Pets Magazine: June-July 2023

Diamonds Are a Dog’s Best Friend

Diamond Pets created their beautiful dog tags as a tribute to two beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Nell and Sophie, our Pets Mag reviewers, who, very sadly, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge last year. These tags serve as wonderful keepsakes and mementos of these cherished souls. Whether they are used to remember a beloved pet or as a regular dog tag, each piece is meticulously crafted to embody elegance and beauty.

REVIEW: Diamond Pets London: Dog Tags

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and when it comes to pets, dogs are considered everyone's BFF. What if you could combine the beauty of diamonds with the love for our furry companions? Diamond Pets is a luxury brand that offers exquisite dog and cat tags, crafted to the highest ethical standards, with the option of featuring a small diamond.

Diamond Pets created their beautiful dog tags as a tribute to two beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Nell and Sophie, our Pets Mag reviewers, who, very sadly, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge last year. These tags serve as wonderful keepsakes and mementos of these cherished souls. Whether they are used to remember a beloved pet or as a regular dog tag, each piece is meticulously crafted to embody elegance and beauty.

Craftsmanship and Quality:

The dog tags from Diamond Pets are not only visually stunning but also built to withstand the rigours of an active dog's lifestyle. The brand prides itself on producing first-class quality products that are both beautiful and durable. Each tag is crafted by a team of highly trained jewellers who are members of the NAJ (National Association of Jewellers), the UK's leading trade body for professional jewellers.

Exquisite Diamonds:

Before being set by hand, Diamond Pet’s inhouse team of Master Jewellers meticulously inspects every diamond under extreme magnification. This careful examination ensures that each diamond meets the brand's exacting standards. The diamonds used in their tags are colourless, cut with precision to maximise brilliance, and boast flawless clarity (VVS+). This attention to detail ensures that every tag shines with elegance and grace.

Ethical Standards:

Diamond Pets takes pride in adhering to the highest ethical standards in the sourcing of their diamonds. They ensure that their diamonds are conflict-free and come from responsible and sustainable sources. By choosing a Diamond Pets tag, pet owners can enjoy the beauty of a diamond while also supporting ethical practices in the jewellery industry.

Diamond Pets ofers a unique blend of luxury, elegance with their stunning dog and cat tags. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and featuring exquisite diamonds, these tags serve as both keepsakes and stylish accessories for our beloved companions.

With their commitment to ethical standards and outstanding craftsmanship, Diamond Pets truly embodies the saying, "Diamonds are a pet owner's best friend.”

For more information, and to order, visit: https://diamondpets.co.uk

The Significance of National Pet Remembrance Day: Honouring Our Beloved Companions

On Wednesday 5th July, we remember all the beloved pets who have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Sadly, these include Pets Mag’s Sophie and Nell who both gained their angel wings in 2022. Here, MARIE CARTER-ROBB tells us why this national day of remembrance, which is celebrated worldwide as a day of commemoration, is so important.

In the run up to national Pet Remembrance Day on 5th July, MARIE CARTER-ROBB, Editor of Pets Magazine, writes on why there was a real need for such a day on which to celebrate the lives of our precious departed pets.

This year’s national Pet Remembrance Day is once again particularly poignant for me. Last April, I said a very tearful goodbye to my darling Sophie, a true dog in a million. Then, in November last year, her ‘partner in crime’, my loving Nell, very sadly joined her.

Sophie had celebrated her 14th birthday last February, but many people mistook her for a much younger dog. She loved running around, playing with her favourite toy, Mr Tiger, and she was also filled with her own unique quirks, such as preferring natural water over tap and sneezing for attention. She was the sweetest and most gentle soul I have ever had the privilege to know. Sophie is a huge loss who will always hold a special place in my heart.

