Do you end up with a wooly ball of anxiety every time you have to go to the vet? I do. In fact, we've been having to go to a lot of appointments lately as arthritis has set in with the knee Bella had TPLO surgery on last year. Now … we adore our general practice vet here in Spokane Valley but if Latah Creek Animal Hospital was a little bit closer, I would be seriously considering a switch. Based right here in my town, Spokane, Washington, Latah Creek is a fear-free clinic. I've been following their Instagram account for a while and I just love the energy that comes out in their posts: informative, educational, kind … I reached out for a chance to interview the top dogs there and clinic owners Jessica Osborne and Dr. Megan Bauer couldn't wait to share the good word of fear-free veterinary practices. We talk about this innovative approach to reduce stress and anxiety for pets during vet visits and how Jessica and Dr. Megan create a calm environment for both stressed-out animal and stressed-out human guardian.

Where to find Latah Creek Animal Hospital

LatahCreekAH.com

Instagram

Facebook

I get so fired up when I connect with someone who wants to talk about the deeper meaning for dogs in our lives.

Like when I chat with a fellow believer that dogs teach us who we are and who we need to be.

It didn't take long before I was mesmerized with Saro Boghozian's words.

After becoming a certified dog trainer through The College of Canine Behavioral Science, Saro quickly recognized he also needed learn about human psychology so that he could help his two-legged clients understand the root causes of their dogs' behavior.

Together, we explore the profound impact dogs have on our personal growth and well-being.

Where to find Saro

Saro Dog Training

YouTube

Instagram

Her first spoken word was "cat."

Even before she said "mama" and "dada."

And the cat didn't even like her.

Today's guest is Tracy Munson, my good friend from lower shebobia New Brunswick. Lower shebobia … ha … it's technically Hillsborough, New Brunswick, a small community about a half hour south of Moncton and right on the Petitcodiac River.

About a three-hour drive from the little town in Nova Scotia where I grew up.

But she's not from there. She's a Toronto girl, from the Big Smoke, where she plied her trade as a veterinary technician.

The work got to her, though.

Being in veterinary medicine is hard. It may be the only industry we know where it is a responsibility to end life.

Tracy recognized she was in burnout mode and started planning her escape … to becoming a pet photographer. She's now a recognized leader in Canadian pet photography and an award winner in both pet photography and landscape photography.

Today, we have a discussion about careers in vet medicine and the trials and tribulations that lie within.

What to listen for

5:23 Vicarious trauma and its impact on animal shelter workers

11:53 The emotional toll of euthanizing sick and injured animals

17:53 How support in the field is improving for animal shelter workers

28:28 Compounding trauma with the grief from her own loss

40:00 How the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll

41:50 Why prioritizing your exit plan can make all the difference

Resources mentioned

Dr. Faith Banks on TikTok

Compassion Fatigue in Animal Shelter/Rescue Workers

Practice Compassionate Badassery with Jessica Dolce

The Art of Being Kind to Your Vet

Spray-dried plasma is the new kid on the scene of pet health supplements.

What is it?

It's a powder formed by exposing the liquid part of blood to high heat. The process preserves the bioactive components of plasma that offering numerous benefits for our companion animals, from joint health to immune function.

And it's the key active ingredient in WinProPet products.

Tim Mitchum, president and CEO of WinProPet, joins us this week to break it all down for us.

When his own chihuahua stopped jumping onto the couch for cuddles, he tried WinProPet's hip and joint chews and became inspired by Roxy's transformation. That's when he joined the company, bringing his business acumen and deep love of dogs to the table.

Tim shares his expertise on the benefits of supplements for our pets and the testimonials that undergird his belief in the product.

And if you're a cat person, fear not! WinProPet just launched its line of feline-dedicated products.

If you'd like to give WinProPet supplements a try with your pet, go to WinProPet.com and type ONE20 in the discount code box on the checkout page for 20% off a one-time purchase or your first order of a subscription.

What to listen for

5:46 How plasma is the "natural enemy" of inflammation

9:02 Scientists discover its spray-dried form reduced mortality rate from 20% to 1% in piglets

17:21 Spray-dried plasma can improve a cat's oral health

21:27 How to look for pet supplements that can help your cat or dog

Where to find WinProPet

WinProPet.com

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Other questions you might have

Are WinProPet supplements suitable for all dog breeds?

While WinProPet supplements are generally well-tolerated by most dogs, individual preferences and health conditions may vary. It's recommended to consult with your veterinarian before introducing any new supplements to your pet's diet.

How long does it take to see results with WinProPet supplements?

Results may vary depending on factors such as the pet's age, health status, and the specific supplement being used. Some pet owners report seeing improvements within a few weeks, while others may require longer-term supplementation for noticeable benefits.

Are WinProPet supplements safe for long-term use?

Yes, WinProPet supplements are formulated with high-quality, natural ingredients and are designed for long-term use to support ongoing pet health and wellness. However, it's advisable to follow recommended dosage guidelines and monitor your pet's response over time.

Can WinProPet supplements be used alongside other medications or treatments?

WinProPet supplements are generally safe to use alongside other medications or treatments, but it's essential to consult with your veterinarian to ensure compatibility and avoid potential interactions.

Do WinProPet supplements require refrigeration?

WinProPet supplements are shelf-stable and do not require refrigeration. However, it's recommended to store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight for optimal freshness and efficacy.

Things are going to change around here.

Said not in the tone my father used to say those words ...

The topics of grief, loss and pet loss grief are heavy, and I understand that not every episode is easy to listen to, especially if you're in grief.

It's taken its toll on me too.

To care better care of myself, we're rebranding from One Last Network to The Companions Collective and diversifying the content we're going to offer.

Look forward to discussions on a broader range of pet-related topics, including the profound connection between human and companion animal and the incredible projects my professional pet photographer friends are using to change the world.

Let's emBARK on this next stage of the journey!

Lynn Sehnert of Lance and Lili Photography covering the Washington, D.C., area takes the mic today and interviews Jessey Scheip, a licensed veterinary technician with a specialty in behavior.

Jessey also has training certification from the Karen Pryor Academy and has worked with Dr. Amy Pike of the Animal Behavior Wellness Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

That's where Lynn met Jessey, looking for help with her sweet boy Lance.

Jessey enjoys teaching pet guardians how to understand their pets and how to use behavior principles to ensure they grow together and live their best lives together.

Today, Lynn and Jessey have an in-depth discussion about canine cognitive disorder.

What to listen for

• How Jessey fills a void between veterinary behaviorists and standard trainers
• What symptoms should pet guardians watch for to notice CCD
• Why pet guardians should track their pets' health changes
• Treatment options for canine cognitive dysfunction
• When to decide it's time to say goodbye

Where to find Jessey

Mindful Mentor Behavior Consulting

Facebook

Other episodes you may find interesting

The Art of Balancing Behavior Issues, part 1, with Dr. Kyle Bohland

The Art of Balancing Behavior Issues, part 2, with Dr. Kyle Bohland

The Art of Aging Gracefully with Dr. Dennis Wormald

You may have heard of animal chaplains.

They are spiritual caregivers who provide support and comfort to individuals who are grieving the loss of a beloved companion animal or who are facing difficult decisions related to their pets' health and wellbeing.

And then there's Scott Campbell, veterinary chaplain.

Veterinary chaplains are rare in the United States. Scott is one of just a handful of these trained professionals who provide emotional and spiritual support to veterinary staff, in addition to pet guardians and the animals in veterinary settings.

There are even fewer of them affiliated with a university, and Scott practices his craft at Washington State University, just down the road from me in Pullman, Washington.

A veterinary chaplain's role may seem similar to that of a chaplain in human healthcare but individuals like Scott focus specifically on the unique challenges and emotional experiences within the veterinary medicine realm.

Scott joins me on the podcast today to share his journey into veterinary chaplaincy and his passion for supporting the emotional well-being of pets, pet guardians and the world-class team at WSU, affectionately known in these parts as WAZZU.

We talk about the challenges faced by the veterinary profession, including its high suicide rates, and how his own experiences are motivating him to establish the American Association for Veterinary Chaplains.

