Check Your Pet’s Condition.

You should be aware of your pet’s physical condition before traveling. You should go to your veterinarian to check on your pet. Make sure your pet has all the necessary vaccinations and health certificates. Pets that are sick, pregnant, too young or old shouldn’t be taken on a trip, and you should instead consider a pet sitter when you leave.

Driving in a Car

When you have your pet in a car, you should have it in a carrier or a pet seatbelt. Don’t allow your pet to stick its head out of the window. Besides the possibility of being hit by something, your pet can become carsick. If the weather is hot, you should have the air conditioning on.

When you drive, you should take several breaks to let your pet go to the bathroom. Never let your pet stay unattended for long periods of time in the car alone, even in a shaded area (the shade will move over time). The car might over-heat and dehydrate your pet.

You should not let your pet loose when traveling. The pet might run into traffic, get lost, etc.

Things to Bring for Your Pet

* Pet Food – You should feed your pet the brand you usually feed it, and avoid suddenly changing the diet. So if you are unsure where you are going will have the brand, bring some food.

* Bring Water – Bring about two – three gallons of water

* Two leashes and a extra collar

* Photograph of pet – There has been times when pets became lost when traveling with their owners. You should also bring a description of your pet. These will help greatly if unfortunately your pet becomes lost.

* Pet toys

* First aid kits

* Pet comb/brush

The general advice in this article will be helpful to anyone who wants to travel with his or her pet.

But, a lot of responsibility still lies with the pet owners when it comes to ensuring that their pets are safe and secure. Making sure a pet is safe and secure also includes taking the steps needed for their safe return if they are ever become lost. Each year more than a million pets are reported lost to shelter agencies around the nation, and a large majority of these pets are never returned because of lack of any identification, or up-to-date contact information for the owners.

Providing a method for lost pets to be identified and returned to their owners helps relieve rescue agencies and shelters of this task, and allows them to focus on returning the lost pet. The solution to this problem is provided by a company called RecoveryPets.Com, they have established a service that provides the pet owner with the ability to register their pet in a global pet identification data-base. Once registered with the service, the pets description, photograph, and the owners contact information is available for the recovery of lost pets.

Services like the one provided by RecoveryPets.Com and national shelter agencies are working towards making sure that pets are safe and secure with their owners. Because the loss of a family pet can be a traumatic experience, so if there are ways to reduce the stresses associated with losing a pet, then its their mission to make sure that these services are in place. Pet recovery is greatly improved if the finders of lost pets have a visible identification system, and the pet id tag is the most recognizable items that a pet owner can put on their pet.

Even with all the advances in the pet protection industry, pet owners still fail to take the initiative to ensure that their pets are safe. But, with companies like RecoveryPets.Com and the work being done by shelter agencies, they are making the job of making sure their pets are protected a little bit easier, if their services are utilized. To find more information about the services they offer, visit your local shelters website, or RecoveryPets.Com’s website at http://www.recoverypets.com.

Pet id tags are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to make them more attractive to you and your pet. Pet name tags can also be chosen from a variety of materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass and even plastic. You want to make sure that your pet tag is made durable enough to last many years, and will not fade or rust. 90 percent of pets carrying an identification tag will return to their homes. The last thing you want is to lose your best friend.

Pet id tags can be used for a variety of things, not just to identify your best buddy. They can be used to identify just about anything you want to keep from losing. Dog tags have been worn by many people and can be quite fashionable. If you want to hold on to your beloved pet, spend a small amount of money on a pet tag, it will definitely be worth your while. Please do not let your pets get lost or end up in shelters without pet name tags, as this will drastically minimize its chances of being returned to their owner, you.

It was only a matter of time before this pet mania spread to the internet.

Today, people can log on to order pet food or custom-made clothes for their four-legged companions. Top notch veterinarians are available to answer specific questions via email and there are websites devoted to issues about animal health and nutrition.

Breeders from across the country are getting in on the game now.

If you are a breeder, a web site offers a one of a kind opportunity to advertise your services and show off your animals. A responsible breeder will take care to promote their business in the most tasteful and informative manner possible. Here are some of the elements you may want to include on your site:

- An attractive logo with your business name and an illustration of your animal – Proof of your breeder certification – Testaments from customers and reference information – Striking photos of the animals – Pedigree charts – An online store where viewers can purchase merchandise

But you do not have to be a registered breeder to showcase your beloved animal. Pet owners of all kinds can illustrate their love for their creatures by creating a very special web site. A pet web site may contain:

- An introduction to your pet, including a time line of when you first came together – Photos of different sizes and formats, with captions and without – A daily journal highlighting your interactions with your pet – A message board where you and your loved ones can exchange comments and bask together in the love you feel for your pet – Pet memorials or special messages about the family pets of the past

But what if you are not computer savvy or you do not have a scanner? How can you share your pet’s photos, antics, and other unique qualities via the internet?