Sadly, 2022 was to prove a year of heartache for me. Loving Nell also passed over the Rainbow Bridge aged 16 and a

half. Nell had a tragic first decade, being used for breeding on a puppy farm in Ireland. We found each other at a Dogs Trust event in July 2016. She was reserved by another couple but I put my name down in case her home fell through. It did, thankfully for me!

Nell, then aged 10, had puppy soft paws, as she'd never been walked.. Over the six years I knew and loved her, Nell, blossomed, giving so much love. She loved cottage holidays, doggy cake and treats, cuddles and car rides.

By loving them like family, we are allowing ourselves to be subjected to heartache when they inevitably slip this mortal coil.

The sad fact however is that other people may fail to understand the gravity of the loss. Employers, friends, and even other family members, may react as if the death means little and that the individual should just ‘pull themselves together’. Thankfully, I have generally had a positive experience with other people being sympathetic.

Nell was pts after months of worsening health due to MVD at 16 and a half years old.

There is not a day goes by without thinking of my two beautiful girls.

Pet bereavement is both real and very raw and manifests as an overwhelming sense of loss felt by anyone who has truly loved a pet.

We know from the start that our pets’ lives are transient. Poignantly, Rudyard Kipling asks plaintively in his poem, ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘why in—Heaven (before we are there) Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?’ Kipling’s answer is a simple and pure ‘Buy a pup and your money will buy; Love unflinching that cannot lie’.

Dogs are also known to develop the kind of attachment that can definitely be described as love.

When they see their beloved person, scientists have proven that the ‘cuddle’ chemical oxytocin is produced in their brains.

‘Love unflinching that cannot lie’.

History is full of close bonds between people and pets. If we look for one moment at bereavement from a pet’s eye view, there are countless stories of dogs demonstrating overwhelming grief upon the death of their master. Perhaps the most well-known is that of the Greyfriars Bobby, a tale of a terrier who, it is claimed, spent 14 years in mourning at his master’s graveside.

Another poignant story is that of Hachikō, an Akita dog who for nine years after his master’s sudden death returned to the same place at a train station where he used to meet him after work, until his own death in 1935. Spot is another canine who waits in a place where she used to meet her owner Wayne Giroux before he was killed by a drink driver in 2010. Giroux’s son, Paul, checks in on Spot twice a day while she stands guard at her post, but he said he knows it’s never him she wants to see. Paul told US news channel KSLA 12 “If you can ever find anything that loves you that much, it's the most precious gift in the world.”

a crime - that only the most hard-hearted would ascribe tothat we should not also remember and celebrate their lives?

That is why Pets Magazine launched national Pet Remembrance Day in the UK back in 2015. We felt there was a need for this special memorial day for pets to allow grief, and remembrance, to come into the open.

The Rainbow Bridge

I love the idea of a ‘Rainbow Bridge’, which our pets are believed to cross when they die.

In the Norse legend of Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge represents the notion that owners will meet their pets again after death in a joyous reunion.

job. Having had to make the decision to end my own pets’ lives as well as those of my clients’ pets I completely understand the incredible sense of guilt and the mix of other emotions we all go through.

“For me, like everyone else, animals are part of the family. My ‘boys’, Pan and Badger, were with me for 15 years through thick and thin and their loss utterly crushed me.

“Events like Pet Remembrance Day are hugely important to bring people together through shared anguish and unite them to help them remember the great times with their pets rather than just the final moments.”

When a living creature with the capacity for love brings so much joy into our lives, isn’t it

Supporters of national Pet Remembrance Day include TV vet Emma Milne.

Emma explains: “As a vet and a pet owner, I have experienced the devastation of pet loss from every angle. One of the hardest things for any vet is helping owners through the most difficult times of their lives but it is also our most important

Best-selling author and speaker Wendy Van de Poll, MS, CEOL (Certified End of Life and Pet Loss Grief Coach and Founder of Center for Pet Loss Grief, LLC) said: “Pet Remembrance Day is a time for outwardly expressing your deepest love for your pets that have reached the end of their lives. The feelings of pet loss grief are deep within your soul and often times you may not give yourself permission to express your emotions of grief.