Have a listen as Scott shares how he aims to alleviate the emotional burdens of the veterinary community and foster healing for those of us who suffer as our companion animals need care.

What to listen for

• How Scott ensures WSU clients feel comfortable and heard
• Why a veterinary chaplain must be prepared to address a variety of belief structures
• The evolution of companion animals as family members in society
• What Scott finds more rewarding about veterinary chaplaincy

Scott hosts a series of events called Celebration of Life and Remembrance for our Animal Companions for pet guardians to grieve and honor the lives of their precious babes. The event will feature a Remembrance Garland Ceremony, during which participants write messages on ribbons and attach them to a garland that's hung outside the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at WSU in Pullman.

The next one is set for Saturday, April 13, at the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center. It starts at 10:30 a.m., doors open at 10 a.m. and Scott suggests it's a good idea to arrive early to prepare a ribbon for the garland.

A social hour follows from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Are we doing better? And can we do better yet?

These are the questions I had for Dr. Dani McVety, the cofounder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and In-Home Euthanasia with Dr. Mary Gardner. Lap of Love is a national network of veterinary doctors who offer hospice care and peaceful euthanasia in the comfort of a pet's home.

When Dani was prepping a family for a euthanasia one night at the emergency clinic where she was working shortly after graduating from veterinary school, her client said, "Please, can you leave her on my lap? I don't want her on that cold sterile table. I want her right here with me."

That wasn't clinic policy, though.

Dani said yes. And it was at that moment, she knew that's what every pet deserves, to be in the place where they are most comfortable … their guardian's lap.

Lap of Love was born, and now 15 years later, Dani and her cofounder are advocates for ways the veterinary world can improve the euthanasia process for pets and their families.

After all, the word "euthanasia" is Greek for "eu," or easy, and "thanatos," or death.

Easy death.

Let's find out what that really means.

What to listen for

• How end of life care has evolved for veterinarians
• The importance of honoring a pet's journey
• Why pet guardians need a comfortable, supportive space
• How a better experience can shift the end of life process
• Normalizing hospice care in veterinary medicine

Where to find Dr. Dani McVety

Lap of Love

Dr. Dani McVety (for speaking engagements)

Lap of Love Facebook

Lap of Love Instagram

Lap of Love YouTube

I've struggled a while with addressing this topic.

I don't have human children, never wanted one. So who was I to host a podcast on how to talk to kids about the family pet dying?

But I remembered that all I had to do was put on my old journalist hat and ask the right questions.

First question: who can answer those questions?

Of course, my good friend Coleen Ellis of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center can. Coleen is also my mentor in pet loss grief companioning.

With Dr. Mary Gardner, cofounder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, Coleen has written two books to guide children through their grief. Both are called "My Forever Friend."

One is for saying goodbye to a special dog and the other for saying goodbye to a special cat. Each one contains activities for parents and children to work through together.

Coleen, who also doesn't have skin children, a term I learned from Coleen, is quite easily the kind of person you can trust to accompany your kids on this grief journey.

She's dynamic and engaging and most importantly empathetic and compassionate.

What to listen for

• How Coleen guides children through their grief with a collaborative, empathetic approach
• The importance of letting children grieve and process their emotions their own way
• Why we should use clear language when discussing death with children
• Involving children in the planning for and day of euthanasia

Where to find Coleen

Coleen Rocks

Two Hearts Pet Loss Center

Forever Friend: A children's guide and activity book for saying goodbye to a special dog (Amazon)

Forever Friend: A children's guide and activity book for saying goodbye to a special cat

Losing a pet is a profound experience that often leaves us grappling with overwhelming emotions. Today, I'm giving you permission to cry on your journey of pet loss grief and standing up for the need to normalize grieving for a pet.

In a world that often tells us to toughen up and hide our emotions, it's time to challenge the stigma surrounding tears, especially when it comes to grieving the loss of a beloved pet.

Let's dive into the significance of allowing ourselves to cry and the importance of normalizing the grief experienced over the death of a furry companion.

What to listen for

• Your permission to cry
• What I learned as a child about crying
• Tears as natural detox
• How society suppresses our grief over losing a pet
• A path to healing the world

You might not want to believe what I'm about to tell you … brace yourself.

Running an animal rescue isn't all glamour, snuggles and magical puppy breath.

I know, right? Shocking.

Running an animal rescue can be incredibly challenging, logistically and emotionally. On one hand, there's an immense satisfaction and joy in providing a safe haven for animals in need, giving them a chance at a better life.

On the other hand, it comes with a heavy responsibility of making decisions to end an animal's life.

The simple reality is -- and it's going to be a tough one to hear -- not every life can be saved. There may be cases where euthanasia is the most humane option, whether due to illness, injury or behavioral issues.

These decisions weigh heavily on the shoulders of those running a sanctuary, as they must balance compassion with practicality and often limited resources.

Amy Castro of Starlight Outreach and Rescue in Friendswood, Texas, joins us today to talk about the ongoing burden of making those decisions.

Amy is a people management and communications expert who coaches organizations on leadership building. While volunteering at one of her local rescues, she felt prompted to start her own in 2017.

With upwards of 40 animals on her 7-acre property at any given time, Amy has developed a relatively thick skin when it comes to making end of life decisions.

But that doesn't always make it easy.

What to listen for

• Amy's inspiration for Starlight Outreach and Rescue
• The factors Amy considers before euthanizing a rescue animal
• The importance of making humane decisions for each animal
• The emotional impact of running a rescue and sanctuary
• How Amy strives to educate pet guardians about their responsibilities

Where to find Amy and Starlight Outreach

Starlight Outreach and Rescue

Starlight Pet Talk podcast

Starlight Pet Talk's Instagram

I'm a word nerd.

I took linguistics courses toward my bachelor's degree and I've been a professional writer for more than 30 years.

Words matter to me.

And recently I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the language and words we use around death, loss and grief, particularly when we're talking about our companion animals.

So I brought back my fellow word nerd and friend of the pod, Beth Bigler, for her third appearance.

Beth, who has become so well known for her Instagram account, @honoringouranimals, is a certified pet loss grief counselor and pet chaplain.

She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in arts and has over 20 years of experience in film, including in writing. Heck, she's even an instructor at New York Film Academy in their screenwriting and producing departments.

Beth even uses writing in her counseling, helping her grief clients navigate their journey of love and loss with their pets through the power of story.

What to listen for

• Some of our terminologies with pet loss grief are old-fashioned
• Our beliefs about death influence the way we talk about it
• The challenges of language when discussing death
• Our words can create moments of self-compassion and self-loathing
• Why we hate the terms "pet loss grief" and "end of life pet photography"

Where to find Beth

HonoringOurAnimals.com

Instagram

The Art of Finding the Right Support

The Art of Chasing Rainbows

I know you know what I'm talking about when I say sometimes our veterinarians aren't the best communicators.

Hell's bells, Dani McVety told us as much on the podcast last fall. They're introverts. They'd rather be dealing with our animals, not us.

So sometimes they tell us a lot of words that go in one ear and out the other. Or we run home and start Googling, doing our best to remember the words and take our best shot at spelling them.

Enter Tyler Sugerman.

An emergency vet in Tacoma, Washington, Tyler bridges the gap between vet jargon and pet guardians on his podcast Vetsplanation.

With a goal to help pet guardians keep their animals happy, healthy and safe, Tyler breaks the science of vet care down into simple, understandable terms.

Today, he shares that journey with us.

Where to Find Tyler

Vetsplanation website

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Erica's back!

Erica Messer is the genius behind Wolfie's Wish, an online resource for pet guardians in grief.

It started with a deck of cards, simple pieces of guidance or affirmations that a grieving pet guardian can look to for a little help in getting through the day.

In The Art of Shuffling the Deck, we chatted about Erica's journey through pet loss grief after losing her beloved Wolfgang and how we can support each other in our grief.

We're checking back in because Erica has expanded the Wolfie's Wish website into an online shop and guidance center, and she is hosting her own virtual grief support group.

