Back across the Rainbow Bridge

for your parrot

Crazy catbehaviourPet loss books

for children

Understanding disenfranchisedGRIEF

Support through grief’s journey:

Bijou’s storySUM

MER

201

5 I $

3.95

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When it’s time to say goodbyeThe 5 stages of grief

www.citizenpet.com celebrating life with our animal companions

KALI’S WISH HELPS MY FAMILY FEED ME WELL!

KALI’S WISH HELPS KEEP ME HEALTHY AND CANCER FREE!

MY FAMILY FOUND ME AT A REPUTABLE BREEDER - THANKS

KALI'S WISH!

THANKS TO KALI'S WISH I GET LOTS OF EXERCISE!

I VISIT THE VET REGULARLY - THANKS KALI'S

WISH!

3

10 years publishing! Incorporate 2005-2015 10 years publishing!! 2005-2015

celebrating life with our animal companions

www.citizenpet.com facebook.com/citizenpetmagazine

Publisher/EditorSherry Warner

ContributorsApril Clay

Susan CrawfordDr. Dirk DekensDebbie FrenetteKathleen Grey

Straja Linder KingBeth O’ConnorAudrey Pavia

Rebecca Stares

Design/Layout

Advertising InquiriesSherry Warner

T: (403) 249-2233E: citizenpet@shaw.ca

Subscriptions$12.95 (+GST) per year - four issues

Call Sherry Warner (403) 249-2233 to subscribe

Citizen Pet & Equine is published quarterly by Fresh PAINT Communications Inc.(403) 249-2233, citizenpet@shaw.ca

Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without permission of the

publisher. The views and opinions in articles andadvertisements in this publication are not

necessarily those of the publisher.

This magazine is a proud member of the AlbertaMagazine Publishers Association, abiding by the

standards of the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors.Visit www.albertamagazines.com

Cover photo: www.dollarphotoclub.com(Author: natasnow)

Copies of Citizen Pet & Equine are available in Alberta and other parts of Canada at your specialty pet supply retailer, select veterinary clinics, rescue organizations and shelters. Citizen Pet & Equine is also available at Calgary Public Library and Edmonton Public Library locations and other magazine stands throughout Alberta. Citizen Pet & Equine is also in-serted into select community and specialty newspapers.

Back across the Rainbow Bridge

for your parrot

Crazy catbehaviourPet loss books

for children

Understanding disenfranchisedGRIEF

Support through grief’s journey:

Bijou’s storySUM

MER

201

5 I $

3.95

CDN

When it’s time to say goodbyeThe 5 stages of grief

www.citizenpet.com celebrating life with our animal companions

6 The sorrow and grief

surrounding the death of a pet

8 Grieving the loss of a pet: do you need counselling support?

10 When it’s time to say goodbye: home euthanasia

14 Book review: The Grief Recovery Handbook For Pet Loss

15 The psychology of horse craziness

16 Crazy cat behaviour

18 Support through grief’s journey: Bijou’s story

20 The benefits of natural sunlight for your parrot

22 Back across the Rainbow Bridge

contents

4

When I was growing up, I didn’t have any pets. That didn’t stop me from trying to sneak a cute little cat into the basement, which my sisters and I found wondering the neighbourhood. We called him “Handsome” but unfortunately we couldn’t keep him.

I love animals, especially horses. I remember dreaming about the day when I would learn how to show jump. But riding horses and having pets of my own would have to wait until I was an adult.

As soon as I got married and bought a home of our own, my husband and I got two beautiful dogs named Denver and Tiffany, both were Maltese. This was before we had children, so they were our only pride and joy.

Being one who loves to learn new things, I also took English riding lessons as an adult, hoping to make that dream of jumping fences a reality. Needless to say I was the oldest person in the class but I managed to keep up with the kids and I loved the time I spent with the horses.

When Tiffany was about seven, we noticed that she had lost her appetite, was losing weight and had very bad breath. When we took her to the vet, she was diagnosed with cancer. She underwent immediate surgery but the cancer was so widespread there was no way to save her. She was diagnosed and passed in just two weeks.

Denver had Addison’s disease and was doing well on his medication but when we didn’t return from the vet with Tiffany, he collapsed. Denver never recovered and we had to put him down a few months later. I’m sure he died of a broken heart.

Losing two dogs in such a short period of time was extremely difficult. I think I was in shock. Looking back I realized that I was also embarrassed to tell my co-workers the reason for my inability to focus on the job. Thankfully, as a society, we’ve come a long way since then. More and more people are becoming aware of how significant the loss of a pet can be.

In this issue we focus on pet loss. It’s my hope that the information between these pages will provide some comfort, an understanding of the grieving process and some tools to help you work through your grief. And above all, an understanding that it’s OK to grieve the loss of such an important being in your life.

editor’s note

Sherry

Denver and Tiffany

5

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6

Staring out the window of my cot-tage-like art studio, I am invited to a sensory feast of sounds and sights. A crow squawks, a jet roars on the celestial highway above while flocks

of geese bark out commands overhead. The day is warm and teeming with life. We are at winter’s end. Bravely, I slide the window even further to breathe in the clarity of the clear blue sky. The window becomes an interactive canvas inviting me to a private viewing. What do I see?