“Outwardly mourning is a way of saying good-bye in a very healthy way by celebrating the life of your beloved companions.

Paying tribute to those animals that touched your heart with a pet funeral, memorial, and/or remembrance will help you heal your loss all the while keeping the love of your companion close by.”

Many people worry about asking for time off from work after the death of a beloved companion animal, and the PBSS can advise on ways to have this

important discussion with employers, as well as helping in other ways.

On July 5th, I will be joining the hundreds, and hopefully thousands, of other bereaved pet owners who will be remembering their beloved departed companion animals, including my special girls.

Please put Pet Remembrance Day in your diary this year.

Forever loved: Nell

How

you can take part in Pet

Remembrance Day:

Here are ways you can remember deceased pets on National Pet Remembrance Day, including:

- A memorial service in a place where the pet liked to walk or play.

- A memento mori such as a sculpture of the pet or memorial heart (pictured of Sophie later in this article)

-A living memorial by planting a tree or flowerbed

-

-A pet portrait featuring the pet or their image printed on a coaster or other accessory (pictured here of Nell by artist Astrid Brisson.)

-A scrapbook, blog or social media channel, with photos and other reminders of the pet.

-A poem about the pet

- Give to animal charities or The Oldies Club and help to support an older dog.

Grief Support

Here are few useful things that will help you in times of grief:

The wonderful Blue Cross has a dedicated phone line and web chat in addition to email services and online support to anyone seeking advice and guidance or just a friendly (virtual) shoulder to cry on when experiencing the depths of grief. For more information, please visit: https:// www.bluecross.org.uk/petbereavement-and-pet-loss

The PDSA also has advice on coping with pet loss at: https:// www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-helpand-advice/looking-after-yourpet/all-pets/how-to-cope-withthe-loss-of-a-pet

The Pet Loss Guide by Millie Jacobs is a book that will help

those experiencing the pain of pet loss.

Author Millie Jacobs uses her own personal experience and grief counselling expertise to guide readers through 31 days of exercises and support to help process your loss. Available from Amazon.

The memorial heart

If you’re looking for something truly special to remember your beloved pet, there’s a beautiful handpainted memorial heart by Devon-based Lynda Bowler. Pictured is the memorial heart Lynda produced of Pets Mag’s beautiful Sophie.

More info: https:// devonartistnetwork.co.uk/ members/member/lyndabowler.

Acknowledge and honour the significance of your pet's place in your life, and allow yourself to grieve fully. Seek support from others who understand the unique bond between humans and their pets.

The pain of pet bereavement is profound, but with understanding and support, healing is possible.

Remember that healing is a personal journey and take the time you need to find ways to move forward while treasuring the memory of your beloved pet.

Understanding Canine Grief: How Dogs Cope with the Loss of a Canine Companion

As Pet Remembrance Day approaches on 5th July, we are even more acutely aware that dogs form strong emotional bonds with members of their human family, and can suffer from anxiety when one of them dies or moves away. But do they suffer the same sense of loss when a canine companion who they’ve lived with in the same home for years, dies?, asks ALISON COLEMAN

Although there is no conclusive research to show that dogs grieve in a similar way to humans, many dog owners who have been in this situation insist that the loss of a family pet can leave the remaining dog feeling disorientated and showing clear signs of distress.

That was certainly the case for Jenni Morley and her husband Damien. When they lost Moby, one of their two beloved Great Danes, their surviving dog Marla struggled to cope.

Jenni said: “We’d had Moby from a pup, but got Marla a bit later when they were both 10 months old. There were only two weeks difference in their age and they hit it off straight away.

“When we first got Marla they played really roughly and wrestled each other. It could be quite nerve wracking to watch, but that was how they played

all the time they were growing up together.”

Disaster struck when Moby, then aged four-and-a-half suddenly started vomiting and was clearly very unwell.

