For most of us the loss of our companion animal is a uniquely private and painful experience. We lose a bond that comes with 100-percent unconditional love—something we don’t always attain in human relationships. We often do not want to burden friends or family with our feelings, but talking about our pain and sharing memories allows us to put into words—sometimes for the first time—what we have lost. There is no easy way around loss and grief, but when we accept our sadness, acknowledge the irreplaceability of our pet, and share our feelings with others who understand, healing can begin.

Your pet was never “just” a dog or “just” a cat, and no one is foolish for grieving. He or she was an integral part of your life, helping teach you the value of sharing love, support, comfort, and that amazing unconditional acceptance of one another without asking for very much in return. When one loses a beloved companion animal, grief can be insurmountable. When well-meaning friends suggest you can get another pet, and your heart is breaking, you may need the support of a group who understands exactly the grieving process you are experiencing.

There is no absolute pattern for grief. The length of time it takes to begin accepting the loss of your beloved pet will vary. For most of us, this is not the first time we’ve gone through this, and it certainly doesn’t get any easier. You may also mourn the death of a particular pet companion more strongly than you mourned a pet or pets in the past due to some special qualities that that pet brought to your relationship. Grief is normal, inevitable, and unavoidable. Expect that it will come, accept it, embrace it, and allow it to run its course so that you can begin to heal.

One of the most difficult aspects of bereavement is the sense of hopelessness it causes. It is very easy to believe that this highly emotional state will last forever, especially if this is your first time experiencing the loss of a pet. What happens to us when we have to say good-bye for the last time? How do you say thank-you for being in my life? How do you sum up 14 or 15 years of walks, baths, treats, cuddling in bed, and good-night kisses? How do you cope with those first few mornings when he or she isn’t there for breakfast or their walk? How do we accept that this loss is forever? How do we go on?

The adjustment period after we have said goodbye can be heartbreaking. It seems to take forever for us to get back in step when all we want to do is turn the clock back and start all over again from the very first day we brought the new addition home. It has always been acceptable to turn to a support group when a human loved one passes away. The loss of a beloved pet, a true member of the family, should be no different.

After 35 years of visiting hospitals and long-term care facilities, 16 of them as Director of “Paws & Hearts,” I have been honored to lend hours of support, listening to hundreds of stories about good-byes and grieving for companion animals. I have also counseled many volunteers through “Paws & Hearts” who have had to say good-bye to their Canine Ambassador.

Today, “Paws & Hearts” Animal Assisted Therapy is proud to announce the addition of a Pet Bereavement Group hosting monthly pet-loss support groups at our Palm Desert office. Having facilitated an Alzheimer’s Support Group, and having talked with bereavement counselors, done extensive reading and attended seminars on the subject, I am happy to offer a place to come, share, and hear what others have experienced. Our Pet Bereavement Support Group will be a safe environment to openly share your feelings of loss as well as share the joys your precious dog or cat brought into your life.

Our monthly meetings will be the second Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm in the Palm Desert office. The number of sign-ups will determine the length of the meeting. We have a short questionnaire, which we ask you to complete and submit online, along with a photograph of your dog or cat. We also ask that you bring a hard-copy photograph of your pet (not your cell phone photos) to the meeting to share with the group. All your information will be kept confidential.

For more information, contact “Paws & Hearts” Animal Assisted Therapy, 74-854 Velie Way, Ste. 7, Palm Desert, CA 92270; (760) 836-1406. You can also visit us online at www.pawsandhearts.org or send an email to pawsandhearts@aol.com.

Imagine taking your pet on a two-hour bus trip to see the nearest veterinarian, only to discover you can’t afford the preventive care or treatment your pet needs. This is the reality for many residents in the sprawling Coachella Valley, and it often leaves overwhelmed owners feeling they have no other choice but to abandon their furry family member at an animal shelter.

But you won’t have to make that painful decision, now that one couple has found a way to provide mobile spay, neuter, and vaccine services to pet owners who can’t easily get their pets the care they need. When Melanie Scherer, Founder of Luke’s Legacy Spaying and Neutering Foundation, realized that there were not enough accessible, low-cost spay and neuter programs in this area last year, she and her husband Richard took a giant leap and purchased the SNIP Bus.