I see a constant interplay of beginnings and endings. Myriad stories unfold and shift, viewing life through this portal to the outside world. On the left hand side of the window an empty bird’s nest sways precariously on the limb of the cherry tree. Across the yard, tan-gled branches shadow dance in the energetic winds and shifting light on my neighbour’s

wall. On the cedar fence post a sassy magpie vies for the attention of my three dogs play-ing in the yard. Here as I sit staring out the window, I witness life and death comfortably entwined.

Birth and death are present always. Loss is inevitable yet we do not get the call to atten-tion until the death impacts us directly. The death of a pet, a powerful call, impacts us with immediacy and full intensity. The death of a loving pet irrevocably changes us forever. The loss means one less family member and the pain can be debilitating. Put simply, grief is a broken heart. The absence of our beloved friend alters our home and hearts forever.

After working in pet bereavement for over two decades, I can clearly state that no two losses are alike. Grief is unique as one’s fin-gerprint. From the moment that death occurs we feel a heaviness that defies description. Grief and gravity combined are unbearable to hold. No recipe will circumvent or eradicate

the pain due to the death of a beloved animal companion. The grieving process unfolds on its own volition and there are no short cuts. Ignoring or minimizing this grief falls into the category of disenfranchised grieving. What does this mean?

“Disenfranchised grief” means there is an existing social stigma to this type of death and the grieving process surrounding the loss. De-pending on the bond, the death of an animal companion can wound our soul with the same intensity and magnitude as the grief we feel for a human death. Research demonstrates that the grief experienced due to pet loss can actually be higher than that of human loss — even if the pet has only been in our lives for a short while. This is due to the relationship, proximity, and deep bonds created with our beloved pet.

When we adopt, rescue, or add animal com-panions to our family we are well aware that their life span will most likely be shorter than

The sorrow and grief surrounding the death of a pet

By Straja Linder King

7

ours. However, this knowledge does little to lessen the pain of pet loss. Our head holds the logic about our longevity not being the same as our pets, yet our heart contains the feelings experienced together in our relationship with them. Hence, when people minimize or dis-regard the animal’s death the grief intensifies. The term for this exacerbated grief is known as “disenfranchised”, making the bereavement journey all the more difficult.

Therefore, validation is vital in assisting those experiencing the death of an animal com-panion. “Disenfranchised” best describes this type of grieving when the validation is lacking. For example saying: “It is only a pet,” and “You can always get another,” is hurtful and wound-ing to the soul. This thinking still exists and as a society, many are still not willing to honour this type of grief. An animal companion can never be replaced anymore than a lost human life and “getting another” sounds like restock-ing our fridge with depleted items. Our pets are members of the family too.

With the death of a pet many people live in the shadow of their grief. This merely exacer-bates the grieving process. When time is not taken away from our work to allow for working through the loss, emotions become bottled up. All this stems from the fear of embarrassment in sharing what they are feeling. When you hear co-workers respond with: “It’s just a dog, you can get another,” or “Thank goodness it was only an animal,” there is not much to say. This response simply perpetuates the stigma leaving the bereaved feeling isolated and filled with despair. No one should grieve alone.

Grief houses myriad responses, complicat-ing the grieving process. The complexities may stem from a variety of sources such as unex-pected deaths, witnessing a traumatic event, or feeling solely responsible for the death. Reac-tions to these types of complications affect us at every level — physical, emotional, spiritual, and social. We all grieve differently and we need to companion and support one another on the journey experienced due to loss.

We are evolving with sensitivity to this un-spoken grief. Thankfully, I have lived to wit-ness the journey of seeing the changes evolve. I will always remember the horrific experience of taking my therapy dog to a local animal hos-pital. My dog was undergoing many tests due to the mystery surrounding constant weight loss. He was not doing well. One morning we had to take him in unexpectedly as he was hardly moving. They weighed him on the scales and quickly escorted the three of us into the nearest examination room.

Sitting with deep fear in our hearts we gen-tly stroked the fur of our handsome big boy waiting for the doctor to enter. The door to our room was left ajar. While we sat in dread of the not knowing the fate of our beautiful pet, another vet walked by. Stuffed under one of her arms was a limp but alive small dog and as

she walked by our open room she irritatingly exclaimed, “I have another euthanization and need someone to help me in the back.” Upon witnessing this event, both of our hearts filled with terror at the thought of our community therapy dog receiving the same death sen-tence on that cold morning. How insensitive and careless in not thinking about others in the nearby rooms. Needless to say we never went back to that clinic again. Thank good-ness our sensitivity has grown exponentially over the past decade. We want dignity for our pets facing end of life challenges.

