Just Do It (without Regret)!

     I have often heard and repeated the saying, "You never regret the things you do, only the things you don't."  I believe it with my whole heart.

     But every belief is tested - usually more than once.

     For me, this happened a few years ago

Lessons from Hospice: Nurture the Soul

     Our work at New England Pet Hospice teaches us something new every day. I consider open-mindedness and open-heartedness the most critical character traits for all of our staff members, no matter what role they play in the organization.

     This work and what it teaches us is a gift; we must be open to receive it, open to learn from it, and open to share it.

Elderly and Special Needs - You Call that Hospice?

     At New England Pet Hospice, we care for elderly and special needs animals as well as those who have a terminal diagnosis.  This is one of the few areas we differ from the human hospice model.  In human hospice, the patient must be diagnosed with a terminal illness with less than 6 months to live (some hospices accept patients with a 12 month prognosis).

     Why the different standard?

     Because of euthanasia. It is widely accepted that the vast majority of pets in our country will be put to sleep (except for those who die of traumatic injury). This has a direct impact on our elderly and special needs animals in many ways, but especially in three ways:

    1.  Quality of Life.   The Quality of Life scales used to judge when a terminally ill animal is ready for euthanasia are equally applied to our animals who are elderly or have special needs. And all of our elderly and special needs animals will "fail" that test at some point (or points) in their life, almost always within a year and often within a few months.  While some families may have the knowledge and muster the strength to carry on without support, many - or perhaps even most - will not.

Our Video: Hold On Love

So many people have asked us about our video that we thought we would re-post it.  We hope you love it.

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.  

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.

A Pragmatist’s View of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

     I have a confession: I am a nerd. I like to study, read, investigate and analyze. I like things that are logical and make sense. I want to understand the world around me and how things work.

     Because of this, complementary and alternative medicine (commonly referred to as “CAM”) poses a quandary for me. On the one hand, most of these practices have been used for thousands of years in one culture or another and almost none of them do harm. I like that they are something positive we can do, rather than filling ourselves or our companions with medicines that almost always have some negative side effect. I rebel against the idea that the man in the white jacket has all the answers and I appreciate that some things work and we just don’t understand why.

     On the other hand, I do believe there is a reason why something works or doesn’t and I am driven to understand that. Frankly, some of the explanations CAM practitioners give as to why their modality works just don’t ring true for me and I have a hard time buying in.

     I find myself intellectually skeptical and yet emotionally drawn at the same time.

     Ultimately, I come down as a pragmatist (pragmatism: "a straightforward practical way of thinking about things or dealing with problems, concerned with results rather than with theories and principles").  I recognize that there are many, many things in this world that we do not yet understand, and that if people and creatures for centuries before us have tapped into something that works, we should not eschew it simply because we do not understand it.

The Arizona Tragedy and Words of Wisdom from President Obama

     Our hearts go out to all those affected, whether directly or indirectly, by the shootings in Arizona.  We are grateful to President Obama for his inspiring words and ability to bring people together in times of crisis.  Our friend, Nadine M. Rosin, picked the following quote out of his speech last night and we thought it was perfect, not only for the tragedy in Arizona, but also the work we do here at New England Pet Hospice:

 ‎"We recognize our own mortality, 

and are reminded that in the fleeting time 

we have on this earth, 

what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame — 

but rather, how well we have loved, 

and what small part we have played 

in bettering the lives of others." 

Our Mission - From the Words of Cicely Saunders

     Thank you to Dr. Ella Bittel for sharing this wonderful quote from Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern human hospice movement.  It perfectly sums up our beliefs and the reason we do this work:

You count because you are.  
And you will be of significance
until the last moment of your life.  

And we will do everything we can 
so that not only can you die in peace, 
but also live all the way until the end.

     We are eternally grateful for the work of Dame Saunders and Dr. Bittel, which inspires us and forms the foundation of all that we do.

Introducing Memory Books and Videos

     We are now making custom memory books and videos of the highest quality for those wishing to celebrate or memorialize their companion animal or that of a loved one or friend.  For more details, click here.

Holiday Wishes

May the holidays fill your home and heart with love.

Introduction

     Welcome to the New England Pet Hospice blog.  Here you will find information, support, suggestions and guidance as you and your family face the end of your pet’s life – whether through age, illness, disease or injury.  We work with individuals and families through the illness, death and grieving periods.

     This time will surely be difficult for you and your family.  There are ways, however, to transform the experience to something meaningful for your animal and your family.  Your family can come together and grow, emerging stronger, with a greater connection to each other and better tools to cope with other losses in the future.

     Your pet has taught you and your family many things over the years and given you endless gifts.  Caring for your animal through his or her last months and days is both your gift to your pet and your pet's final, enduring gift to your family.

     We hope you find this blog helpful and welcome your comments, ideas, suggestions and requests.