What to listen for

Erica spills the beans on her new podcast and other developments at Wolfie's Wish

Why self-care is so important during anticipatory grief

The conversation around pet loss grief is changing

How to use our memories to help us heal

Where to find Wolfie's Wish

Wolfie's Wish 

Instagram 

Facebook: Wolfie's Wish Pet Loss Support Group 

YouTube 

We're back with Dr. Kyle Bohland from the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.

Last week, we talked about the behavioral issues that seems to be becoming more common in our companion animals.

Today, we're exploring the complex issue of behavioral euthanasia. We talk about the signs that might prompt such a decision and the factors involved in the process.

Dr. Bohland emphasizes the importance of considering our pets' quality of life and safety, along with the quality of life and safety of the humans who share the home.

Dr. Bohland highlights how the decision to euthanize on the basis of behavioral issues requires teamwork from the pet guardian and their veterinarian.

What to listen for

5:23 How to decide it may be time for behavioral euthanasia

11:45 The considerations a veterinarian might have around behavioral issues

15:00 Having a conversation with your vet about behavioral euthanasia

19:09 When your vet might start that conversation

32:13 The impact behavioral euthanasia has on the veterinary world

Where to find Dr. Bohland

Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center

OSU's Honoring the Bond Grief Support

OSU Facebook

OSU YouTube

We spend a lot of time talking about the grief we experience as pet guardians whose companion animals have grown old or become terminally ill.

There are other types of loss and grief, though, that pet guardians can experience.

Many carry with them elevated levels of trauma -- sudden death, runaways, theft, loss of custody due to the end of a relationship -- and I would love to interview someone on those very subjects.

Today, though, we’re talking about behavioral issues in our companion animals, especially dogs, and the way we manage and treat reactivity or aggression.

Dr. Kyle Bohland of the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center joins me to talk about his work in behavioral studies and the intricacies around behavioral euthanasia.

Dr. Bohland was born and raised in Fremont, Ohio, and completed his undergraduate degree in economics at the University of Akron. After graduation, he earned his master's in science in agricultural, environmental and development economics from Ohio State University.

Along the way, he realized veterinary medicine was his true calling, a career he'd dreamed of since childhood. He graduated from the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018 and worked in general practice doing preventive medicine, general medicine, urgent care, surgery and dentistry.

All the while, he was working on his residency program in behavioral medicine at OSU and then joined the faculty full time.

His topics of interest lie in end of life care, pain management and the behavior of shelter-housed animals. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, 6-year-old child, four senior dogs, one cat and a few fish.

What to listen for

2:42 Early socialization and its impact on dog behavior

8:29 The positive and negative impacts COVID-19 has had on dog behavior

13:27 Trauma and reactivity in shelter dogs

21:55 How the unregulated dog training industry affects dog behavior

The Dog Aging Project is a groundbreaking initiative that seeks to unravel the mysteries of aging in dogs and, by extension, gain insights into the aging process in humans. Launched in 2018, this collaborative effort involves researchers from various institutions, including the University of Washington School of Medicine and Texas A&M University. The project is designed to be the most extensive study of canine aging, with the aim of improving the health and well-being of both dogs and humans.

At the heart of the Dog Aging Project is a longitudinal study that follows the lives of thousands of dogs over several years. By collecting comprehensive data on various aspects of a dog's life, including genetics, lifestyle and environment, researchers hope to identify factors that contribute to longevity and healthy aging. The ultimate goal is to develop interventions and treatments that can enhance the quality of life for both aging dogs and aging humans.

One key aspect of the project is the inclusion of citizen scientists—dog owners who actively participate by providing information about their pets. This crowdsourced approach not only facilitates data collection on a massive scale but also fosters a sense of community among dog owners who share a common interest in understanding and improving the aging process for their furry companions.

Dr. Kate Illing, one of the research veterinarians with the project—and who hails from my favorite city in the whole wide world, Calgary, Alberta—joins us today to chat about the Dog Aging Project and in particular the research she's doing on rapamycin.

What to Listen For

4:24 Kate's journey from engineering to veterinary medicine

7:51 The mission behind the Dog Aging Project

15:06 Kate's research into anti-aging drug rapamyacin

19:01 Who can enroll in the Dog Aging Project

Sign Up for the Dog Aging Project

Enroll Your Dog

Find DAP on Instagram

Did you know February is Pet Dental Health Month? Vets clinics across North America dedicate their marketing programs to raising awareness about the importance of oral hygiene in our pets.

Just like us, our pets can suffer from such dental issues as plaque buildup, gum disease and tooth decay.

If we take proactive steps, though, we can prevent these and ensure our pets' overall well-being.

I've been fortunate with Bella. Dental care is a priority at our vet clinic. And then … a couple of months ago, I went to a networking event at -- of all places! -- a dentistry clinic for pets.

Elevated Pet Dentistry recently opened on Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley with Dr. Madelynn Mayes running the ship.

Maddie has been a veterinarian for 13 years, after graduating from Washington State University in 2010. She was one of only 40 students selected to take an online dental course and wet lab, sparking her interest in dentistry.

She started her career as a rural mixed animal practitioner and then transitioned to small animal-only work.

But a specialization, a niche, kept calling to her.

She nurtured her passion by completing numerous advanced dental training courses with specialists across the country. Her learning helped her improve her technique and proficiency in all areas of general and advanced dental care.

Let's meet Maddie and have her tell us all about it.

What to listen for

3:26 The impact of dental issues on our pets

8:33 Which dog breeds are more prone to dental issues

10:02 Dental issues that are common in cats

13:18 What we can do at home to care for our pets' teeth

17:19 How often our pets should have their teeth cleaned

Joy is a stupid word.

Or at least it feels that way when you're living with grief. Very little feels like "joy" or "happiness" when you're bound by this complexity of navigating a whole new world without your companion animal.

Our host, Angela Schneider of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, Washington, explores the challenges we face in grief, especially when we're faced with people who want us to be more positive and, ahem, "get over it."

But the cult of positivity doesn't serve everyone.

Angela emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our feelings, embracing the emptiness we feel and redefining the word "joy" in our new world.

Remember, it's OK to not conform to societal expectations. Finding contentment in the present moment may be the only way you need to feel right now.

What to listen for

2:43 Is the real work to be happy or simply to be alive?

5:00 Why the words "joy" and "happy" might feel uncomfortable

8:00 The experience of witnessing someone else's grief

9:45 Steps you can take to find your peace

If you need extra help

Get $10 off your first 12 months of Help Texts

Losing our pets is a deeply emotional experience, and navigating the grief that follows is an essential aspect of self-care. Pets become precious members of our families, offering unconditional love and companionship. Coping with their loss requires acknowledging and processing the complex emotions that arise.

Our own self-care during pet loss grief becomes crucial. Our grief isn't just overwhelming and confusing, it's also exhausting. Our tanks run empty because all of our energy is funneled into the pain and sorrow we're feeling.

Our founder and host Angela Schneider of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, Washington, shares some thoughts this week about why we need to make self-care a priority and how we might do that.

Listen as Angela shares personal insights and valuable lessons to help navigate the intricate journey of grief.

What to listen for

1:32 Why grieving for our pets can be more intense

3:37 The importance of acknowledging our grief

4:58 Ways to cope with grief

6:32 How to prioritize ourselves

📚Recommended Episodes to Revisit:

• The Art of Surviving the Holidays
• The Art of Saying No with Sheryl Green
• The Art of Navigating Your New World with Kait Dinunzio

Your discount codes

Dr. Buzby's Tip-to-Tail Health Scan: Use code ONELAST

Get $10 off your first 12 months of Help Texts

Facing the holidays while grieving the loss of your pet can be an emotionally challenging experience.

Our companion animals hold a special place in our hearts, serving as best friends, the most important member of our support network and a huge source of unconditional love.

During the holiday season, traditions and celebrations may trigger memories of shared moments with our pets, intensifying the sense of loss.

Their absence can create a profound void, making it difficult to fully engage in festive activities. The holiday spirit, typically associated with joy and togetherness, can feel tinged with sadness.

The holidays can also amplify feelings of loneliness and isolation. The companionship and comfort our pets provide are irreplaceable, and the void left by their absence can be acutely felt during a time when the emphasis is on connection and togetherness.