Many veterinarians now include a quiet room where patients may wait the outcome of their injured or sick pet’s future. One clin-ic here in the city designed its new quarters to incorporate a quiet room for animals fac-ing end of life. There are two doors so you need not go through the waiting room once you check in and are ready to see the doc-tor. This fosters dignity and displays sensi-tivity to meeting the needs of the pets and their guardians. You are invited to take your pet’s favourite toy and blanket to make your animal companion as comfortable as pos-sible. Being in a home-like room is calming when you are already in distress. I have been blessed to experience this with two of my ani-

mal companions and having a quiet room was extremely helpful.

And some veterinarians make house calls in order that the pet is as comfortable as pos-sible. Also, this allows the entire family to be involved and creates a ceremonial area right in their home. This also facilitates children or other pets being able to witness the pet’s end of life if they wish. There are many ways to create rituals and ceremony to commemorate your pet depending on the circumstances.

Having these options available allows you to be aware of the many avenues to explore prior to an emergency. This knowledge will surely mitigate some of the anxiety when faced with emergencies and end of life situ-ations with your beloved animal. We all can contribute and carry this sentient wisdom in assisting those experiencing the loss of a partnership that fosters happiness and loving kindness. Our animal companions deserve this dignity.

—Straja Linder King is a board-certified clini-cal art therapist and clinical animal-assisted art therapist. She practices at her Strawberry Moon studio with certified therapy dogs, Twillow Rose and Tala Rain. Visit www.strawberrymoon-counselling.com for more info.

In the depths of grief

Far beyond the place

of tearsMemories

reside

8

If you have experienced the death of a pet, you may be finding it very dif-ficult to adjust to the many changes in your life. This kind of loss can leave you feeling shaken up, lost

and misunderstood. It’s important to respect your loss just

like any other. Although not everyone in your life may understand your feelings, there will be those that will be able to offer support. Take care to seek out those in your circle who have compassion for your experi-ence. Develop a “go to” circle of people or seek out a grief support group or a counsellor.

Bereavement is the time we spend adjust-ing to loss. There is no set time limit and no wrong or right way to feel. Everyone must forge his or her own path, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Grief can manifest in a multitude of ways. Some people get angry, some withdraw and

some experience numbness. Sometimes, grief can turn into something more serious, like depression. Many signs of grief resem-ble those of depression. It is perfectly nor-mal to cry, experience changes in sleep and appetite. Most people report experiencing “waves” that come and go throughout their process. However, if you begin to notice per-sistence in and worsening of symptoms it may be time to seek out another form of support.

Signs that grief has turned into depression may include:

nt feelings of guilt

and appetite

and energy

sibilities

If your grief has begun to take a more com-plicated turn, you may also notice yourself engaging in behaviours foreign to your personality such as:

than usual in order to numb emotional pain.

having a negative impact on relationships.

Counselling can help provide support dur-ing the grief process and ward off the risk of depression taking root. If you are concerned, seek out the assistance of a qualified thera-pist. The person you speak with should have experience with grief counselling along with an understanding of the special issues pet loss can include. Don’t be afraid to ask ques-tions before booking an appointment. Get the right fit for you, and make sure you’re comfortable with the person that will assist you in your healing.

—April Clay is a registered psychologist and offers counselling and sport consultation services. Visit www.bodymindmotion.com for more info.

By April Clay

Grieving the loss of a pet: do you need counselling support?

9

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5 Stages of GriefThe five stages of grief, as defined by Swiss psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D., in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying have been found to be common in many forms of loss.

Remember that your grief is as unique as you are and you do not enter and leave each individual stage of grief in order. As you prog-ress through the grieving process you may feel one emotion and then another and back to the first one. There is no right or wrong way to go through the stages nor is there a set amount of time in which one should grieve.

1. Denial. A common first reaction is denial, in which a person imagines another outcome other than loss, or the reality they face does not seem real. “This cannot be happening.”

2. Anger. When denial can no longer continue, people can feel angry — at God, the universe or others. “Why is this happening to me?”

3. Bargaining. This stage involves hope that grief can be avoided. The person may bargain for extended time in exchange for something else. “Maybe there is something I can still do.”

4. Depression. In this stage the individual becomes sad-dened by the certainty of the loss, and may feel as though life is meaningless. They may isolate and refuse to engage in their usual activities. “I’m so sad, why bother with anything?”

5. Acceptance. Here, individuals accept the reality that their loved one is gone. They may never get over it but they learn to live with it. They create a new “normal” and learn to live within it. “It’s going to be okay.”

Care with compassion - at the heart of all we do

Mobile vet services including home euthanasiaWe come to you — 7 days a week — when you need us

Dekens Housecall Veterinary Services403-615-8016 www.dekensvet.ca

Dr. Dirk Dekens

10

Without a doubt having your companion animal “put to sleep” or humanely euthanized is one of the toughest emotional decisions any pet parent can be faced with. For many, our companion animals are members of the family and their loss is no dif-

ferent than losing a beloved friend or family member. Regardless of their age, their loss is always too soon.