“We took him to the vet and they found a tennis ball in his stomach,” said Jenni.

“They managed to remove it, but he went into renal failure.

In fact there were all sorts of strange things going on that they couldn’t quite understand, so we were transferred to a specialist vet practice in Liverpool.”

Eventually Moby’s lung collapsed and the tissue died. The veterinary surgeons tried to remove it, but he didn’t survive. The whole ordeal lasted two weeks and racked up £9,000 in vet bills.

Author Alison Coleman with her rescue dog Dash

“He would seem to pick up and then relapse; it was an extremely emotional time,” she says.

“Marla’s behaviour had started to change before he died. We weren’t sure if that was because I was so upset, or just because Moby wasn’t there. Every time we got back from visiting him she would sniff us, she obviously knew he was still around.

“On the day he died I spent a lot of time cuddling him. When I got home Marla came and smelled me as she normally did, then her behaviour changed instantly; she just turned around and curled up

in a ball, as if she understood what had happened.”

Initially, Marla seemed to be coping with the loss of her best pal, but slowly, over the next few weeks, she became very withdrawn.

“Marla always used to follow Moby, and where they would both run up and greet you when you came in from work, now she just lay on her bed,” says Jenni.

“We tried getting her to run and play and chase, but on her own she just wasn’t interested. When she was with Moby and another dog came along, they

would all play together, but Marla doesn’t do that now.

“If a dog approaches her she is unwilling to interact and play and seems to want to spend more time on her own.”

Jenni still felt that deep down it was canine company that she was missing, and human company was no substitute.

“We called on our doggy day care providers, Anna and Dave France of Best Paw Forward, to see if Marla could spend some time with them and the dogs they were looking after.

Moby (far left) and Marla in happier times with doggy day carers Dave and Anna France.

“They’d cared for Marla and Moby when we were away, or at work, and we felt the familiar sight of other dogs that she knew and had played with would help her to rediscover her enthusiasm and her sense of fun, and thankfully, it did.

“She still isn’t the same since losing Moby, but without the extra walks and the opportunity to socialise I think she would be a lot more down.

“We have thought long and hard about whether to get another dog, possibly a Great Dane rescue that is a similar age to Marla, who’s now five, but we’re not sure if it’s the right thing to do. Losing Moby has been such a difficult grieving process, and the thought of bringing another dog in so soon doesn’t seem right.”

Dog behaviourist and trainer

Peter Archer, owner of Pawsitive Training, says: “All dogs are different, but they are

basically pack animals. In the wild, if a dog dies, other members of the pack will often lay down with it.

“In the home, they can react to the death of a dog they have been close to in a number of ways. Some become quieter and less active, others can become dog aggressive, and they can sense beforehand, when the other dog is seriously ill, that it is time.”

Archer says that dogs should be allowed to grieve for a short, before their owners try to get things back to normal.

“Making too much fuss and trying to mollycoddle them can make it hard for the dog to move on,” he says.

“Letting them spend time in places where they can see other dogs and socialise with them is one of the best things you can do for a dog that has lost his or her best pal.”

And on the subject of knowing when the time is right to bring a new dog into the family, he says: “It can be a mistake to rush out and get another dog straight away, and if you do it too soon, it can affect the other dog’s behaviour. If you really know your dog, you’ll know when the time is right.”

@alisonbcoleman.

Alison Coleman tweets

Another solution when a pet is clearly missing a close pal is to get another dog.

‘Obi’, our gentle lion

In the run-up to Pet Remembrance Day, BETH EASTON writes about the heartache of losing her beloved cat Obi to heart disease when he was just one year old.

There are few things in life that compare to the first time you meet the newest furry addition to your family. It is magical to see the hopeful trust in their eyes as you spend the first few moments bonding, letting them know that you will look after and love them from this point onwards.

