Pet Honor Society

On May 22, 2006 I lost my 12 year old Cocker Spaniel, Bailey.  She had liver cancer and developed complications immediately following the surgery that was supposed to extend her life.  Losing her left a gaping hole in my heart, my life and my home.  She was the bright spot of each and every day of the 9 years we spent together.  My fondest memory of her will always be her role as my co-pilot during our cross-country drive when she and I moved to Colorado just five short months before she died.  She smelled every rest stop and hotel room along the way, was fascinated at the sight of black squirrels in Iowa, barked at cows in Nebraska, and then thoroughly mapped out every inch of our new home as if it were her most important assignment ever.  She was my co-pilot in life for 9 years, and has been my co-pilot in spirit ever since.  Never having had children of my own, Bailey was my child in every way possible.  When I lost Bailey, I had little support, didn't know what resources were available to me, and didn't know what end-of-life options I could have chosen for my treasured family member.  

 

Later that year, I adopted two pups - a Japanese Chin named Cassidy and a Pekingese/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Charlie.  They are now both 14 years old and have been the center of my world.  Watching them age has been difficult knowing what's eventually to come, and I treasure each and every day I spend with them.  In trying to prepare for the day I say goodbye to them, I started looking into pet loss and was amazed at what I found.  So many people consider their pets as valued members of the family like I do!  Yet there seems to be a huge gap that starts about the time your pet gets elderly or in poor health and continues well beyond the loss of your pet.  That's where I come in - I want to fill that gap!  I want to educate people about what their pet's end-of-life options are, what grief support is available to them, and in what ways their beloved pet's life can be honored.  So in September 2017, I became Certified in Pet Loss and Grief Companioning by the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance and Two Hearts Pet Loss Center.  Shortly afterwards, Pet Honor Society was born.  

 

I hope by visiting this site you find comfort in knowing that the love you feel for your pet is very real, the grief you experience after losing your pet is absolutely devastating and completely normal, and that there is help and support available to you.  Please feel free to contact me and allow me to walk beside you on your journey through the wilderness of grief.  

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Much love,

Claire