A Quote for the Spring

At last it is spring and whether you celebrate Passover, Easter, Nowruz,  Holi, Silence Day,  Equinox, Earth Day or any other spring holiday, we hope that the sprit of rebirth and renewal fills your heart and soul.

Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.

 ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Standing on the Side of Compassion

     Thank you to those of you who have shared your thoughts about and experiences with Angel's Gate, both here and privately.  It is a terribly sad situation whichever way it goes.  If the allegations are true, we will be saddened and outraged that animals are suffering.  If they are false, we will be disappointed to see animals being used as a tool to promote an agenda and a person's reputation trashed.  Many of you have asked if we know Susan personally or have visited Angel's Gate personally.  The answer is no to both.  We know of Angel's Gate and we know people who have visited personally and professionally. Like you, we despise seeing animals in pain and suffering and hope that objective investigation will find no abuse or mistreatment of any animal.

     At New England Pet Hospice, we stand firmly on the side of compassionate care for all animals, at all stages of life and health.  Our sole mission is to support families so that they may provide the most compassionate, loving care for their animals at times when that is difficult to do.  Caring for an elderly, special needs or terminally ill animal is hard work.  We exist solely for the purpose of enabling families to do what they feel is right for their animal at any given time.

     We are not a rescue, sanctuary or residential hospice.  We are not veterinarians, morticians or police.  We do not promote political agendas or specific religious beliefs.  We do not think there is only one correct way to care for an animal at the end of life.

     What we are is support, backup, assistance, facilitation.  We are a loving, available, knowledgeable companion on your animal's journey and yours, whatever that may be.

     We are vigilant in evaluating and controlling physical pain and other forms of suffering in the animals we help to care for.  We are relentless in investigating and evaluating all forms of pain control and the alleviation of suffering.  And we are determined to make the end of your animal's journey here on earth comfortable, peaceful and fulfilling - for both your animal and your family.

     We love our animals - and yours - as adored and respected members of our family.  

     Join us in pledging to do all we can to provide peaceful, pain-free lives for the animals who share our homes and our hearts and especially for those who are elderly, special needs or terminally ill.  

Quote for the Day

 Some people think it’s holding on that makes one strong. Sometimes it’s letting go. 

~ Sylvia Robinson

     Thank you to Laurel Lagoni from Vet Wisdom Cafe for this lovely quote.  Read her article about Letting Go of Grief by clicking here.

PETA's Attack on Susan Marino and Angel's Gate

     I am deeply saddened that I have to write this post at all, but failing to say anything would be condoning what is happening and also ignoring the elephant in the room.  Yesterday, PETA "broke" the story that Angel's Gate, rather than being one of the most respected animal hospices and sanctuaries in the country, is actually a front for horrific and inhumane treatment of animals by a woman who disregards their needs and suffering.  They have made horrible allegations, posted pictures and videos and complained to the authorities.

     Perhaps you have seen all or some of this.  Perhaps you are disturbed.  Perhaps you feel betrayed and disillusioned.  I ask you to please consider the following:

Quote for the Day

The secret of happiness is finding an idea bigger than you are, and devoting your life to it.

~ Daniel Dennett

Quote for the Day

Photo: Angel On Call Dog Rescue

The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but rather what they miss.

~ Thomas Carlyle

5 Ways to Feed Your Soul

     What feeds your soul?  What fills your life with light, energy and joy?  Everyone needs something that recharges them - from the inside out.  For some that is exercise, for others meditation, yoga, music, church, prayer, dance, working in the garden, running, being in nature, swimming, floating.  It's simply not enough to check the boxes, whether there are many things going right in your life or not. 


     At New England Pet Hospice, we deal with many sad, difficult, heart breaking moments every day.  How do we keep from burning out?  How do we stay enthusiastic and passionate about animal hospice?  We are committed to recharging and feeding our inner life, our soul, our self.

     If you don't know what works for you, we encourage you to explore.  See what feels good.  There isn't a formula that works for everyone and it isn't something we can instruct you how to do.  But we can offer some ideas and suggestions for things that work for us and we have seen help others:

Quote for the Day

Photo: Killuminati Foundation

If you think sunshine brings you happiness, then you haven’t danced in the rain.

~ Unknown

There Must be a Machine that Does This!

     Last night as I sat with my 7 year old daughter and our good friend putting New England Pet Hospice logo stickers on (some of the) 500 lollipops we will be giving away at the Whisker Walk on June 5th, I couldn't help thinking, "Surely there MUST be a machine that does this!"  Each of the three of us developed a different method for getting those little stickers lined up just right so the edges match up and create the perfect little "flag" on the end of the stick.  Let me tell you, it wasn't easy and there were plenty of "redos" for each of us.

     I thought my daughter would lose interest after the first few.  She didn't.  I thought my friend would laugh and abandon the project in 10 minutes (she came over for another reason, completely unsuspecting that we would put her to work).  But she didn't.

Quote for the Day

The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.

~ Unknown

It All Comes Down to Love

     On this snowy April Fools Day, I spent most of the day at a funeral for a friend.  Truth be told, he was the father of a friend.  I probably spent no more than 30 hours total with him over the course of a number of years.  And yet I can tell you absolutely and unequivocally that I genuinely loved and cared for him.  He was that kind of man.  The funeral chapel was filled overcapacity, standing room 3-4 people deep and spilling out into the foyer.  The procession shut down the highway and required 3 state troopers to manage.  No one came to that funeral out of obligation; they came because they genuinely loved this man.  It didn't matter if you were only in his presence for 10 minutes, you knew he was a kind, genuine, caring soul.

     The similarities between this wonderful man and my beloved grandfather who died 5 years ago at the age of 94 were stunning.  Both had a life long love affair with their wife of 50+ years.  Both put family above all else.  Both laughed easily and forgave willingly.  Both engendered love and respect among everyone they met.  And both were exquisitely and genuinely happy, appreciating all of the blessings in their life despite the challenges and hardships.

     What makes a being able to project such love and warmth?  Such honesty and humility?  Such genuine compassion?

     I think it comes down to love.  The ability to live life with an open heart, knowing that there is enough love for everyone, that saying "I Love You" all the time matters, and that living that love in everything you do is the most important thing you can do everyday, always. 

     Today it was said of this man that he always made you feel like you were the most important person on earth to him and that he had all the time in the world for you, your needs and your problems.  Because, in that moment, you were the most important person and because he never let all the things he "needed" to do rob him of all those he wanted to do.

     Today my heart is both broken and full at the same time.  I am grateful to have had two such wonderful people in my life, and also saddened to have lost them both.

     In loving memory of Stan and Mac, may we all take their lives to heart.  Love freely, unabashedly, and without conditions.  Give up the notion of "not enough time" and give all of your attention to those before you for whatever time they may need.  Be gleeful in your joy for your family and loved ones.  Do what you love.  Be genuine in everything you do.  And be grateful for the love in your life every moment of every day.