The answer is surprisingly simple: find a reliable web host that will help you to create a truly unique site that you will be proud to pass on to others. A good web host should offer to scan your photos and even offer advice on things like the size of your photo files and how to manipulate pictures so they have the best resolution on screen.

If you have more than one pet, go ahead and create a page that features all of them! Once again, a web host can guide you on the number of photos and the type of text you can include. Certainly, multiple pets can make for a stimulating and memorable site.

Clearly, there is no reason to keep your love for your pet to yourself! But in these modern times, carrying photos of your pets in your wallet is not enough. We urge you to design a web site around your special companion – whether it is for business or pleasure – and let your pets have the spotlight they deserve.

Just like every adult, every child will have his/her own way of dealing with pet grief and loss, but speaking very generally, children over the age of ten have enough of a grasp on the concept of death that they will usually process the grief in similar manner to an adult. For children under ten years of age, reactions can range from detachment to self-blame to bedwetting and changes in eating/sleeping habits. For younger children (age 2-3) who lack an understanding of death, it might be fairly simple to get the child past the concept of death, and a young child might even do well with a replacement pet fairly soon after. Children from 4-10 may have a tougher time with the misconceptions surrounding death (for example, they might feel they caused the death, or they might fear that death is contagious).  In rare cases, grief counseling might be an option.

If you have a child who is also dealing with the loss of your beloved pet, the important thing is to watch and listen to your child to know how to respond. While each case is different (and while we wouldn’t pretend to offer expert advice on this subject), here are a few common-sense tips to help a child through the process:

1. Talk with your child. Don’t be afraid to speak plainly on the subject of death, and of the loss of the pet. Calmly answer any questions the child has about death, no matter how morbid. (This child is processing loss, and deserves the same considerations as you.)
2. Since children can’t always verbalize what they feel, sometimes inviting the child draw and color will help them process their feelings.
3. Involve the child in pet memorials, rather than excluding them. Creating pet memorials can be as much of an agent of healing for children as it is for adults.
4. Get help for your child if he/she is not processing the grief well. There is no shame in seeking counseling (for you or for your child) if you feel that either of you is not coping as you should.

First, let’s differentiate a bit between conventional and creative pet memorials. Conventional memorials would be include the actions and items you would typically expect to see associated with the passing of a pet, or of a person for that matter. Examples of conventional pet memorials might include memorial services, eulogies, grave markers, pet urns, etc. Memorial gifts might also include flowers, live plants, sympathy cards, or a donation to a charity in the pet’s honor.

Creative pet memorials, for lack of a better definition, are those types of actions or items that not everyone automatically thinks of, and for that reason usually carry a more special type of meaning to the person who lost the pet. Examples of creative pet memorials can include commemorative jewelry (often containing the pet’s ashes/fur), memorial art boxes, online memorials, commissioned artwork, and the like. (Of course, the Loving Hearts Tribute Series also comes under the heading of creative pet memorials.)

So which is a better pet memorial? Conventional or creative? That depends entirely on you, what type of person you are, and which type of memorial carries more meaning for you. If you are a more traditional type of person, someone who responds well to traditional types of observances and ceremonies, it is quite possible that conventional pet memorials will do quite well for you and help you bring you the closure you need. If, however, you lean more toward the artistic or feel things on a deep emotional level; if you feel an exceptional amount of grief over the loss of the pet; if you are the type of person who feels like grave markers and pet urns would only remind you of your grief rather than help bring healing; or if you just feel like you need more than the traditional observances to help you process the loss; then you might look at more creative types of pet memorials.

Whichever type of memorial you choose—conventional or creative—what’s most important is the meaning it brings for you, rather than the format itself. There is no real right or wrong when it comes to honoring your pet—except, of course, to deny your own heart.

Pet hospice care works much the same way as hospice for humans; terminally ill pets are given extended care intended to strengthen the quality of life during their last days. In many cases, the pet can receive hospice care while remaining at home with his/her owner.

As with any end-of-life choice, there are pros and cons to pet hospice care. On the plus side, hospice offers families the chance to spend time with the pet, to cope with the idea of impending death, and to say goodbye. Additionally, a veterinarian who offers hospice care is likely to be very compassionate, and while there are exceptions (and you should certainly research any pet hospice facility before placing your pet there), there’s a very good chance that your beloved friend will certainly receive compassionate, humane treatment during his/her final days.