We are their guardians and caregivers throughout their lives, and we owe it to them to be kind, caring and selfless when the time comes that their pain and suffering no longer allows them to enjoy a reason-able quality of life. Letting go is hard, but it is the only compassionate act we can offer them when their little bodies and/or minds no lon-ger can sustain any further enjoyment of life as they once knew it.

It’s hard to prepare ourselves for death and dying. While some pets may live into old age and experience a slow and steady demise of their abilities, others may experience a sudden onset of illness or, in some cases, a critical accident. As our pets can only communicate with us through their behaviours, deciding as to when to euthanize can be very challenging.

Families often look for changes in their pet’s behaviours to let them know “their time might be close.” Families considering euthanasia of-ten observe many of the following in their beloved pet:

weight loss

or time spent with family members

chance of recovery

help improve the quality of life

Your veterinarian is there for you to consult with, review the needs of your pet and help you make the best decision possible while respecting individual wishes for dealing with the euthanasia.

Allowing your pet to pass peacefully at home rather than in an un-familiar and often scary clinic environment is an option many families choose. Home euthanasia allows for the entire family, including other pets, to be present and assists greatly with the grieving process for ev-eryone. Tears can be allowed to flow freely and the home environment allows for a safe place to respect and honour various personal and reli-gious rituals.

Some families in preparation for the loss of their loved one may wish to have end-of-life photos taken prior. There are many pet photographers who offer this service or people may do so on their own. It may be that your family dog loved being in the garden or out by a favourite tree, or your pet cat had a favourite chair he liked to lie on. These personal wish-es can be honoured through an in-home euthanasia process.

For families with children, it is important to explain and prepare them for the loss of their family pet. We all need to find ways to say our good-byes and to grieve. The decision to have younger children and family present is a personal one and you should discuss your wishes with your veterinarian to make a choice that is right for you.

The process of euthanasia offers a peaceful and painless ending to your companion pet’s life and your veterinarian is there to guide you through the process — whether at home or in a clinic along with the deci-sion to cremate or bury the remains.

Grieving is a natural response to loosing those we love. While the stages of grieving — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — are similar for most, the way in which we grieve and the time it takes varies from person to person. It is very individual and personal, and expressing sadness over your loss is understandable and normal.What matters most is to take care of yourself and those around you and seek out support.

—Dr. Dirk Dekens is the owner of Dekens Housecall Veterinary Services and offers mobile vet care including home euthanasia in Calgary and area. He can be reached at (403) 615-8016 or visit www.dekensvet.ca.

By Dr. Dirk Dekens, DVM

When it’s time to say goodbye

QA

11

QA How do I work in daily “training moments” with my dog?

Working training into your daily routine can be fun and easy! There are so many awesome opportunities for you to create a better behaved dog in your every day activities.

The most important thing to remember is that every interaction with your dog is, essentially, training. So if you are, say, chopping carrots, and you toss a piece to your dog, you just taught your dog that when you’re preparing food, they’ll get some. Situations like that create bad habits like begging. So instead, put some carrots aside and give them to your dog when they aren’t expecting it.

Showing your dog that you are their leader is very simple. In my classes I show people how to incorporate training into their routine so that it becomes a lifestyle. Here are a few ways to show your dog that you are their leader in daily activities:

n you’re going up stairs, ensure that you are going before

your dog. This isn’t just a leadership technique, this is for your safety. I’m sure many of you have almost been tripped by your dog racing up and down stairs ahead of you! Simply block them with your legs so they can’t get ahead of you.

tone of your walk by leading your dog out of the door instead of them leading you!

with your dog. Even driving a few blocks away and going a different route will tire your dog out more because of all the new sights, smells and sounds.

in your area that allow dogs but be sure to confirm the store allows pets before you make the trip. Dogs will love all the extra attention they’ll get from people in the store and will love you more for taking them somewhere new!

Most importantly, don’t forget to play with your dog every day. Play is an important bonding activity. Have FUN with your dog!

— Beth O’Connor is a certified dog trainer and owner of Cultured Canines. She can be reached at 403-472-2384 or visit www.cultured-canines.ca.

AB

eth O’C

onnor

Q

Ru!wear Approach Pack, Canine Equipment Ultimate Trail Pack and Canine Equipment Packable Water Bowl.

12

pet pin-up

Breed: Calico

Favourite toy: laser pointer (Chasing it never gets old!)

Favourite pastime: watching out the kitchen window and playing with her brother Finn

Favourite place to sleep: on Mommy’s bed, on top of her clothes or in the linen closet

Photo by Darby Leigh

1313

14

The death of a pet is a heartbreaking loss for any pet guardian, and every year, pet deaths number into the millions. One of the most hurtful things a grieving pet guardian ever hears is, “Don’t feel bad, it was only a dog. Get another one.” Feeling bad is a normal, natural

emotional reaction to death. Such a comment implies there is some-thing wrong with feeling sad, and minimizes the loving relationship you had with your pet by using the world “only.” No wonder grieving pet guardians are scared to tell people how they are feeling and often get isolated for fear of hearing more hurtful comments.