The SNIP Bus is a state-of-the-art mobile clinic offering $25 spay and neuter surgeries, as well as low-cost vaccines and microchips. SNIP is the first mobile spay and neuter clinic specifically dedicated to the Coachella Valley, and has become a vital tool in the fight to end pet homelessness. In the first ten months of operation, SNIP spayed and neutered over 2,500 pets, and they hope to achieve 5,000 by the end of this summer.

“The strategy that has worked for other communities working toward no-kill is a ‘take care of your own backyard first’ approach, and that is what we are doing with SNIP. If you want your pet shelter community to be truly no-kill, then support your local spay and neuter program,” says Melanie.

Still on the fence about spay and neuter? The most critical role of spaying and neutering is stopping the flow of animals into shelters, but spaying and neutering may also provide additional benefits for both you and your pet, including:

•  Decreased marking and spraying.

•  Decreased roaming behavior .

• Reduced aggression among the population.

•  Decreased risk of ovarian and testicular cancer in your pet, because these organs are removed.

SNIP partners with all Coachella Valley non-profit animal welfare organizations and is funded by Luke’s Legacy Foundation, in addition to corporate and private donations. Sponsorship levels start as low as $25, and you can sponsor a full clinic for $2,500. To learn more about SNIP and how to get involved or donate, visit www.snipbus.org.

If you live outside the Coachella Valley and are seeking spay and neuter assistance, visit spaycalifornia.org for Southern California resources.

Cats are naturally active. In an outdoor environment, they hunt for prey, play with littermates and are on the lookout for predators. When domesticated, many of those concerns are removed and a cat no longer needs to be as active. Their food is provided, the environment is safe from predators and often a cat is the only animal in a home and doesn’t have a littermate to play with.

Indoor cats need mental stimulation and exercise. A bored cat can become destructive by clawing furniture, spraying, and even biting. Cats that don’t get enough exercise can become overweight, which can trigger many health problems.

So how do you keep an indoor cat stimulated? It depends upon the particular cat. Many cats are most active early in the morning and again at dusk. But you need to observe your cat to see when it is most active and introduce toys at that time.

What kind of toys? Again, it depends upon your particular cat’s personality. The best toys will stimulate several of their senses at the same time. Toys fall into several different categories:

Climbing: Cat towers, wall-mounted climbing systems, modular, and stackable climbing systems all give you cat a place to follow his natural instinct to climb.

Great exercise potential and helps keep cats mentally stimulated while they climb and survey their environment from a different vantage point

Scratching: Scratching posts come in all shapes and sizes. From corrugated cardboard to carpeted towers, find several options that work and put them throughout your home. Your furniture will thank you.

Cats scratch to remove frayed outer claws and expose the new sharper claws. They also scratch to mark their territory.

Stalking/Hunting: Look for toys that move—balls, motorized interactive toys, or toys that you can hide catnip or treats in.

Cats stalk to get closer to prey. The closer they can get; the better chance they will have of catching what they seek.

Chasing/Hunting: Toys that stimulate chasing include wands with dangling “prey,” tunnels that “hide” balls, and motion toys that conceal a moving object.

The best thing about hunting toys is the exercise it provides for your cat.

Pouncing: Toys that allow your cat to attack or pounce, which draw from a cat’s natural “kill” instinct, include small catnip toys and toy mice.

Pouncing and capturing the prey adds to your cat’s enjoyment and motivates your cat to want to play more often.

Exploring: Many toys and even household items allow your cat to explore—a simple box or paper bag will often provide for a secret place for your cat to hide. But there are many toys too, such as cat towers, modular cat environments, and cat caves.

Cats are basically inquisitive and want to explore their environment. Exploring toys help keep a cat from becoming bored.

Finding the right toys to keep your cat from becoming a bored, inactive feline may take a bit of experimentation, especially if the cat is older and not used to play. But with a little patience and some trial and error, your cat’s home environment may help it be a happier and more active cat.

It’s that time of year again in the desert, when our weather hits triple digits. Our severe heat can be uncomfortable for us but it’s also especially dangerous for our pets. Summer safety is key to protecting our beloved fur family members.

