Explaining the pet-love to non-animal lovers via The Velveteen Rabbit

"The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.""--


Having lunch with an non-animal lover the other day, this was the analogy I used to explain the deep pet human bond and how deep and real it is.

Our pets are more than just pets, they are our family. For some who do not have children in their lives, our pets can be like a son or daughter to us.

For some non-animal lovers, it is hard to comprehend why pet lovers would compare their relationship with their furry companions to a human counterpart. So I tried to explain.
Just like in Velveteen rabbit, the bond we have with our pet deepen over time and become so deep that we can never go back.


I use Kayman, my toddler as an example. In toddlerhood, Kayman is already becoming her own person, expressing love and needs via words and gestures. While I am still her favorite person to spend time with, we have our moments of bonding and disagreements too. I know that one day in the near future, she may choose a playdate with a girlfriend over hanging out with mommie. I know that our love will always be true. It is instant, deep, everlasting. It may also sometimes be conditional.

With Casey, my 17 year old rat terrier, it happened over time. I have loved, laughed, worried, cried with joy and sadness over the years we have shared. She is unconditional in her loving for everyone. Her innate trust in me to provide shelter, food, and love for her is unwavering. She sleeps most days now, with only 10-20% of her kidneys functioning---yet saves up all of her energy to be with Kayman when she gets home from pre-school. For that special walk down the street...

I love this quote "God has your back", even when it seems like the going gets rough.
Besides God, I can say Sophie, Casey and Lulu has "gone to the mat" for me every time.
Sometimes, we have humans in our lives we love, but can't show up the way we would like them to.
Our pets always shows up, 110%. day after day.

After a bit, my friend got it.
Thank you Margery Williams Bianco...(author Velveteen Rabbit)

Introducing our 5 day pet memorial candle

Sophie, the inspiration behind my products company Luxepets would be proud of us this week. March has been an exciting month for us, in between recording our 28 days of grief and healing Pet Loss audiobook, to launching 3 new products. In partnership with Morris Animal Foundation, we are excited to introduce the 5 day pet memorial candle, a caring and thought gift for the grieving pet owner.  Made from all natural vegetable wax and a cotton wick, place this candle in a special location and light for 5 days in honor of a beloved animal companion. Part of proceed from every purchase goes towards helping animals enjoy longer, healthier lives by advancing health and welfare for companion animals, horses and wildlife worldwide. 


In a few hours, I will be boarding a plane and heading to Vegas for the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance Conference. We will bring the candle and our pet loss services to share with funeral directors, pet crematories and other pet loss related professionals. But for now, we would like to first share this special candle with you.


Have you lost a beloved pet?
Know a grieving friend who could use some extra love? 


10% of all sales this weekend will go to Morris Animal Foundation.


Blessings,
Claire

Love at first sight--What do you remember about the day you met your animal companion?

I recall the day I first met Sophie. I woke up one morning deciding it was the day I was going to get a dog. I had never had a dog but have always wanted one. I really had no idea where I was going to look. I felt guided that this was going to be THE day. My compass was a list of animal shelters in the Los Angeles area. Starting from the beach area, I made my way through shelters from the west and headed east. I made many four-legged friends that day. But none spoke to me like she did.

There are some who say that we don’t pick our animal companions. They pick us. This was the case of Sophie. It was in the afternoon when I found myself in East Los Angeles.
The last stop of the day, I did not know what I was looking for. She was a ball of white fur on the docket for euthanasia based on her mixed pit race. Sitting at the end of the kennel, she walked towards me and peered up with dark solemn eyes. Then she leaned in, her fur pressing against the chain link. A soul of goodness who somehow ended on the wrong side of the tracks. These are the details of our first meeting. It was love at first sight.

What do you remember about the day you met your loyal animal companion?

RE:the pug attack a la superbowl---could that be your dog?

I did not watch the superbowls yesterday, but a friend turned me onto some of the ads he enjoyed. One in particular stayed with me was Doritos's Pug Attack. Determination, fearlessness, resilience, loyalty (to the Doritos in this case), focused are some words that comes to mind in describing the pug. It could easily be shifted to any other situation between animal companion and caregiver.

Our animal companions are loyal. How many times have we walked down a street to see a pooch faithfully waiting outside for its caregiver and friend?
They are fearless. While on a walk with 17 year old Casey this morning, she was not buying the looks of a german shepherd across the walk and decided to give her a piece of her mind. Mind you, she could have easily walked under his legs without skooching down.
They are resilient. Ask my border collie Lulu, who likes to bury certain treats and bones in the backyard. Later, she is happy to spend an exponentially longer time looking for them.

The same could be said when they are under stress or in time of illness. Our animal companions are amazing souls who always rise to the occasion. In my playbook, they win every game, always giving it their best, without complaining. Even as they come into their senior years, and eventually, their own transition. They are loving, strong, compassion and ACCEPTING.

What can we learn from this commercial? The strengths of the above mentioned? If you have a senior pet, what can you do to assist them in keeping experiencing anticipatory grief ? Apply the same loving, compassion and kindness to yourself as you have done for them. What else? Would love to hear from owners with senior pets on this topic.

Here is a link to the superbowl ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5YrxeskZt0