Books written in first-person by pet guardians who share their grief are common, but books to really deal with the loss of your pet and to help you get a sense of completion are not. The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss is, however, one of those rare books. It shows pet guardians how to deal with the emotional pain of their loss and really recover.

The exercises in the book are based on John James’ own experi-ences when he and his wife lost their three-day-old son, and then divorced shortly after. He devised a series of actions that helped him feel emotionally complete to deal with the grief.

The first action is to help identify the myths you have been

keep busy. Readers are told how to discard the myths, and replace them with more accurate ideas about dealing with sad emotions, and that short term relief like food, alcohol or drugs does not help.

The authors recommend that readers start by detailing their own history of pet losses since childhood. Then, review the relationship with their pet, with the goal of replacing painful memories with positive ones and remembering their pet the way they knew him in life, not only in death.

Readers are encouraged to graph the entire relationship with their pet over their lifetime then convert the relationship graph into recovery categories including apologies, forgiveness, and significant emotional statements such as: “I had always planned to take you to the beach to run and play and I’m sorry I never followed through” or

loving me just as much as I loved you, if not more.”The final step Friedman and colleagues suggest is to write a com-

pletion letter to your pet, in order to say what you need to in order to feel emotionally complete. Examples are given, so readers know how to start their own letters. They recommend saying goodbye to the pet at the end of the letter, in order to complete the communica-tion. Reading the letter to the pet is one possibility, if death is immi-nent. If the pet has already passed away, Friedman and colleagues suggest reading the letter to a human witness, who you trust. This is the key to feeling complete.

They end the book with hints about dealing with your pet’s things. Despite well-meaning friends advising you to get rid of everything, you may not want to, which is fine. Other helpful advice regarding burial options is also included. Scattering all your pet’s ashes versus having some permanent place to go to remember your pet is impor-tant to consider. Keeping some ashes to stay connected can be comforting.

This book is a gem — so helpful for grieving guardians to discover and complete what has been left emotionally unfinished by the death of someone so important in their life. A highly recommended read.

higher learning

By Susan Crawford, M.Sc.

The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss

Russell Friedman, Cole James, and John W. James168 pages

Taylor Trade Publishing (Dec. 2014) ISBN-10: 1630760145

$17.95 Canada, $14.95 US

Pet loss books for children:I’ll Always Love You, by Hans Wilhelm (Ages 2-6)The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst (ages 4-9)

, by Cynthia Rylant (ages 4-11) , by Jane Yolen (ages 6-9)

, by Marjorie Blain Parker (ages 6-10), by Corinne Demas (all ages)

, by William N. Britton (all ages) by Christine Davis (all ages)

15

Supplements to help keep all your pets healthy for life.

By April Clay

Fortunately for you, horses are not like puppies. Kids don’t find them wandering the streets with hopeful eyes and bring them home to announce: “Mom, look what I found, can I keep him?”

Whew. So yes, to be in the company of horses, or not to be, is your choice. Even so, if you have a potentially horse-crazed young one living with you, challenges are a given.

Sport or non-competitive?Some kids will want to be involved in the show circuit. For others, it’s

pure love and contact is quite good enough. Take some time with your young rider to see what it is that attracts them. Don’t forget that there are ample opportunities to be in the company of horses, competitive sport is only one.

There are lessons and camps, volunteer opportunities and odd stable jobs. This is where moving slow initially can really pay off. It may be your child is unsure about what type of horse involvement would suit them best.

Why girls and horses?Here is a common burning question. Why are girls drawn to horses

like flies to barns?This is a question Melissa Holbrook Pierson eloquently undertakes

in her book Dark Horses and Black Beauties: Animals, Women, A Passion. She circles daintily around all the standard explanations: girls love horses because they are better equipped with the relationship skills it takes to ride, to fulfill some deep Freudian urge, to feel powerful, because horses are pretty and thus feminine and so on. In the end, Pierson prefers to embrace the mystery of the attraction and be satisfied, to stop analyzing and revel in the wonderful pleasure of it all.

Potential benefitsAll youth sports offer great opportunities for kids to grow. There is the

social aspect, learning good sportsmanship, building confidence in new skills and experiencing what it’s like to set and meet goals. But, horse sport also provides something unique and different.

A distinctive benefit of spending time with horses is what they can teach us about ourselves. For kids, learning to problem solve with their equine friends can be challenging and empowering. They will be quick to learn, for example, that ill-focused anger doesn’t get you anywhere with horses or people. Talk to your kids about what great role models equines can be for humans. Draw parallels for them between their horse relationship and how they deal with other important relationships in their lives. Make the most of your kid’s chosen passion because as Lord Palmerston so wisely said: “The best thing for the inside of a man is the outside of a horse.”

The psychology of horse craziness

16

I was the relaxed owner of two senior fe-lines when I decided to add another cat to the household: Holly, a six-month-old kitten I’d found in the street. A beauti-ful girl with an incredibly sweet person-

ality, I had no idea what demons lurked within Holly’s brain until I took her into my house.

