Screenshot www.petfinder.com You are profoundly lonely and drowning in brokenness. Your house is eerily quiet - the void of meows, barks, and pitter-patter of feet is unbearable. Maybe you swear off ever getting another pet because the pain of losing them is unbearable. Perhaps you yearn for that unique brand of companionship, but get stuck on the “when” and the weight of feelings like guilt and betrayal that stop you in your tracks. If you’re anything like me, doing nothin

There is a distinct type of grief that comes with not having the idyllic relationship you assumed would come with pet ownership. When you don’t feel that “connection,” it’s normal to feel a sense of disappointment and mourning for what you expected pet parenting to look like. This is a real struggle for many pet owners, and it’s only reinforced when we see only perfectly behaved, adorable pets portrayed in popular media. I liken it to body shaming for humans, and it’s a setup

Photo by Natasha Cara Animal rescue is exhausting, to put it mildly. We encounter situations that make us question humanity, and it takes a heavy emotional toll to see pets discarded like an outfit that has gone out of style. Pet overpopulation is at crisis levels, and there are areas of the country where healthy animals are being euthanized simply because there isn’t enough space to house them. I understand why people are angry and quick to judge, but somewhere along the way

The Facebook post that led me to Fred (he sounds like an angel, right)? You might be surprised to know there is a phenomenon known as the “puppy blues.” It refers to feelings of depression, anxiety, or overwhelm while adjusting to life as a pet parent. You went into pet ownership assuming it would be pure bliss, but it’s turning out to be a nightmare (or at least a really bad dream you can’t wake up from). The thing is, these “blues” can arise anytime a new pet is introduced

Photo by Erin Scott When Sharla set out to get a dog, she assumed he would lie beside her on the couch, run along the beach, sit underneath an outdoor table at Starbucks while she worked, and hop into the car for a ride to the dog park. This is what we see on TV, right? We’re surrounded by images of face-licking, tail-wagging, running off into the distance to catch a ball off-leash dogs. I call it the “Hallmark Dog Syndrome” and liken it to body shaming toward humans — only t

This page has moved! This blog has been updated, and this page has moved! New link below: Adopting After Loss: Lessons from a Rebound Relationship - And the Most Important Question I Never Asked --- As always, my writing is based on my own opinions and experiences and should not be taken as fact or considered professional advice. Visit Hard Pet Days for resources and more insights on pet love and loss. Related blog posts... Canine Love on the Rebound: A Tail of Love and

"Millie" Photo by Author It started as the typical rebound relationship. I had been there before, so I should have recognized it, but I was drowning in grief, and to say my judgment was impaired would be an understatement. Tovi had died two weeks earlier, breeding a type of impulsivity no intervention could interrupt. I was sure adopting another dog would sedate my debilitating pain. As if attachments just transferred, as if he could be replaced. The day after Tovi died, I fr

Photo by Author Millie died one year ago, and I am only now in a place to write about her. I intended to do so for some time but was too ashamed to admit my relief. I was terrified to reveal my truth. How could I put taboo feelings into words without wanting to run and hide and bury my face in my hands to protect myself from all of the terrible words I expected to be hurled at me like projectiles? Strained relationships aren't often discussed when we live in a society filled

Photo by Honest Paws on Unsplash My brother brought home a puppy yesterday. He waited the requisite eight weeks until Rosie was of age, and when that day finally arrived, I felt as though I were living vicariously through him. If I’m being honest, I doubt I would feel this level of excitement at a human child, but the “Gotcha Day” will always be in my top five. Despite my decade-long plea for him to adopt a dog earlier, Marc insisted on waiting until he was in the “right plac

I’ve always been obsessed with Hallmark movies: Their idyllic towns, beautiful actors, perfect families, and predictable happy endings transport me to my happy place where I forget reality in a neat 2-hour package. I’m well aware that these movies are far removed from real life and perpetuate traditional beauty stereotypes. Still, it’s nice to shamelessly indulge in my adult version of make-believe once in a while. Among the obvious stereotypes, there is one so insidious I di