On the negative side, extended care for a pet can be costly (and unless you carry some sort of insurance for your pet, you will absorb the expense). Additionally, there are times when the best care cannot alleviate the suffering of the dog, cat, bird or other animal, and the animal’s quality of life cannot be improved—at which point, you might want to address the question again with your vet as to whether it is humane to try to keep the animal alive.

So which choice is right for you and your pet in circumstances like these? Only you and your vet can make those decisions, and they are admittedly not easy ones to make. If you and your vet feel a pet’s quality of life could be improved through hospice care, or if you have a strong moral or emotional conviction against euthanizing a pet, then pet hospice may be a good alternative for you and your special friend.

For more information on pet hospice, visit www.pethospice.org.

Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question. Every person is different, and we all recover at our own pace. The good news about this is that if it’s taking longer than you think it should for you to get over the grief of losing your pet, there are probably plenty of others like you—and you are likely just as normal as the guy who got over it in a week or two. The bad news is, because the response range is so varied, it can be harder to determine whether you are actually recovering, and whether you might need a little help in your recovery.

Perhaps the best litmus test to know if you are recovering “on schedule” (whatever that looks like) is this: you should feel like you are making progress, like you are moving forward. It might hurt for awhile, and continue hurting; but if you find yourself unable to function in normal life—or on the other end of the spectrum, if you find yourself being manic with activity to avoid grieving—chances are you are hijacking the grieving process, and you might need to seek a support group or counseling to help you deal with the pet loss. You might still be making normal progress, but it might be helpful to have a few additional sets of caring eyes upon you, just to make sure you’re keeping things in perspective.

One helpful way to assist in processing grief can be to create or commission some sort of pet memorial—something tangible to help you say goodbye, to acknowledge the loss, to celebrate the life of your pet and to honor his/her memory. This is exactly what the Loving Hearts Tribute Series was created for.

Regardless of how long it takes to recover from pet loss, the important thing is that you move through the grief, rather than stay in it. Eventually you will move forward. A good sign that this is happening is if you can begin to remember your pet without those painful emotions, or if you begin to feel ready to adopt again.

Thankfully, there are a couple of very good ways we as individuals can help the situation, and this is the time of year to become aware:

ADOPT A PET

This is the obvious answer to “How can I help?”. If you have perhaps lost a pet recently and are ready to adopt again, there is not a better time of year to do so. Seemingly in anticipation of August 11, animal shelters around the country are already holding “pet adoption days” and “adopt-a-thons” to help generate interest. (Philadelphia’s SPCA offered free pet adoptions the weekend of July 16-17; Phoenix will reduce adoption fees this weekend, July 30, at their “Empty the Shelter Adopt-a-Thon.”) Check with your local pet rescue clinic or animal shelter for similar promotions, or check one of the national pet location agencies such as petfinder.com or adoptapet.com.

HAVE YOUR PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED

Unless you breed animals (and if you do, you should be doing so humanely and by correct standards), consider having your pet spayed or neutered. At this point, one of the best ways to prevent animal homelessness is to reduce overpopulation. Be responsible for your pet, and prevent unwanted breeding, so more animals don’t wind up in the shelters. If you don’t spay or neuter your pet, be certain you can provide a good home for any births that occur as a result.

Our pets are a gift, and we need to help raise awareness of the plight of these animals. Do your part, not just in honor of August 11, but all year long.

There are many ways to tell the story of your pet. There are websites online that offer the ability to create a memorial page where you can share about your pet; or it can be as simple as sharing a funny story with friends around the fire. The Loving Hearts Tribute Series can play a rather unique role in the telling of your pet’s story. Because our pet memorial artwork is heart-themed and abstract, it tells the story more on an emotional level than with specific details. The beauty of abstract art is that it speaks to people on a non-verbal level, and different people can see and interpret different things within it. Our art pieces speak specifically and personally about your pet because his/her ashes or fur is included in the final coat—and yet it is presented subtly, so when you display it in your home, people won’t necessarily know what the painting is saying unless you clue them in. And of course, having a Loving Hearts Tribute painting in honor of your pet gives you the opportunity to share the story of your pet with people as they admire the painting.

What is your pet’s story? What are your favorite memories? We invite you to memorialize your pet by telling the story. If you’d like to tell us about your pet, please feel free to share briefly in the comments section below.