Once Holly became comfortable with her new surroundings, the insanity began. While my two older cats slept quietly in their beds, Holly rampaged throughout the house. She at-tacked my feet as I walked and swung from the window blinds. She scaled the eight-foot-tall ficus tree in the dining room in one leap, then flew around the house at 90 miles an hour. Pot-tery and artwork I had collected over the years crashed to the floor as she leapt from one shelf to another. Even our normally playful Corgi watched Holly’s mad antics in disbelief as she spun around the house like a calico tornado.

Things cats do

Anyone who has lived with a kitten — or a particularly energetic adult cat — has experi-enced this feline lunacy to one degree or an-other. Some kittens and cats are inclined to act as if they have lost their minds, making us won-der if we should be providing our feline friends with strait-jackets instead of safety collars.

Behaviours that drive cat owners to distrac-tion include:

including cabinets, drawers, closets, washing machines, boxes, bags, and even refrigerators

they try to go about their business

people who are simply trying to be friendly

pecting humans

want to be left alone

When a kitten or cat is in the throws of this kind of craziness, it can seem as if the cat’s sole purpose is to make life a living hell for every-one in the household. But according to experts on feline behaviour, these behaviours are actu-ally typical expressions of play and curiosity.

“Most unwanted behaviours from kittens are done in play or because they want to investi-gate their environment,” says Melissa Bain,

DVM, DACVB, of the Companion Animal Be-haviour Program at University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. “Young animals also have a lot more energy compared to adult animals, and they expend it in play.”

As it turns out, play is the primary reason behind just about every crazy kitten and cat behaviour on the planet. Although rambunc-tious felines may seem like they are purpose-fully trying to drive us nuts, they are simply looking for a way to learn and have fun at the same time.

“Kittens possess a broad repertoire of play behaviours, and all of these behaviours may occur in the context of play and exploration,” says Lynne Seibert, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVB, a behaviourist at the Veterinary Special-ty Center in Lynnwood, Washington. “Playing helps kittens to develop the necessary skills for life as an adult: motor coordination, muscle de-velopment, social interaction, and eventually hunting.”

Dr. Seibert notes that play behaviours in kit-tens and cats are divided into two major catego-ries: social play and individual or object play. “Social play with other kittens is most preva-lent between four to 16 weeks of age,” she says. “Social play involves rolling, pawing, biting, pouncing, chasing, and stalking. Object play, in which kittens manipulate objects, generally resembles hunting behaviour and provides ex-ercise. Kittens will bat, chase, catch, bite, and carry objects during play.”

Crazy but normalAlthough these wild behaviours may seem

nutty to us, they are actually very normal for a kitten or young cat. In fact, kittens who do not play are often not healthy. However, this doesn’t mean you should let your kitten or cat wreak havoc in the household just because he’s

expressing his normal, healthy self.“Play is extremely important for establish-

ing the relationships between kittens and the other animals in their social group,” says Lisa Radosta-Huntley, DVM, resident in behavioural medicine at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. “It is very important to keep in mind that some kittens did not have proper socialization during critical stages and may exhibit play that is too aggressive. They may not inhibit their bites, or they may play with claws extended and cause injury. This is the case with many orphan kit-tens because they do not get the chance to be with the queen and the litter-mates, and learn bite inhibition and normal behaviour.”

Because kittens are learning as they play, it’s important to help teach them what is ap-propriate and what is not, according to Dr. Radosta-Huntley. “Play needs to be directed to appropriate toys immediately so the kitten learns how to play with humans in a safe way,” she says. “Before the kitten comes over to you, get ready with appropriate toys.”

Although crazy cat behaviours are normal, they can get out of hand. If this happens, it’s time to call in a professional. “If biting escalates to injury, or if you see signs of true aggression, like growling, seek professional help immedi-ately,” says Dr. Bain.

Next time your kitten or cat starts swinging from the chandelier, remember that the behav-iour you are witnessing is normal. If you work at redirecting his energy, he will soon be hang-ing from his scratching post instead.

—Writer Bio: Audrey Pavia is an award-win-ning freelance writer and member of the Cat Writ-ers Association. She lives with three cats: Simba, Murray and Holly. This story was originally pub-lished in Cat Fancy/April 2005.

By Audrey Pavia

Crazy cat behaviour

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Guide for good playKittens will play no matter what you do, but you can do a lot to influence that play and make sure it’s not destruc-tive. Behaviourist Lynne Seibert DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVB, of the Veterinary Specialty Center in Lynnwood, Washington suggests following these guidelines to help your kitten play safely:

to particular areas of the home

is any aggression, and gradually introduce them

concerns about the kitten’s behaviour

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Bijou filled our lives with pure joy, fun and unconditional love every single day. Our family is eternally grateful for having him in our lives

for nine years and I am blessed to have had the honour of being his mom. Bijou’s beauty, gentle nature and friendly personality en-deared him not only to his family but also to all of the people and other animals that he encountered.

How brave and strong our little jewel was to carry on with energy and spunk while hav-ing a type of cancer that is so rare in smaller dogs and was undetectable until the day that he died. The cancer had spread so much at that point that there was nothing that the vet-erinary specialists could do to save him. The only consolation at that point was that we got to take Bijou home and hold him in our arms and love and comfort him at the end of his precious life.