This was our experience with Obi, a small 8 week old Maine Coon kitten. He entered our lives on a sunny day in September 2020 after a long drive. Obi was at home as soon as he arrived. He was fluffy, awkward and very bravewaddling straight out of the cat carrier and brushing up against us. That was it.

We were his people now.

My husband slept in the spare room the first night with Obi up sleeping on his chest, desperate to be as close as possible. I

stayed with our other cat, 1 year old Astrid, who was intrigued and excited by our new arrival. She spent most of the night inquisitively sniffing the door to the spare room, desperate to meet him.

From the very beginning Obi relied on us, always following us around the house and

be fair. He was the cuddliest, loveliest and kindest creature. He had piercing golden eyes that stared deep into your soul and could comfort you easily with a seemingly understanding slow blink. His only failing was attacking wasps in the garden; he just couldn’t help himself.

sleeping next to or near us. He was the absolute gentlest of souls and would move between me and my husband for snuggles; straight from the start he felt it was important to

Yet, as he grew we noticed he remained quite skinny with constant ear infections. We had so many trips to the vets and Obi would undertake every appointment with grace, knowing we were trying our best to help him.

He was the cuddliest, loveliest and kindest creature.

Things were looking positive for him but then suddenly in the summer of 2021, when he wasn’t even a year old, his breathing became laboured. Our vet sent us straight to a specialist where we found that the right side of his heart had enlarged.

Seeing his eyes stare at us looking for comfort through his pain was the saddest, most heart-breaking moment. Obi’s eyes were the window to his soul. All we could do was to stroke him and say how much we loved him as we all said our goodbyes. We lost our fluffy baby that day.

It was after his passing that we found his comfort and kindness continuing to impact us. When we ventured out to a pet shop for the first time after losing him, another shopper asked for advice as they had just fostered a kitten. We could feel Obi connecting us with other animal lovers and that small moment of hope of another kitten going to a loving home helped. We stayed in contact via social media - a connection that was so welcome at that time. That night my husband posted on an online forum about Obi and was met with hundreds of stories of people’s

love for their pets and how the loss hit them. In times of difficulty and sadness, to connect with others was comforting. It's amazing what our animals can bring to us and

where we can sit and remember Obi enjoying the garden. We also helped out at a local cat rescue and rescued another kitten who desperately needed a home. We have found doing all of these things in Obi’s memory has helped us heal.

seeing the amount of love we have for our pets was astounding. My husband has since started volunteering for the Blue Cross charity, something that only happened because of Obi.

Many still question how losing a pet is a difficult loss but there is no doubt, our furry friends are family and there isn’t a day goes by we don’t think about Obi. When people may not understand how painful it is losing an animal, take comfort and support from those of us who do.

In his memory we bought a gigantic cat tree with a plaque stating ‘Obi’s Tree’ - a constant reminder of his presence with us and our other cats.

Alongside this we have planted an ‘Obi’ tree in the garden

Although he was still just a kitten, he taught us so much about life, love and connection in his short time with us and his memory will continue as we hope to support more animals and spread the joy of human and animal connection.

Rest in peace our gentle lion x

When people may not understand how painful it is losing an animal, take comfort and support from those of us who do.

Why Losing a Pet Can be More Heartbreaking than Losing a Relative

Lianna Champ has over 40 years’ experience as a grief and funeral care specialist and is author of practical guide, ‘How to Grieve Like A Champ’. Here, she discusses the ultimate taboo of why people are so often more grief-stricken after the loss of a pet than a relative.

By By LIANNA CHAMP, Author of ‘How to Grieve

Like A Champ’

We just love our pets so very much. They provide a constant flow of unconditional love twenty four hours a day and even when they are asleep, they open one eye when we move. They are just so reliable, they make us feel needed and foster so much love in our hearts. We can never fall out with them, but …. can we say the same for our human relatives?

