption, and were so kind reaching out to us when we lost Brooks. I also like  Eldad Hagar and his Hope for Paws, a rescue organization especially skilled at rescuing street dogs and other dogs with very little hope. The videos of his rescues and transformations are heartbreaking as well as triumphant.

Categories for the 2013 awards include Best Dog Blog, Best Cat Blog, Best Cause-Related Blog and more. This year I have a post that I feel people responded to, When to Get a New Dog After Pet Loss? In this post I spoke from the heart about losing our golden retriever Brooks, and about how to know if it's time to adopt another dog. If you like this post, I'd be honored if you'd nominate it for a Pettie in the "Best Blog Post" category. Just go to http://petties.dogtime.com. Nominations close June 28. 

How to Nominate:

Go to http://petties.dogtime.com
Click on Nominate

Scroll down to near the bottom, find BEST BLOG POST

Copy and Paste in this URL-  http://peggyfrezon.blogspot.com/2013/04/when-to-get-new-dog-after-your-pet-dies.html

Click on Submit Ballot

If you choose to nominate my post, When to Get a New Dog After Pet Loss, thank you very much!

Peggy and Kelly

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The Big Question: How's Kelly Handling it?

Many people have asked me this question: How's Kelly handling it? Since Brooks crossed over the rainbow bridge, dog people are sensitive to the hurt and grief not only of the pet parents, but also the canine siblings left behind.

It both pleases me and upsets me to answer you-- just fine.

It pleases me because Kelly is not suffering. Kelly isn't pining away for her buddy, looking for him longingly or going on a hunger strike out of loneliness. Kelly seems happy and content.

It upsets me because Kelly seems to enjoy being an only dog in a household that wants to adopt another dog.

Here's the thing--sometimes I wonder if Kelly seems not only happy and content, but happier and more content. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, maybe not. But now that Brooks is gone, Kelly seems more relaxed. No more worrying about who got patted first and who got more carrot snacks. No more sharing our affection.

It's not that Kelly can't get along with a sibling. When Kelly was adopted into this family, we already had a dog, a yellow lab named Hudson, and they spent a lot of time together. We always intended on being a two-dog family. She got along well with Hudson, and then Brooks, as long as they understood she was the boss. But I think there was always an undercurrent of rivalry, jealousy, of fitting in and finding a place. Maybe that's just part of being a family or pack.

I like the Kelly we see now--relaxed and affectionate. But our hearts long for another golden retriever, when the right one comes along. If it happens, I know she can adapt, and maybe even like it. Like us, I believe she has room in her heart for another brother. I hang onto the hope that I saw when this happened:

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Love that Helps Heal

Your generous notes and thoughtful gifts to help us heal from the loss of Brooks continue to pour in, and I want to thank you so much. The support of other dog lovers helps. I'm especially touched that many people reach out with touches of nature, from the star from Jodi, Felix and Kol, to the cheerful pink flowers from a dear friend, Lexi.


Here's a wonderful blue spruce tree that will be planted in Brooks' memory, from his caring friends at Natura.

Brooks' gramma sent him this marker made of Vermont slate.

 There's also the pawprint, taken at the emergency vet

In addition, the emails, cards, poems, notes and phone calls touch me greatly. My friend Kim says that Brooks was a heart dog, and I think that describes him perfectly. He touched my heart so deeply. I think sometimes those who have been through a lot have an even greater capacity to touch us because they are still loving and trusting, despite whatever hardships they've endured.

Thank you everyone, I want you to know how much we appreciate every word and gesture.
Peggy, Mike and Kelly


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When to get a new dog after pet loss?

It's only been a few weeks since we lost Brooks, but Mike and I have dared, a few times, to let the subject of getting another dog escape our lips. We say it in hushed tones, almost like a secret. As if the word got out, we'd somehow seem less loyal to Brooks. When is it time to get a new dog?

The truth is, no dog can replace Brooks. Ever. No dog could ever look at me the same way he did, sprawl across my chair in the exact same way, love me the same way. No dog could be as sweet and gentle and perfect as our Brooks. But there is a hole, and nothing will be quite right again until it's filled. No, we haven't healed from losing Brooks yet. But if we wait for that, well, we're going to be waiting a long, long time.

Besides, there are other dogs out there waiting for homes, waiting for the kind of love and comfort we have to give. A dog who otherwise might be left on the streets or in a shelter. We want to give another dog a place in our home and our hearts--even hearts that might be aching still.

So we told the rescue group who found us Brooks, that when the right dog came along, we're ready. And we smiled for the first time in a long time.