Bijou’s death came so suddenly and unex-pectedly that my family and I were complete-ly shocked and truly devastated. We thought that we would have many more wonderful years together with Bijou. The grief that I ex-perienced after Bijou’s passing was extremely intense as he was such a vital and integral part of my everyday life. I did not know how to deal with his sudden loss or know how to go on living without him. I knew that I need-ed support beyond my veterinarian’s caring words and the love of my family.

Eleven years ago, after our wonderful dog Snowy passed away, I had found support at

the Pet Loss Support Group at the Animal Ser-vices Centre. However, when I attempted to turn there for help this time, I found that the group was no longer in existence. My daugh-ter helped me search for other sources of pet loss support and thankfully we found it with Straja Linder King, who had previously been the director of group support at the Animal Services Centre.

When I first came to Straja, my grief was so strong that I could not find the words to express my feelings. Through art therapy, memorial tributes, journaling and counsel-ling, Straja is helping me to work through my intense grief while honouring the won-

derful memories of Bijou. I am so grateful for her genuine understanding and continual support.

When a human loved one dies, society helps by providing support with empathy and rituals for closure. When the departed loved one is a pet, it is much harder to find the sup-port that is so desperately needed. It is vital to be among people who truly understand the magnitude and intensity of losing a beloved pet. There is a comfort that comes with shar-ing the feelings of loss that is truly healing.

I am glad to know that Straja is forming a new pet loss support group this fall. I am look-ing forward to having the opportunity to assist with the Pet Loss Partners Workshop, which will be held monthly at Straja’s community studio in St. Stephen’s church. Here, a sharing circle will enable people to share their stories in a safe, quiet and warm atmosphere. Togeth-er we will companion with each other in the company of renowned therapy dogs Twillow Rose and Tala Rain as we navigate through the losses of our cherished pets. In the meantime, I will continue on my own journey of grief with Straja’s support, always honouring the memory of our beloved little jewel, Bijou.

Bijou, you live forever in our hearts. Thank you for all of the love and joy that you brought to every day of our lives. May you feel our love as we feel yours, always and forever.

For more information on the monthly Pet Loss Partners Workshop, please contact Straja Linder King at (403) 630-1020.

By Debbie Frenette

Support through grief’s journey

403-630-1020 www.strawberrymooncounselling.com

Losing a pet hurts. Strawberry Moon Counselling’s Pet Loss Partners Workshop can help.Every first Monday, 7 pm - 9 pmAt Strawberry Moon’s community studio(Inside St. Stephen’s Anglican Church)1121 - 14 Ave. SW, Calgary, AB$55 per class. Call to register.

Pet Loss CounsellingConnect. Release. Heal.

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Did you know that not all litters are created equal?!ere are lots of options for li"er in the market today but some may not have your cat’s health interests in mind. For example, some clumping li"ers containing sodium benonite clay and/or crystalline silica dust can actually lead to many health issues including cancer.At Pet Planet we can help! We o#er many safe and a#ordable options that will take care of the mess, while keeping your pet’s health in mind. Try one of our product alternatives that contain wheat, corn, or walnut and let’s $nd a healthy solution to your li"er issues.Li!er Solutions

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Light is one of the three natu-ral elements necessary for life. However, unlike the clean air we breathe and pure water we drink it gets overlooked as

something necessary for good health.Natural sunlight affects people and pets

in myriad ways — most notably is the pro-duction of Vitamin D. It is estimated that Vitamin D affects 10 per cent of all genes. Vitamin D is known to reduce the risk of certain cancers, reduce blood pressure, im-prove cognitive function and enhance one’s mood.

The ultraviolet B (UVB) spectrum in natural sunlight converts good cholesterol into pre-Vitamin D compounds, which are further synthesized into beneficial Vita-min D. With most parrots, pre-Vitamin D compounds are released with the oil of the preening gland, which they spread over their body while preening their feathers. With exposure to UVB rays, the secretions are converted to Vitamin D3, which is then ingested with subsequent preening.

Exposure to natural sunlight enhances the capacity to deliver oxygen to tissues of the body, similar to exercise. This is par-ticularly beneficial for parrots whose ability to exercise is greatly reduced due to being caged for most of the day or having their wings clipped.

Natural sunlight increases the produc-tion of lymphocytes, or white blood cells, which play a major role in defending the body against infections. Natural sunlight also kills bacteria and can help disinfect and heal wounds in addition to reducing fungal infections of the skin.

Over the past several decades exposure to natural sunlight has been frowned upon to the point of paranoia. Now, we are begin-ning to discover more and more benefits to moderate daily exposure. But how do we de-termine how much sun is enough?

Unfortunately, there is no scientific in-formation to answer this question for birds.

But, with the information we know about humans and tropical birds’ natural environ-ment, we can estimate how much natural sunlight is safe for your parrot.