Relationships in families can be very interesting and not all plain sailing. We are truly blessed if we can enjoy completely uncomplicated, perfect and loving relationships with our relatives. However, being human and not always perhaps the most patient of species, there is usually something that niggles us about most people . We have to accept

this and make compromises or the battles will wage on. We see our relatives at their best and at their worse. We love them, we fall out with them, we sometimes even agree to disagree. All these things form part of our relationships.

When my mum died in 2011, I was completely devastated and even missed her telling me I was having a bad hair day which might sound funny, but

when you know you are having a bad hair day, the last thing you need is someone telling you. I think of her every single day and enjoy our ongoing emotional relationship but I have to admit, I love being in charge of it now. This is something that we do not experience with our pets. Even if they chew our favourite pair of shoes, we can’t fall out with them and just blame ourselves for not putting our shoes away.

When we are having a really tough day, they can make it better. We can cry into their fur, smudge our mascara and have a big blotchy face and we aren’t even aware of it because our animals never look at us to judge us, they just look so trustingly into our eyes. They totally accept us exactly as we are. This bond is as strong as tempered steel.

We lose so much more than just our pet when our pets die. We lose that freedom of emotional acceptance, that dependency that we share with them. They create this huge big ball of love inside us and it’s quite magical. They are uncomplicated and we can’t ever ignore them as they don’t do that stuff, like the humans do.

Humans get caught up in their own dynamic. Our pets are only interested in ours. Not to mention the pleasure we have watching them play. They bring us right into the present moment and switch us off from outside noise. Sometimes we find it easier to stroke and love our pets than to hug a relative.

We give our animals unconditional love, just as they give it to us, but in relationships we often have to bargain with each other to try and retain harmony. Humans choose to carry baggage or else we wouldn’t have to bargain with one another.

Not pets. They just want to be with you regardless of whether you squeeze the toothpaste from the middle of the tube or leave the loo seat up. Also, when we hug and stroke our fur babies, we release endorphins into our bodies and this serves to deepen the human to animal bond we share.

You have to take the time to mourn your loss, lick your wounds and, when you feel better you will know when, or if, you want to give another animal a loving, happy and safe home. It’s a great feeling when your pet comes to greet you at the door. It’s better than chocolate!

Lianna Champ has over 40 years’ experience as a grief and funeral care specialist and is author of practical guide, How to Grieve Like A Champ.

They can’t tell us when they feel pain, yet when we know they are in pain, we feel it a hundred times worse for them. It really is no wonder that we feel such an overwhelming sense of loss when they die. We have lost something extremely special.

Each relationship with every pet we have is totally unique.

The bond (with our pets) is as strong as tempered steel.

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This premium hay is now available for all small and urban pets, direct to your door across the UK via the high quality brand White Rabbit Hay.‘White Rabbit Hay’ is a local partnership set up to make this high-end product available to urban pet owners. This timeless native grass is perfect for rabbits, chinchillas, tortoises and all other small pets, providing the required roughage and nutrition as well as promoting dental health and general well-being for all foraging pets. The hay is sourced from farms that manage the land with traditional farming rotation methods and without the use of any pesticides. This allows the land to provide home cover and natural feeding for a range of native animals. From wild hares to birds of prey, with everything in-between. The hay is hand selected and packed on farm in 1.5KG boxes and sealed with paper tape with no plastics input at all. The packaging is completely recyclable and compostable with our boxes travelling only a few miles to our logistics provider before being delivered directly to your door. Thus, keeping the carbon footprint as low as possible. The brand’s mission is to provide our small pets and pet parents with the best value product totally farm fresh, to add value to the product by developing new markets while providing our growers with a sustainable on-farm price that will allow them to continue to be guardians of the land and its’ native species for generations to come. It is not so long ago that the continued growing of Scot’s Timothy Hay on home soil was in serious doubt due to financial pressures.

Please support us and allow us to supply you and your pets with the sweetest, crispest, long stem timothy hay available today. www.whiterabbithay.com Tel: 07513 069 187