Taking Pets for Granted

A few days ago I was driving through my neighborhood and I noticed a lady in her back yard. There were two large, beautiful dogs in the yard with her as she walked around, talking on her cell phone. What caught my eye were the attitudes of the dogs. They were well behaved, but they were both totally focused on the woman, wagging their tails and obviously hoping for some of her attention. She, on the other hand, was totally focused on the conversation she was having, oblivious to them. It really pulled at my heartstrings as I wondered how often I do that with my pets. All they ask of me is to give them that little bit of attention each day...a pet, a hug, a smile and an occasional treat. I know that sometimes I get so busy with tasks around the home, phone calls and time on the computer that I let those moments get away from me. Today, I want to make it a goal to pay a little more attention, to appreciate their devotion and unconditional love and to take more time out of my day to thank them for their companionship. Better still, I want to remember what my life would be like without them and to remember to savor the time we share while it's here.

Why Pet Peace of Mind?

Those of us who are pet lovers understand that pets provide companionship, unconditional love, affection and acceptance. These are things we all need and crave as human beings. But imagine what it would be like to find out tomorrow that you had a terminal illness? What would happen to your pets? What if you got so ill that you couldn't take care of them anymore? What about the cost of caring for yourself and for your pets? I, for one, couldn't imagine facing the end of my life without the comforting presence of my pets. They have been with me through so many changes in my life, both good and bad. Through it all, they never criticized me or judged me for my decisions. They were just there for me. I find that many of our patients feel the same way. Their pets have been faithful and accepting when others couldn't be there, couldn't take watching them go through a long illness or the many surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Like Mickey Rourke said in his Golden Globes' acceptance speech just last week, "Sometimes, when a man's down, that's all you've got is your dog." He knows what I'm talking about.
The Pet Peace of Mind program is about helping hospice patients give back to their faithful pet companions by providing them with the care they deserve, the care that their owners want them to have. For those of us who understand the many gifts that pets give us every day, it's a way to say thank you to our own pets by helping someone else's.