PET LOSS - National Association of Professional Pet Sitters

T IPS O F T H E T R A D E
By Michele Gonzalez
PET LOSS: LISTEN, SPEAK, HUG, CRY
Professional Pet Sitters MUST prepare
O
urs is perhaps the very best, most rewarding
profession to be had; our clients and the pets
we care for are a gift, not merely a paycheck.
We choose this career because we are people of great
compassion who have a profound love and respect
for animals. Because of this, when we lose a pet for
whom we have given care and consequently a piece
of our hearts, it is personally and professionally one
of the most challenging situations we face. Yet it
can be during these final moments in the life of a
pet when you are of most value to your clients.
The phone call or email comes - “As you were
always so good to our Fluffy...”—and our hearts
stop. Fluffy may have had a long, full life or she may
have been taken far too soon by accident or disease.
No matter the timing or cause, the grief is palpable.
Your own, certainly, but also that of your client. You
can hear it in their voice or read it in their words.
The notification may be worded as a courtesy—“...
I thought you would want to know...”—but they
may have few friends or family members who truly
comprehend their overwhelming sense of loss. As
such, they will often have a secondary reason for
sharing the sad news: they are reaching out to
someone they hope will understand—someone who
loved and will miss Fluffy, too.
Many of us find ourselves at a loss when
faced with such a phone call or email. What do
you say? How can you offer some measure of
consolation? Surely situations differ—in regards
to the pet’s age, cause of death, how prepared (or
not) the client was for his/her passing and your
personal relationship with both the client and
the pet—but no matter the circumstance, what
you say should come from your heart. Convey how
fortunate their pet was to spend his/her life with
a wonderful, loving family. Express gratitude for
being allowed to be a part of that life. Take what
you’re feeling and put it into words. For some, this
is more difficult than others, but simply knowing
you’re there, listening, understanding and sharing
their pain often means more than you can imagine.
It is frequently in our compassionate nature
to follow-up with the client shortly after their pet’s
passing, usually with a condolence card, but some
sitters choose to also honor the lost pet with a
remembrance. There are many ways to do this.
Honoring a Pet
• A donation to the local shelter in memory of
the pet
• Frame a favorite photo, if you have one
available, perhaps inserting the Rainbow
Bridge poem opposite the photo
• A memorial seedling (available from
mailatree.com) can be sent directly to your
client, enclosed with a verse or poem of your
choosing, including the Rainbow Bridge
Easing The Loss of a Pet
D
o you have a program for communicating with
clients who suffer the loss of a pet? Consider a
personalized letter from Pet Heaven. Our letters
are different from typical pet-loss sympathy cards or
poems. A Message From Pet Heaven is a full-size letter
personalized to the individual family.
Each of our keepsake letters are personalized and written
as if it was coming from the pet to the pet parent. The letter
you approve will arrive via U.S. Mail, addressed to the pet
parent. Imagine the surprise and delight when they open
the mailbox that day.
All Occasion Pet Letters:
Thank You for Pet Rescue; New Pet Arrivals;
Happy Birthday; Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays
For More Information 800-776-6965
Although it is more common for a member of
our extended fur family to pass away while not in
our care, regrettably there may come a time that
a pet dies while your client is away. When caring
for older or ill pets, fear of this scenario can haunt
us. Losing a pet in your care will never be easy, but
putting a plan in place to deal with the possibility
can reduce this fear and will allow a more peaceful
passing for all involved.
Being prepared with a plan
Broaching the subject of mortality can be
difficult, both for the sitter and the client. In a
perfect world, we would share every day of our lives
with our cherished pets. Unfortunately, our furry
family members have dramatically shorter lifespans
than our own and when coupled with disease, it is
an eventuality that most will have to face.
Every sitter should include a veterinary release/authorization in their contract should a pet in
their care require medical attention. You may wish to
include in this document under what circumstances
the pet may be euthanized (under recommendation
from the vet, only with verbal authorization from the
client, etc.), the procedures you will follow in the
event of death or alternately provide space for your
client to complete stating their wishes.
Should you choose not to include such
addenda in your vet release, at a minimum, have a
plan of action. Most veterinarians will agree to hold
and preserve a client’s pet until they return home
and can proceed with their own arrangements. This
is a compassionate option, allowing their guardians
to say goodbye and further permitting them to honor
the pet’s remains as they wish.
As pet sitters, we mourn the passing not
only of our own fur kids, but those we’ve come to
love in the course of our work. It can weigh heavily
on our hearts, but it is in the final days of these
precious lives that our true compassion and worth
is measured. Listen, speak, hug, and even cry
if you’re moved to do so. The bond and respect
forged with your clients will continue well after your
responsibility for their pets ends. n
Michele Gonzalez is owner of Fur Feather Fin Pet
Care, Owings Mills, MD and serves as a dedicated
volunteer on the NAPPS Board of Directors and Annual
Conference Committee. You can contact Michele by
visiting www.fffpetcare.com .
www.AMessageFromPetHeaven.com
Professional Pet Sitter · Winter 2011-2012
8
www.petsitters.org