Do you children have pets? I grew up with dogs all over our house – my dad loves animals and we grew up loving them as well. Yet some of the saddest times in my life are linked to the times when one of the dogs would die. Some died of old age, some of illness, one of an accident, another of poisoning. Looking back, I realize how parents can have a hard time explaining the loss of a pet. More than having to deal with the loss of a treasured companion, parents have to explain the concept of death. How do you deal with the loss of a pet?

I found some practical information in an article written by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend in Christianity Today. They point out that:

They’re not sure what dying is all about. They don’t have a clear idea if it’s like sleeping or if it’s a trip to another dimension. They don’t know if it’s good, bad, permanent or temporary. Your basic task is to help your child see that the death of a pet is real. And yet it’s a reality that’s bearable because he has a mom who will help him understand and deal with it.

So what can we do as parents? They outline some tips:

-Help your children understand that death is part of life. It is not something to be scared of.
-God loves pets and is in control of whatever happens to them.
-It is ok to feel sad – grieving is a part of life.
-Create a positive memory – remind your children of the happy times they had with your pet.
-Get back into life’s activities. As the saying goes, life goes on.

Losing a pet is indeed a difficult situation but it is a good opportunity to show your children that death is not something that we should fear.

This Halloween, lets not forget the furry members of our family. Aside from dressing them up (pet-willing, although I think the photo you see above is a little over-the-top - would brave old Lassie really want to be dressed as fast food?), we as responsible pet parents, should also take into account their safety and well-being.

In my household, we have quite a menagerie going - four tabby cats and a persian kitten; a basset hound, a copper retriever and a doberman; two turtles; 2 doves; and two pigeons (homing I think), so I’ve found some useful tips from the ASPCA to keep in mind:

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (USA).

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are ingested.

3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don’t put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can’t see.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

[tags]Halloween,Pets,Pet safety,Halloween tips,costumes,safety tips[/tags]