We're releasing this episode a couple of days early in case you need to hear it on Thanksgiving morning.

Our host and pet loss grief educator Angela Schneider shares 10 strategies you might want to try to get survive these next few weeks.

What to listen for

00:43 Angela's struggles with the holidays
3:13 10 strategies for coping with the holidays
5:11 Where to look for support
7:53 Why it's OK to cry during the holidays

Your discount codes

Dr. Buzby's Tip-to-Tail Health Scan: Use code ONELAST

Get $10 off your first 12 months of Help Texts

Welcome to One Last Network and the Art of Being Kind to Your Vet.

Dr. Lianna Titcombe is the founder and owner of Claire Place Veterinary Hospice in Ottawa, Ontario, one of the first practices in Canada devoted to end-of-life care for companion animals.

You may remember her from The Art of Checking Your Phone. Lianna is one of the veterinarians who have contributed to the pet loss grief content in Help Texts, an SMS-based service to help people cope through loss and grief.

On the subject of animal hospice and palliative care, she is an author, speaker, educator and mentor. She is the past president of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care and is still active with their international committee.

She participates in volunteer missions to provide veterinary care to underserviced communities both locally and in developing countries.

And she has been the director of the Pet Loss Support Group of Ottawa for over 20 years.

In getting to know each other, Lianna and I learned we were both in the 2022 cohort for David Kessler's grief educator program.

Her true passion is the art of gentle euthanasia and in 2021, became the international director and instructor for Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy.

After 20 years in veterinary medicine, she has retired from clinical practice to focus on education. She's also a certified yoga instructor and compassion fatigue professional, who is offering grief retreats to people living with loss.

Today, we have an in-depth conversation about the veterinary field, euthanasia and the vet-pet guardian relationship.

What to listen for

3:29 How Lianna's mom and dog George drive her to improve the death experience

7:12 Why planning the end can make it more peaceful

17:47 Veterinary burnout versus client expectations

26:44 The financial challenges of pet health care

38:04 The emotional impact of euthanizing pets as a veterinarian

Where to find Dr. Lianna Titcombe

Claire Place Veterinary Hospice in Ottawa, Ontario

Instagram

Facebook

Grief Retreats

Resources mentioned

Not One More Vet tips for pet guardians

Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy

Your discount codes

Dr. Buzby's Tip-to-Tail Health Scan: Use code ONELAST

Get $10 off your first 12 months of Help Texts

While much of our content on this podcast caters to senior pet care and the grief we endure in the days leading up to and after our last farewells, I love to bring you information about end of life pet photography sessions … with professional photographers.

One Last Network has a small but growing directory where you can find professional photographers in your area to assist you in creating the kind of memories I believe will help to comfort you in your grief and lead you toward a path of healing.

We gather together every couple of months to discuss a subject pertinent to our work so that you can prepare for your upcoming session and feel comfortable with your photographer.

One of the key elements in being a photographer is the ability to translate any location, any moment into beautiful memories.

The right location can elevate our photos and create a memorable experience and as professional photographers, it is our responsibility to know where the great locations are for your end of life pet photography session and how to work with a less than ideal location.

Who joins us

Sharon Canovas

Canovas Photography in Hamilton, Ontario

Instagram

Kylee Doyle

Kylee Doyle Photography in Sacramento, California

Instagram

Jenn Wilson

Jenn Wilson Pet Portraiture in Kitchener, Ontario

Instagram

Darlene Woodward

Pant the Town Photography in Georgetown,  Massachusetts

Instagram

Lynn Sehnert

Lance & Lili Photography in Ashburn, Virginia

Instagram

Lisa Peterson

Pawsh Photography in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Instagram

Nicole Hrustyk

Pawtraits by Nicole in Las Vegas, Nevada

Instagram

Angela Schneider (host)

Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, Washington

Instagram

Your discount codes

Dr. Buzby's Tip-to-Tail Health Scan: Use code ONELAST

Get $10 off your first 12 months of Help Texts

We've spent a lot of time on this podcast talking about grief over the loss of our beloved companion animals.

Much of the content has revolved around anticipatory grief and the loss of a pet due to a terminal illness or old age.

But there are many more types of loss pet guardians can face.

Runaways.

Accidents.

Surrenders.

Custody battles.

Behavioral euthanasia.

And they all carry with them trauma and nuanced, complex emotions.

My dear friend Coleen Ellis of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center joins me to unravel those emotions and how guilt and grief intertwine.

Where to Find Coleen

Two Hearts Pet Loss Center

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Nestled on an 11-acre farmland in Rutledge, Georgia, sits a special rescue for dogs.

The dream for pet and horse photographer Courtney Bryson, whom you may remember from The Art of Finding the Perfect Imperfect, and her wife Renee Ussery began when they helped on a hoarding case in August 2011.

There were 35 Boston terriers, pugs and buggs, or Boston-pug mixes, in crisis. Local rescues teamed up and needed just six days to coordinate transportation and fosters for each dog. But first they had to wait in a non-climate-controlled and very crowded municipal shelter. Six to eight dogs were in each kennel and they were all suffering from mange, flea infestations and illnesses. More than half contracted parvo and died.

Courtney and Renee launched their mission: to look for land where they could build a short-term emergency shelter for dogs in crisis. They purchased their property in October 2012 and launched the Rescue Ranch with 17 indoor kennels, each with its own outdoor dog run, and space for veterinary exams.

And over there in the corner, you'll see a memorial garden for the pets they took in and never left.

As the Rescue Ranch evolved in this last decade, Courtney and Renee are rising to the challenge of working with medically fragile and hospice animals.

Which means they have to say goodbye … often. Sometimes sooner than they expected.

Today, they share with us a conversation they have about the challenges of facing grief as often as they do. Have a listen.

What to listen for

5:23 The first hospice dog they cared for

8:19 Caring for and losing medically fragile dogs

10:10 Making the decision to end a dog's life

13:01 Giving each dog a full life

18:30 The emotional impact of losing a dog

23:40 How grief manifests in rescue work

Where to find Courtney and the Rescue Ranch

CM Bryson Photography

The Rescue Ranch

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YouTube

Your discount codes

Dr. Buzby's Tip-to-Tail Health Scan: Use code ONELAST

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The big thing I love about today's guest is how she stresses the power of our relationships with our dogs.

Dr. Julie Buzby has been an integrative veterinarian for nearly 20 years. She earned her certification from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in 1998 and from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2002.

She blends traditional Western medicine with alternative therapies and creates out-of-the-box tools for pet guardians to understand and improve their dogs' health and quality of life.

She invented ToeGrips, synthetic sheaths that cover the dogs' toenails and assist with traction and mobility.

The blog on ToeGrips.com is an incredible resource for all pet guardians, but especially for us pet guardians whose companion animals are entering or have entered the senior stage.

Today, she guides us through the concerns we need to have as guardians of senior dogs and how to recognize the more telling signs that something might be wrong.

Make sure you stay tuned to the end for a special discount code from Dr. Buzby.

What to listen for

0:20 Dr. Buzby's passion for veterinary and holistic medicine

4:12 How ToeGrips can help your dog move around the house

9:31 The signs we need to watch for in our senior dogs

18:18 Changes we can make around the house to help our senior dogs

25:45 The factors that affect a dog's longevity

32:19 How to maintain our dogs' dignity in their golden years

Where to find Dr. Buzby

ToeGrips.com

Instagram

Facebook

Your discount codes

Dr. Buzby's Tip-to-Tail Health Scan: Use code ONELAST

Get $10 off your first 12 months of Help Texts

One day, Sheryl Green realized people-pleasing was getting her nowhere.

She had trouble saying no to friends and family, until she hit the old metaphorical brick wall.

That's when she discovered what a boundary is.

When Sheryl was growing up, she dreamed of becoming an FBI profiler and hunting down serial killers. A wicked cool job that would have been, if you ask me … I mean, I've seen almost every episode of Criminal Minds … at least until Shemar Moore left the show.

She earned a master's in forensic psychology until she realized she'd rather not spend her days inside the minds of criminals.