The average human requires about 10 to 15 minutes of natural sunlight daily to reap the benefits. People with dark skin, living in northern climates, require up to six times that amount. Given that the natural habitat of dark-skinned people and tropical birds are similar we can estimate that parrots require about the same amount of natural sunlight daily, approximately an hour to an hour and a half.

Parrots, in their natural habitat, are ex-posed to direct sunlight in the morning, while foraging for food and frolicking with their mate or siblings, and in late afternoon before they head back to their roosting spot. They take shelter from the intense sun in the early afternoon.

If your parrot can be outside for about an hour that’s great but any amount of time your parrot is exposed to natural sunlight is better than none at all. A short walk when weather permits or sitting outside while having lunch are great opportunities to get your parrot outside.

While natural sunlight does not pose a risk to parrots, extreme heat can be danger-ous. If you plan to hike on a hot day, bring along a water mister so you can cool your-self and your parrot.

Predators are always a risk when you take your parrot outside. You can protect them by using a travel carrier or a body harness designed specifically for parrots.

Although we must rely on supplemental indoor lighting during the cooler months, Mother Nature does it best and we should take advantage of this. The benefits of natu-ral sunlight far outweigh any risk and if you are smart and take appropriate precautions you and your parrot will be better for it. Just remember how great you felt the last time you vacationed in a tropical climate. That is how your parrots should always feel.

By Kathleen Grey

The benefits of

natural sunlight for your parrot

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I’m nearly certain that everyone who’s lost a pet has heard of the Rainbow Bridge, the passageway between this life and the next, which animals use to

cross over. It is both a beacon and a safe pas-sageway for animals when they die, and it is comforting in times of grief to be reminded of it. My beloved Joe took the journey across the Rainbow Bridge long before I was ready for it. What I didn’t know until he passed, was that the Rainbow Bridge is not a one-way street — our beloved animals can cross over it, in spirit, to visit us.

It was almost instantaneously that Joe started visiting me from the other side, help-ing me to heal my heavy heart. Joe was a hound/boxer cross, white with brown spots, and I loved him from the moment I saw him. He was the perfect dog for me, and above all, my best buddy. He was easy to recognize, even in spirit form, and I knew immediately when he was with me. Joe

-brant, uncontained energy, an exuberant be-ing. Death did not change any of it.

Searching the web I found hundreds of stories from people all over the world who assert with confidence that their pet has visited them from the other side: finding a

-

reaching down to pet him and realizing there’s no physical form to touch. It wasn’t limited to dogs and cats either, but applied to horses, pigs, goats, birds, rabbits, reptiles, etc. Given my experiences with Joe, I’m in-clined to believe that animals come back to visit more often than not.

Joe’s visits were not uncommon, es-pecially in the year following his death. I would feel his presence in the woods where we used to go walking and take comfort in knowing I was not alone. Many times I would awaken from sleep feeling the outline of his body next to mine. I’ve felt his energy bound through the room and watched the movement of my cat’s eyes as he was track-ing it — another sign of validation.

All of this raises some interesting ques-tions: What compels our pets to cross back over Rainbow Bridge to visit? Why do some seem to visit more often and others not at all? Are they ghosts, and if so, does that mean they are trapped as ghosts? The last would be unfortunate if it were true.

Animal spirits who visit their human and animal friends, are not ghosts. The differ-ence being that while a ghost is trapped en-ergy, a spirit has successfully crossed over and has the ability to return for brief engage-ments. They offer validation of a bond that transcends the physical plane. They return to check in on us for reasons of curiosity and to ensure our well being, even helping to heal our grief and helping us move on and adjust to their absence. They teach us that death does not close our hearts to love or developing new bonds.

Interestingly, despite Joe being exclu-sively my dog, I am not the only recipient of his visits. Many of my friends and family members have reported feeling Joe’s pres-ence and having him visit in their dreams. Even visitors in my home have asked what happened to the big white dog who had been running through the yard. (Gives me goose-bumps!) Busy helper always comes barrel-ling in bringing joy and laughter and untold comfort that leaves a distinct and impres-sionable mark on the day.

The next time you think your departed animal is visiting, don’t dismiss it. It’s not your imagination, nor is it just wishful think-ing. It’s a visit, and it’s a good thing.

—Rebecca Stares is a clinical social worker, intuitive counsellor and animal communicator. Visit www.spiritedconnections.ca for more info.

By Rebecca Stares

Back across the Rainbow Bridge

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Natural Remedies for PetsImproving the Lives of Animals – and their People – Everywhere

Kava & Lucy

marketplace

ATTENTION: Rescue Organizations and Shelters!If you are a registered non-profit or charity operating in Alberta, you are invited to submit a business profile of your organization (up to 500 words) to citizenpet@shaw.ca to be considered for inclusion in Citizen Pet & Equine’s online Rescue and Shelter Directory.

Inclusion in the Directory is at the sole discretion of the publisher. All submissions will be edited for style and length. For more information call 403-249-2233. To view the directory visit: www.citizenpet.com/pet-adoption/rescue-shelter-directory

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