We don't wish to be picky, but we do need to wait for the right dog. Mostly, we need a dog who will get along with Kelly. Kelly isn't friendly with all dogs and we learned from experience that we're not comfortable refereeing and mediating difficult doggy interactions. And the breed must be a Golden Retriever (or mix). Brooks spoiled us for that.

But the big question is age. After adopting a senior and losing him after one year, would we do it again? My son says no--he's begging us, next time, to get a puppy instead. To be honest, we'd like a younger dog, maybe a couple years old, so that hopefully we won't have our hearts broken again quite so soon (although, to be sure, there are no guarantees at any age.) Truth be told, however, an older dog fits our lifestyle well. We loved how easy Brooks was--content with a few walks, throwing the tennis ball around a bit, and snoozing the rest of the day. We loved his calm personality. No, I don't relish the thought of losing a dog again. And I'd prefer a younger dog, for that reason. But if the right dog came to us and he was a senior, we'd do it again.

I miss Brooks. I miss him from the moment I wake up and he's not there beside the bed greeting me, to when I'm sitting in my big green chair and he's not there sleeping on the ottoman, to when I look at his picture and long to feel his soft golden fur, and every moment in between. But I think my heart is able to handle it again. My husband thinks he wants to get another dog before too long.

We're ready, wherever you are.


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PetSmart Charities Shares Adoption Stories

Instead of a roundup today, I want to share this wonderful post on PetSmart Charities blog. They've been asking readers to tell about how their pets enrich their lives and to share their successful, positive stories of pet adoption to inspire others to consider adopting a homeless pet.

Recently, I was notified that Brooks was to be featured on the PetSmart's blog. They also sent me a personal note saying that they'd read my blog post and very kindly offered to postpone or withhold posting out of respect for our loss. I responded that the post would be a comfort, and added that I didn't regret adopting a senior dog, and that while losing a pet is never easy, we still feel lucky to have known him for that year.

Here is the PetSmart Charities link "Senior Dog Turns out to Be Just Right." I hope others will consider adopting a senior dog. One might just fit your lifestyle, like Brooks did ours. My favorite memory is of sitting in my big green chair with Brooks snuggled up right by my side, head in my lap while I read or worked on my laptop, always one hand stroking his soft ears or neck. A younger, more active dog probably wouldn't have done that for hours on end!

You can share your dog's adoption story too.

Here's a funny picture of Brooks to make you smile:

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The Comfort of Friends who Understand

When bad news is shared, the response from others who understand brings comfort. I want to thank everyone who has taken time to leave a message on Facebook, comment on the blog, or send me an email or private message expressing your sympathies, and sending your thoughts, prayers, hugs, dog kisses, tail wags and love. Every word and every message is special, including this from Jodi, Koly and Felix of Kol's Notes:

Imagine! His own star! I went outside and looked up at the sky and it put a little smile on my face to think of Brooks' Star twinkling bright. Thank you Jodi.

and this image from Loretta Ranscht:























and this beautiful poem from Roy AnDonna Clark (Shiloh):
































(Some day when the time is right, there will be another dog, and he'll be a golden retriever.)

And of course this poem:



and this poem written by Donna Teti:

Faithful Friend

St Francis open up the gates
Here comes our faithful friend
Let him run and play and explore
Just like he did back when

Our beloved dog is now with you
More than a pet… he’ll always be
A companion, a loyal friend
A part of our family

He kept us company many a day
Throughout his faithful years
A presence in our daily lives
We can’t hold back the tears

So St Francis who has always cherished
God’s very special friends
Scratch his back; give him a hug
Until we meet again

Copyright © 2011 Donna Teti 

Thank you so much to everyone.
I also want to let you know that Kelly is doing fine and we're making sure she knows she is well-loved too.
love
Peggy
******* I JUST HAVE TO ADD THIS, Pam and Oskar from Pet Blogs United just alerted me to this wonderful email and button, made by Ann from Zoolatry in honor of Brooks. Ann wrote:

Adopted late in life, handsome BROOKS was with his family just a year.  But he was loved as if he had been there forever.  His story shows the beauty and value of adoption of a senior pet.  Cancer took him unexpectedly and quickly, and he will be forever missed.  You can read his story, and leaves words of comfort for those left behind, click the LINK below.  Thank You!
http://peggyfrezon.blogspot.com/2013/04/goodbye-brooks.html

THIS IS SO SWEET, I WILL TREASURE IT ALWAYS. THANK YOU ZOOLATRY!



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