Her path took her instead to mental health, customer service, public relations, education and the nonprofit world, including animal rescue.

As a relationship expert, she has now authored six books, including "Surviving to Thriving: How to Overcome Setbacks and Rock Your Life," "A Pet Parent's Guide to First Aid and Prevention" and "You Had Me at No: How Setting Healthy Boundaries Helps You Banish Burnout, Repair Relationships and Save Your Sanity."

I brought Sheryl on to the podcast to talk about exactly that. Boundaries. Especially the boundaries we need to set and maintain when we're facing or healing from the loss of our best fur friends.

What to listen for

4:19 How others can be inappropriate with our grief

9:30 What boundaries are and why they matter

15:01 How to assert your boundaries

21:10 Why having a "boundary buddy" can help

35:04 How standing up for ourselves maintains our self-worth

Where to find Sheryl

Sheryl Green Speaks

You Had Me at No on Amazon

Sheryl's books on Amazon

Facebook

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Lorem

Welcome to One Last Network and The Art of Finding the Love We Deserve.

Julie Schurr has been a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community for more than 25 years. She has served the queer community in a number of ways, including educator, entertainer and advocate.

An expat American living in Spain, Julie seeks to continue uplifting her chosen family through mindset and growth coaching, with a focus on grief. Along with her certification in coaching, she is accredited in cognitive behavioral therapy and rational emotive behavioral therapy. She also holds a master's in linguistics.

The queer community is drastically underserved in so many ways. Its members face experiences that those who identify as nonqueer will never understand. Those experiences -- often coupled with profound loss -- can bring stress, grief and lack of focus.

Julie wants to help her community overcome those feelings and remind her family members that they have the strength to do so.

I reached out to Julie because I have so many friends in the queer community, friends who have endured loss … friends who have endured the loss of pets.

And I know from my own perspective how isolating grief and loss can be but I wanted us to better understand the loneliness and isolation that our queer brothers and sisters experience when they say goodbye to their best fur friend.

Have a listen.

What to listen for

6:36 How Julie fought for LGBTQ2S+ students as a teacher

11:48 The microaggressions and discrimination Julie faces daily

24:03 When Julie met Avery, the love she deserves

34:07 How the love of pets can fill the void of loss

47:10 How health care practitioners and allies can do better

Where to find Julie

Coach Julie Schurr

LinkedIn

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Rev. Jennifer Cormier is a grief coach and earth-based ceremonial artist who brings 20 years of experience in the healing arts to help her clients move through life transitions and grief. 

She is committed to the revolution of how we view death and walk with grief. The creator of a program called Walk Through Grief with Grace, she wants us all to shift our perspective to include our body in our grieving processes and see grief as a creative collaborator in our lives. 

That's when we open the door to healing and peace. 

Jenn joins me today to discuss grief and grace and how we can use creative writing, nature, movement and more to release the pain of grief and bring us closer to healing.  

What to listen for 

1:44 Jenn's personal journey with grief and her dad's cancer 

13:46 The difference between running away and questing 

17:36 Finding comfort in movement and activity 

22:25 Jenn's emotional attachment to a car 

27:50 How to allow grief to move through the body and mind 

31:55 Why creative expression can facilitate healing from grief and loss 

Where to find Jenn 

Walk Through Grief with Grace 

The WTGWG podcast on Spotify 

The WTGWG podcast on Apple 

Grief and Grace Facebook Group 

Fall Healing Retreat: A Sacred Journey to Reclaim Joy After Loss, Nov. 12-18, in Teotihuacan, Mexico 

Don't forget 

Get $10 off your first 12 months of Help Texts

In a world that often feels fast-paced and impersonal, dealing with grief can be an isolating and challenging experience. Go back to episode 49, The Art of Exploring the Loneliness Within, to hear my thoughts on why that isolation becomes compounded when we lose our beloved pets.

When a companion animal leaves our physical world, our grief is profound and often misunderstood by people who haven't experienced such a bond, including those who may be closest to us.

Recognizing this need for specialized support, Help Texts -- an innovative SMS-based grief support service -- recently released a segment dedicated to help individuals like us manage our pain and sorrow.

Help Texts makes a significant impact in the realm of grief support, providing a confidential and accessible platform for us to find solace and guidance during such a difficult time. It uses the simplicity and ubiquity of text messaging to deliver timely and empathetic support to people like us who may be struggling to find inclusive support or an appropriate outlet for our grief.

The pet loss grief segment demonstrates the organization's commitment to addressing diverse forms to grief and fostering a compassionate and understanding community.

Melissa Lunardini, head of clinical at Help Texts, and Lianna Titcombe, a certified hospice and palliative care veterinarian out of Ottawa, Ontario, and one of Help Texts' expert contributors, join me today to fill us in on all the details.

What to listen for

4:48 The beginning and intention of Help Texts

10:07 How Help Texts tailors messages to grief stages

19:58 The importance of grief support, especially in anticipatory grief stages

22:39 Why pet loss grief must be normalized and validated

27:57 The differences between generations and cultures when grief strikes

40:08 How Help Texts is changing the way grief is perceived

Where to find Help Texts

Help Texts
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Other resources

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After the death of her son Jimmy in 2014, Margo Fowkes (Folks) created Salt Water, a blog and online community that provides a safe harbor for those who are grieving the death of someone dear to them. Inspired by Jimmy’s determination to live a rich, full life despite his cancer diagnosis, Salt Water’s articles and other resources focus on healing and building a new life in the aftermath of a devastating loss.

Margo is also the founder and president of OnTarget Consulting, Inc., a firm specializing in helping organizations and individuals act strategically, improve their performance and achieve their business goals. She works with clients to solve problems of productivity, morale and innovation. 

Margo recently released her first book, Leading Through Loss: How to Navigate Grief at Work, and she coaches leaders on how to create a more compassionate culture by acknowledging and speaking openly about grief and loss in the workplace.

That's what we're talking about today: how to navigate grief in the workplace, from the perspective of the person in grief to her coworkers and her management team.

But particularly from the context of pet loss grief. I remember at one of the newspapers I worked at decades ago, one of our graphic designers had to say goodbye to her horse. She took her year's worth of vacation, two weeks.

And I'll fully admit I didn't get it then. It took the pain of losing Shep for me to understand the depth of pain, and I wasn't working at the time. I was home alone and I remember yearning to have a job at the time -- not just to keep me busy but also to have a community around me, even if it might not have been as supportive as I needed it to be at the time. Because pet loss grief is disenfranchised and might not rank as worthy in the eyes of many who don't get it.

We talk about that, too.

What to listen for

3:10 What drove Margo into the grief business

7:32 How we carry our grief into the workplace

11:35 How we can create a more supportive workplace

15:41 What can management teams do to help employees in grief

28:24 The essential elements of providing support in the workplace

Where to find Margo

Salt Water: Find Your Safe Harbor

Salt Water on Facebook

Salt Water on Instagram

OnTarget Consulting

Margo's book, Leading Through Loss: How to Navigate Grief at Work, on Amazon

Dennis Wormald loves to find creative ways to educate dog owners on the misconceptions of dog behavior.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Dennis has a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine, focused on canine anxiety. As a vet, he exclusively treats dogs with mental health conditions and come to him with a wide range of behavior issues, such as aggression or separation anxiety.

He recently published his first book titled "A Dedication to Difficult Dogs," which gives a fresh perspective on canine mental health, covering common misconceptions of dog behavior, punishment versus training, and ownership vs. guardianship of dogs.

I reached out to Dennis to talk about the mental health conditions that can become present in our dogs as they age, wanting to learn more about cognitive decline and how we as pet guardians can allow our dogs to age gracefully.

What to listen for

3:25 How Dennis defines "reactivity" in dogs

6:45 Why a dog's first few vet visits can affect the rest of her life

18:13 How to identify cognitive decline and other medical conditions

24:06 The importance of consistently interacting with your dog

31:25 Treatment options for dogs with cognitive decline

36:16 Changes you can make in your home to help your senior dog

Where to find Dennis

A Dedication to Difficult Dogs

ABADog

Twitter

ABAdog on YouTube

ABAdog on Facebook

Resources mentioned

Senior Canine Cognitive Assessment by Purina

A few weeks ago, I drove out to the northwest side of Spokane, so far northwest I was at the tip of the beautiful Riverside State Park.