Unlike people, most animals do not have the ability to sweat throughout their bodies. Dogs and cats perspire through their paws and will pant to evaporate water from their oral cavity and upper airways. This is an important fact to know when it comes to outdoor activities and traveling with pets.

For example, consider a common summer activity, such as hiking. As we know, hiking is more strenuous than walking, with the uneven terrains, inclines, and of course the various creatures we often encounter, including snakes. If you’re going to be hiking on rough, rocky terrain, consider putting hiking booties on your dog’s feet (remember to take the booties off on a break, because dogs only sweat through their paws and leaving the booties on too long could cause your dog to overheat).

The pads of dogs’ feet are soft and can get easily cut; their toenails can also easily become damaged or torn. And one of the greatest concerns is foreign debris, such as cactus spines, fox tails, grass awns and tumbleweeds, can become embedded in their feet, resulting in pain and infection.

If not removed immediately, such debris may ultimately require surgical removal, along with antibiotics, pain meds and anti-inflammatories from your veterinarian. Fox tails and grass awns, once embedded, can actually travel under the skin, causing a “draining tract”—a connected area of infection and inflammation that can be extremely painful for your dog. Besides the paws, these two menacing plant bits are commonly found in and removed from dogs’ noses and ears. Thus, when you’re hiking, never allow your dogs to bury their heads in thorny-type plants.

Additionally, especially while hiking, it is best to keep your dogs on a leash. Leashing protects them from getting into things they shouldn’t, helps them avoid other pets that might not be so friendly, ensures they won’t get lost, and can protect them from threatening wildlife, such as rattlesnakes. If you do come across a rattlesnake on a hike, you have a better chance of controlling your dog and preventing a snakebite, which can be lethal to your dog. Talk to your veterinarian about the yearly rattlesnake aversion training classes offered throughout the Coachella Valley, as well as the rattlesnake vaccine, which can help save your pet’s life if they do happen to get bitten by a rattlesnake.

Making sure to have water, not only for yourself but also for your dog, is critical. There are collapsible dog bowls you can purchase that can hook onto you or a backpack for easy carrying. It is best to avoid letting your dog drink from outside natural water sources, because they may be contaminated, leading to possible parasite infection or just general gastrointestinal upset.

Another important aspect      of summer is remembering to NEVER leave a pet in a car, even if it’s “just for a minute.” It is illegal and you can be arrested and charged with animal endangerment and cruelty.* Many people think that, if their car is on with the air conditioner running, leaving a dog alone in the car is okay. It is not—air conditioners can fail and a pet could easily overheat.

Animals that overheat can suffer from “heat stroke,” whereby their temperature rises dangerously high, and—if high enough—can result in potentially fatal organ and brain damage.

Always be mindful of possible heat stroke when you take your pet out during the day. Never walk, hike or run with your dog in the middle of the day, when temperatures are at their highest. A simple rule of thumb: if you can’t walk on the pavement barefoot, then it isn’t safe for your pet, either. Also, keep in mind that pets who spend a great deal of time in the backyard or use a doggie door and cats who live outside MUST always have fresh water and shade available. Ultimately, it is best—and safest—to leave all pets indoors during the summer months.

Certain breeds and body conditions are more prone to heat stroke. Dark, thick/double-coated breeds, brachycephalic, and overweight animals are a few examples. Remember, heat stroke, while potentially deadly, is completely preventable!

Safe summer activities for pets include swimming, indoor doggie play dates/day care, and making fun treats, such as “pupsicles.” Make sure your pet knows how to swim, and never assume they will instinctively know—they must be taught and monitored. Gated pools are much safer for protecting pets from accidental drowning.

Summer is a great time for families and their pets to be together, enjoying fun activities. For veterinarians, this can be one of the worst times of year for animal emergencies. Remembering these safety tips will protect your fur family members and keep them from being rushed to a veterinary hospital.

*The California Penal Code regarding leaving a pet unattended in a vehicle:

Section 597.7.  (a) No person shall leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.

Leaving your animal in an unattended car may also be viewed as an act of animal neglect, which means that the prosecutor could also opt to file additional charges under Penal Code 597 PC.19

Editor’s note: Some cities may have amended (stricter) versions of the law.