I met with Kit and Pete Jagoda, the founders of River's Wish Animal Sanctuary. River's Wish saves animal lives through rescue, education and advocacy. Kit and Pete strive to treat animals as individuals and to express their wonder and plight through visual art forms, from painting to jewelry-making.

The sanctuary is named for River, a dog who inspired Kit and Pete to do more for animals. River left their physical world in 1999 but he left an indelible stamp on their hearts, moving them to dream for a world in which every creature is able to live a full and joyful life.

Kit and I have a terrific discussion about the motivation she found in her grief for River, the constant state of anticipatory grief in which she exists, and why we must learn to see each animal's spirit and personality.

What to listen for

2:18 The year Kit's eyes were opened to animal care

6:34 How a rescue dog became the center of her life

14:58 The devastation of losing River to cancer

25:28 How Kit lives in a state of anticipatory grief

33:19 Why we must see animals as individuals

Where to find River's Wish

River's Wish Animal Sanctuary

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

How to help

Find more information on how to help Kit and Pete pursue their mission to give all animals a safe haven. You can donate, sponsor individual residents, bequeath your estate in your will or, if you're in the Spokane area, volunteer.

Diana Lundin's journey from journalist to dog photographer has been a winding one, filled with challenges and personal growth.

Now she's bringing her life full circle, joining journalism and dog photography together to shine a spotlight on the way climate change is affecting our animal species.

She leaped at a recent volunteer opportunity that took her on an adventurous cross-country road trip to relocate animals for a farm sanctuary. The 3,600-mile journey was not without its obstacles, as the team navigated weather challenges, vehicle issues and a rather hungry llama.

She documented the trip while driving the bus and caring for the animals and she intends to use the experience and her storytelling skills to bring light to the important conversation surrounding the impacts fo climate change.

Where to Find Diana

You want adventure? OK, drive an animal sanctuary across the country -- Medium

Diana Lundin Photography

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Grief can bring with it periods of loneliness and isolation.

Some may choose to find comfort in messages, hugs and social interactions after their pet's death, while others may need solitude to process their emotions and memories.

Our founder, Angela Schneider of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, Washington, has experienced both.

In today's episode she explores the deep emotional connection people have with their pets and how the grief of losing them can lead to isolation.

She dives into the way society often downplays the significance of pet loss grief and the impact of unsupportive reactions from others. She explains that isolation, whether self-imposed or societal, can affect the grieving process in both positive and negative ways.

For many, Angela says, the best path may be to find a balance of solitude with social interactions to navigate the grief journey in a healthy way. She encourages honoring your emotions while seeking support from friends, family and, when needed, professionals.

What to listen for

1:41 Why we develop such profound connections with our pets

2:45 How grief can be a very lonely journey

3:38 What happens if we withdraw too much

4:43 The benefits to finding time and space to yourself

7:07 When healing begins

Many dogs come to Dr. Masami Seplow after injury or when age is starting to attack their old bones and muscles.

She gets them walking again.

Dr. Seplow was born and raised in Japan where she earned her bachelor's degree in sociology and then moved to Miami, Florida, where she was working on her master's in Hospitality Management.

Then she heard the call of the wild.

Or rather the howl of a dog. Maybe the mew of a kitten.

She decided to be a veterinarian before receiving her degree. She turned her attention and got her degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine.

While working as a general practitioner at a 24-hour hospital, Dr. Seplow decided to become certified in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, which she has been practicing for more than 15 years. She received another certification in canine rehabilitation in 2015.

She is particularly interested in geriatric medicine and food therapy, in addition to rehab and Chinese medicine, because all of these modalities are positive and gentle.

Dr. Seplow describes herself as the Crazy Chihuahua Lady. She has rescued five: Ellie, Lucas, Romeo, Juliet and Millie.

This week, Kylee Doyle of Kylee Doyle Photography in Sacramento interviews Dr. Seplow about rehab, Chinese medicine and her work at the Sierra Ranch Veterinary Clinic and Pet Rehabilitation Center in Roseville, California.

What to listen for

4:14 When it's time to see a rehab vet like Dr. Seplow

7:14 Get the most out of your dog's rehab plan

13:24 Acupuncture can benefit your dog's recovery

18:26 Why you should always be touching your pet

20:44 How to check for changes in your dog's physical condition

Resources

Sierra Ranch Veterinary Clinic and Pet Rehabilitation Center

Instagram: @sierraranchpetrehab

Kylee Doyle Photography

Welcome to One Last Network and The Art of Joy and Pain.

One Last Network has a mission to provide you with the support and services you may need as your pets enter their twilight years and ultimately leave our physical world.  

We are all pet photographers, and we are one of the services we encourage you to find so that you create beautiful, everlasting memories of the love you have for your best fur friend.

Many of us, too, have become educated in what grief means and how we can best support you as you walk a path with your pet which can be overwhelming, confusing and emotional.

I became a pet loss grief companion through Two Hearts Pet Loss Center and a grief educator through David Kessler and Grief.com so I could teach my fellow pet photographers to do just that.

We have a profound appreciation for the love you have for your pets. Many of us have loved and lost.

And we can play a unique role in your support system as you're taking these last adventures with your beloved pet. We can be your shoulder to cry on when it feels like you have no one else in your life to understand.  

At your photo shoot, too, we know how to strike a balance between all the things you're feeling -- the sorrow, the pain, the confusion -- and how to celebrate the life of your pet and the deep bond you've created with that being. 

That's what we're talking about today. That delicate balance.  

I've gathered some of the photographers of One Last Network -- and many of them are now pet loss grief specialists -- together to chat about how we approach our end of life photography sessions so that you have beautiful artwork and images and support in your grief.

You will hear from:

Kylee Doyle of Kylee Doyle Photography in Sacramento, California

Courtney Bryson of CM Bryson Photography in Atlanta, Georgia

Jessica Wasik of Bark and Gold Photography in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Chris Miller of MIL Pet Photography in Berkshire, United Kingdom

Jenn Wilson of Jenn Wilson Pet Portraiture in Kitchener, Ontario

Nicole Hrustyk of Pawtraits by Nicole in Las Vegas, Nevada

Darlene Woodward of Pant the Town Photography in Georgetown, Massachusetts

Lynn Sehnert of Lance and Lili Photography in Loudon County, Virginia

and our newest pet loss grief specialist …

Lisa Peterson of Pawsh Photos in Minneapolis, Minnesota

What to listen for

3:55 Jessica and Chris discuss how their businesses have changed since learning about grief

6:58 Kylee has become a more active listener to support her clients

11:28 Courtney strives to find that balance between joy and pain at her sessions

30:39 Nicole adjusts her sessions depending on the dog's mobility

35:54 Lynn gives her clients space to be who they are in the moment

Welcome to One Last Network and The Art of Shuffling the Deck.  

Erica Messer encountered tragedy in 2020. Just months after finding her soul cat, Wolfgang, he had an accident and left her physical world.  

Her grief was overwhelming, especially since it was complicated with mental health issues. 

Wolfgang's death broke her in many ways. 

But like kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing ceramics with gold, she put herself back together and found her way down a new path, helping others see light through the darkness of their grief. 

In her own grief, she went searching for something simple that would help her focus on her healing.  

She found nothing suitable. 

In consultation with her mum, Bonnie, Erica put her whole heart in developing Wolfie's Wish, her own simple product, a deck of pet loss grieving cards. Each card carries a message, an instruction, an affirmation for dealing specifically with pet loss and the grief that accompanies it. 

The cards were first runner-up in the Accessories and Gifts category for the Best New Product awards at Superzoo, a large pet industry trade show, in 2022. 

The cards are just the beginning of the empire Erica wants to build as she steps forward into this new life of pet loss grief and being of service to pet guardians around the world.  

What to listen for 

4:06 Why Erica sought professional help for her own grief 

12:20 Erica's mission to help others in their grief 

21:25 Learning to talk to people in a more empathetic way 

32:01 How Erica finds new ways to support people in grief 

37:29 How to give someone grieving space to feel 

Where to find Erica 

Wolfie's Wish 

Instagram 

Facebook: Wolfie's Wish Pet Loss Support Group 

YouTube 

Other resources mentioned in this episode 

David Kessler's Healing Grief Card Deck 

One Last Network founder Angela Schneider digs deep into the complex, intertwined emotions of guilt and grief. 

Angela is a grief educator certified by David Kessler and grief.com and a pet loss grief companion certified by Two Hearts Pet Loss Center.

Losing a pet can be an incredibly challenging and heartbreaking experience, and understanding the psychological aspects behind guilt and grief can help us navigate this difficult journey.

The loss of a pet has a profound impact on our lives. Our pets become cherished family members, offering unconditional love, companionship and joy.

Losing them brings a number of complex emotions. We are often tortured in our grief by feelings of guilt, wishing we could have done more.

The sad reality is, though, that our pets don't live as long as we would like them to.

Listen as Angela offers her personal experience and some thoughts on how to confront your feelings of guilt as you grieve the loss of your pet.

What to listen for

2:23 Why losing a pet is so difficult

4:06 How self-blame can determine the way we grieve

5:40 Why we feel guilt after our pets die

9:14 How a bucket list can help us prepare

11:13 How to confront your feelings of guilt

Resources mentioned in this episode

Grief.com

How Guilt Stops Us from Feeling Helpless (The Science of Grief) with David Kessler

The Role of Cognitive Variables in Psychological Functioning After the Death of a First Degree Relative

Guilt in Bereavement: The Role of Self-Blame and Regret in Coping with Loss

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, your pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and strength, those who were hurt are made better and strong again, like we remember them before they go to heaven. They are happy and content except for one small thing—they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are shining, his body shakes. Suddenly he begins to run from the herd, rushing over the grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cuddle in a happy hug never to be apart again. You and your pet are in tears. Your hands again cuddle his head and you look again into his trusting eyes, so long gone from life, but never absent from your heart, and then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.

The Rainbow Bridge has long been a comfort to many whose pets have gone onto the next world.

The Facebook photos that get shared whenever someone posts about their loss usually list the author as "unknown." It was recently discovered, though, that it was written by a Scottish artist and animal lover, Edna Clyne-Rekhy.

She was 19 at the time -- more than 60 years ago -- and grieving the loss of her Labrador retriever, Major. Her mother suggested she write how she was feeling.

She showed it to friends. They wanted their own copies. It got passed around. It got changed over time.

Sixty years later, the sentiment remains the same. Our pets are waiting in some supernatural field of flowers and rainbows.

Waiting for us.

And many who are raised to belief in an afterlife find the words soothing, a promise that we'll see our beloved fur friends again.

Others find it off-putting. What if there's no afterlife? Why does my dog have to just sit there and wait for me until I die? What if … how does … and why …

As a recovering Catholic and an atheist, I wanted to dig deeper into this. Is the Rainbow Bridge the right piece of prose to share to someone whose pet just died? Is it meaningful, hurtful or an empty gesture like "thoughts and prayers"?

I put my friend Beth Bigler, a pet loss grief counsellor and the mastermind behind @honoringouranimals, on the hot seat.

What to listen for

4:46 Why we must be inclusive with beliefs in pet loss grief

12:39 How we maintain our connection after our pets have died

16:02 The confusion Beth experienced after Arne died

22:25 Why we must mirror a griever's language to provide support

27:30 How we can show up for people experiencing pet loss grief

36:59 Coping with the uncertainty of death, loss and grief

Acupuncture is a practice originating from traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate natural healing processes.

I had it done on my right hand when I was healing from a broken Bennet's joint and on my shoulder when I was healing from a torn rotator cuff -- both epically stupid softball injuries.

I also had it done on Shep in Calgary when we couldn't get in to see his chiropractor.

That was in 2011 or 12. Over the last 20  years, acupuncture has picked up steam as a valuable therapeutic option for pets, especially senior cats and dogs. It helps with pain management, stress and anxiety reduction, mobility and flexibility and support for organ function. It has even been shown to improve weak immune systems.

Today, Lynn Sehnert of Lance and Lili Pet Photography in Loudon County, Virginia, whose story you heard last week, interviews the veterinarian who helps manage her two dogs' health and anxiety.

Dr. Kathleen Phillips owns the Franklin Farm Veterinary Clinic in Herndon, Virginia. She is originally from Buffalo, New York, and is the unfortunate fan of the NHL Sabres and the NFL Bills … as we say in the sports world, always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

Anyhow … Dr. Phillips shares with us how acupuncture works and how she has seen vast improvements in the health and quality of life of several patients.

Lynn Sehnert has two senior dogs, both with their own share of health and reactivity issues.

Her boy Lance has been struggling with a physical mobility problem in his shoulders and Lynn has been sleeping in the downstairs section of her house to keep him company while he stays comfortable.

She has indeed turned her life over to managing Lance's and Lili's special needs, all while she keeps her focus on the photography business inspired by her two babies, Lance and Lili Pet Photography, based in Loudon County, Virginia.

Lynn is one of the very few pet photographers I know who dedicates her business to senior dogs and end of life sessions.

She is one of those gals who is like an M&M, hard outer shell but soft on the inside. She bares her soul for us around the challenges she has faced with her dogs' care and why her heart lies in photographing senior and ill pets … even as she exists in a swirl of her own anticipatory grief, caring for Lance and Lili in their senior years.

What to listen for

2:39 Lynn's life on the road

8:11 Why she's more of a homebody now

18:21 The choice to focus on senior dogs in pet photography

25:04 How Lynn makes sessions lighter for her clients in anticipatory grief

34:09 How Lynn is managing her own anticipatory grief

Stay at the end tuned for Angela's thoughts on anticipatory grief. We would love to hear from you if you're in the anticipatory grief stage and whether you're making plans for that inevitable day. Comment on this post or drop me a note at angela@onelastnetwork.com.

I first encountered Bryn Souza several years ago as a member of a writers group called BlogPaws and through the Dog Writers Association of America. We met in person the first time at the DWAA annual awards ceremony in February 2020 and again this past spring at Global Pet Expo.

To know Bryn is to see the sunshine in every day. She has a bright, engaging personality and she loves dogs. Oh my dog, how she loves dogs, especially her Boston terriers.

A graduate of Quinnipiac University with a master's in business administration, Bryn is smart and articulate. She hosts a blog about her life with her dogs at ADogWalksIntoaBar.com and she's now the marketing director of Pet Hub, the first company to launch a QR code ID tag in an attempt to lower the United States' dismal return to owner rate for lost pets.

Bryn's life took an awful turn in 2022. She lost her beloved Bean, her marriage, her cat Mimi, the home she loved … I wished I could have reached out to her and say, "Hey, I'm here if you need me," but I was in my own shitty year.

Bryn is our guest this week, sharing her journey through these last 18 months. Through it all, she has remained positive … and open to signs sent to her from Yoda and Bean, who are both in the next realm now, wherever that may be.

What to listen for

2:24 The losses come one after another

10:02 How Bryn managed multiple losses

12:49 When her comfort dog Yoda starts slipping away

16:28 Guilt knocks on the door

20:23 Messages from Yoda and Bean

28:45 How to stay open to change

Julie Gass of MSPCA-Angell in Boston is a veterinary social worker, who started her career in human medicine, working with serious illness and grief. She provided end of life and bereavement support to patients and their families at Mount Auburn Hospital but then turned to end of life care for pets and their families.

She's combined her love of animals and her passion for helping people to heal from loss and trauma.

With Darlene, Julie sheds light on the crucial yet often overlooked field of pet hospice care. With deep empathy and compassion, Julie helps pet owners navigate the painful process of saying goodbye to their beloved animal companions.

And through her insights and experiences, she illuminates the profound bond between humans and their pets and the importance of providing support during the final stages of a pet's life.

Julie breaks down the emotional challenges faced by pet owners as they prepare to say goodbye and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and validating the grief experienced by these individuals.

All while guiding these humans to make one of the hardest decisions we have to make as pet parents.

Find Julie and MSCPA

MSCPA-Angell

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In a world where power dynamics often leave us feeling disempowered and disconnected, Carmen Theobald has found a unique, transformative way to help humans reclaim their personal power and reconnect with their true selves.

Through her work at Horse Sense North, Carmen harnesses the healing power of horses to guide individuals on a journey toward empowerment and authenticity.

At Horse Sense North, the belief is that true empowerment comes from a place of balance and heart-centeredness. It is about finding the strength within ourselves to be who we are meant to be, without fear or inhibition. Carmen understands the challenges that come with navigating power dynamics and strives to provide her clients with the skills and tools necessary to move through the world with confidence and grace.

Carmen joins us to chat about the Horse Sense North mission that is centered on clarity, connection and courage. And how through the horses' unique ability to provide immediate, non-judgmental feedback, clients often rediscover their authentic selves and embark on profound inner journeys of healing and self-discovery.

And of course we talk about that one horse that changed Carmen.

What to Listen For

• Carmen's trauma, growth and connection with horses
• That horse that taught Carmen to understand a horse's perspective and trauma
• Where Carmen learned to show up for herself
• Why she wants to build a bridge between horses and humans
• How horses can help humans connect deeply with themselves and find their authenticity
• Why connecting with horses can help us transform our own healing journey

Where to Find Carmen

Horse Sense North

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Grief comes with a set of complex, profound emotions, and anger is a particularly intense one.

In this week's episode, One Last Network founder Angela Schneider launches a monthly series in which she aims to unravel the various emotions we encounter during the journey of anticipatory grief and post-loss grief. By combining her personal experiences with grief studies, she offers valuable insights and coping strategies for those navigating the depths of sorrow after losing a beloved pet.

Grief, an intricate tapestry of emotions, becomes even more intense when we lose a cherished furry companion. Angela explores the multifaceted nature of grief, with a particular focus on anger as an emotion intertwined with loss. Drawing upon the work of renowned psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who theorized the five stages of grief, Angela explains how anger can serve as a coping mechanism, allowing individuals to express and release their emotions.

To further understand the impact of pet loss on human emotions, Angela highlights the research of Dr. Sandra Barker, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction. Dr. Barker's studies reveal that the loss of a pet can evoke emotions as profound as those experienced in the loss of a human loved one, emphasizing the unique bond we share with our pets.

Angela candidly shares her personal experience of grappling with anger following the loss of her mother in January 2022. She describes the confusing mix of grief, sadness and rage that overwhelmed her, leading to unexpected bursts of fury. Recognizing that anger during grief can be directed towards oneself, circumstances surrounding the loss, friends, family, or even the departed loved one, Angela emphasizes the need to acknowledge and process this emotion constructively.

Angela reminds us to be patient with ourselves and to grant permission to feel and express all the emotions associated with grief, including anger. She affirms that grief is a deeply personal journey with no prescribed timeline or right way to grieve. Through self-reflection, healthy outlets and compassionate support, individuals can navigate the grieving process, gradually moving towards acceptance and healing.

What to listen for

2:10 The impact of pet loss on human emotions

3:43 Where our anger in grief lands

7:24 The 90-second rule by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

9:41 Ways we can redirect our anger

10:50 Where to find support

Resources mentioned in this episode

On Death and Dying by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

The Grief Recovery Method

The Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain by James W. Pennebaker and Joshua M. Smyth

Forever Friends @ Big White Dog Photography on Facebook

Chris Miller is the eye behind the camera at MIL Pet Photography in Windsor and Ascot, United Kingdom.

After a 40-year career in tech, he heard the call of the shutter release button … his dad having been a semiprofessional photographer, too.

But he also heard the howl of dog, too, and settled on a second career in dog photography.

With his wife Sue on his team, Chris created MIL Pet Photography with a goal to take pet guardians on magical adventures throughout their borough, which is about 30 miles outside London.

Things took a turn last fall, though, when Chris and Sue experienced the loss of their precious kitty, Summer. The heartache at their cat's sudden passing weighed … continues to weigh heavily.

But when Chris heard me interviewed on a podcast for photographers about One Last Network and the training I give to help professional pet photographers better support their clients in grief, a new path became clear.

He registered almost immediately, took the grief training and scored a perfect 18 on the certification quiz.

He now seeks to be a conduit for his clients to find the support and services they may need but not be aware of within his community. He strives to connect people and what a wonderful goal that is.

What to listen for

2:28 Chris's journey in dog photography

6:51 How dog photography fills Chris's soul

11:21 Why it was time for Summer to go

28:41 How Chris carries his grief into his sessions

39:17 How grief training has changed the way Chris exists

Where to find Chris

MIL Pet Photography

YouTube

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Instagram

Senior dogs are a vulnerable population in North American society. 

Family dogs may develop health problems that can be expensive to treat and require an investment of time to care when life is busy.  

A family's life circumstances may change, having to move to a new place … a rental where pets are not allowed. 

There may be changes in behavior due to cognitive decline and keeping the dog in the family may become challenging. 

Or cruelest of all the reasons, senior dogs are often abandoned because they're just old and a family wants a younger, bouncier puppy.  

According to the Grey Muzzle Organization, the adoption rate for senior dogs out of shelters is much lower than that of all other ages combined. Just over 50% of dogs in shelter who are 7 or older find new homes. 

The Grey Muzzle Organization is one of the only national organizations dedicated specifically to advancing lifesaving efforts on behalf of senior dogs. It is not a shelter or rescue group. Rather it funds programs such as hospice care, senior dog adoption, medical screening and other special programs to help old dogs at animal welfare organizations across the United States and Canada 

This month, the Grey Muzzle will be announcing more than $705,000 in grants to 78 animal welfare groups working to save and improve the lives of senior dogs. That will bring its total in grant funding to more than $3.8 million since the Grey Muzzle's inception in 2008. 

Our guest today is Lisa Lunghofer, the executive director of The Grey Muzzle Organization and Making Good Work, a nonprofit that provides grant writing, strategic planning, program development and other services to mission-driven organizations. Her expertise lies in the human-animal bond, animal welfare, at-risk youth, juvenile justice, child welfare, violence prevention and education. 

Have a listen as Lisa shares her journey from child welfare research to advocacy for senior dogs … and how she can't believe her own dog, Cameron, is about to turn 14. 

What to listen for

3:27 How Lisa's research led to the Grey Muzzle 

10:51 The rewards Lisa finds in a life surrounded by trauma 

12:47 How the Grey Muzzle changes the world for senior dogs 

25:24 The benefits of adopting a senior dog 

32:12 Ways you can help the Grey Muzzle 

Where to find Lisa 

The Grey Muzzle Organization 

Making Good Work 

The Grey Muzzle Instagram 

The Grey Muzzle Facebook 

The Grey Muzzle YouTube 

The Grey Muzzle LinkedIn 

Other Important Links 

Senior Dogs Rock Online Auction 

Donate to the Grey Muzzle Organization 

We don't want to think about the last day we have with our best fur friend, but as we've heard a couple of times from Coleen Ellis in The Art of Making Memories and The Art of Loving a Soul Dog (or Heart Dog), planning can help take some of the stress and pain away from the end.

Today, Darlene Woodward of Pant the Town Photography in Massachusetts takes the mic to chat with her friend, Dr. Jennifer Cushing of Beloved Pet Home Euthanasia and Hospice in Reading, Massachusetts.

Jennifer helped Darlene say goodbye last summer to her precious Kota, a Siberian husky full of spunk and sass.

The planning and in-home euthanasia gave Darlene the perfect way to lift Kota up to the next realm … gently and peacefully with her eyes on the backyard where she spent so many years chasing squirrels.

What to Listen For

4:13 Jennifer finds joy in the work she does

7:44 The difference between euthanasia at home and at the clinic

12:41 How this moment can be a celebration of life

19:29 The quality of life consultation

27:06 Why we can't wait until it's too late

Where to Find Jennifer

Beloved Pet Home Euthanasia and Hospice
Facebook

Where to Find In-Home Euthanasia Near You

International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care