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Volume 24 | Issue 1 | Spring 2021
Welcoming Growth
APLB volunteers have been springing into action
since you've last seen us! Our passion and focus has
been set on how we can continue to define our roles
within the pet loss industry AND provide great
resources for our members!
Continue reading to learn about the changes that
have been taking place behind the scenes as well as
those special things we have planned that are on the
horizon.
Latest Happenings President's Corner
We have been waiting for so long to Spring is a beautiful time of growth and
release our new website! Before the rejuvenation. With that joy, comes some
publication of our next newsletter, we will memories of Dr. Sife as it also marks the
reveal all of the hard work and countless one-year anniversary of his death. The
hours from our IT team and developers. We Board of Directors and our volunteer staff
think you will love it--we sure do! think of him a great deal, and often share
funny stories of time spent with
We recently wrapped up the first cohort of him. Personally, I know that he would be
the updated Pet Loss Grief Specialist proud of what has been accomplished in
training. The participants were enthusiastic, growing his vision over the past year.
passionate and bright--all wonderful
individuals who will be of great service in In our Winter Newsletter, I wrote that we
the pet loss field. would be unveiling a new Membership plan
with the launch of our new website. Email
Another piece of exciting news: APLB is blasts to you, will follow within the next two
now on Amazon Smile! weeks, detailing the new plans for pet
parents and professionals.
Please consider updating your Amazon
profile to help grieving pet parents at no We couldn't do this work without our Web
additional cost to you. Amazon will donate Developers at ELYK Innovation and our IT
a portion of the purchase price to the Consultant extraordinaire, Neely IT. We
APLB. appreciate their countless hours, their
advice, patience, and commitment to
making our website “top drawer”.
We are thrilled to give you a snapshot of
the identified projects/goals for 2021/2022.
While this is an aggressive set of goals,
knowing our team, we’ll do the heavy lifting
APLB Corner needed to accomplish what we set out to
We are all in this lifeboat together. Each of do!
us must do whatever can be done to help Stay healthy, be kind, and love your animal
anyone else who is in bereavement for a companions!
beloved pet. Caring is so necessary in this
wondrous encounter -- which we all take
part in during our own brief span, here.
What we learn and then freely offer to
others immeasurably enriches every giver,
as well as the living memory of our pets.
That's what the APLB is all about. We want
to share your experience, and grow with
the input only you can provide. Reservoirs
are filled one raindrop at a time. Come,
volunteer with us, and help make a
difference.
In Memoriam
Our Honor Roll of Beloved Deceased
Companion Animals
These are new names, added since the publication of our
last newsletter. All are now permanently posted with their
photos on the APLB Pet Memorials In Memorium page.
Abbey Doodle 03/2006 -- 11/07/20
My sweet baby, I miss our walks, your silliness fluffing up
your pillow just right, and treat time. I wish I didn't have to let
you go. I miss you so much. RIP
--Your Mommy (Chris Cahill)
Spring 2021
Baby W. 07/25/13 -- 04/03/21
APLB Quarterly I will never forget our last 3 hours together. I love you Baby.
Newsletter Until we meet again and I can hold you in my arms forever.
--Love Mommy (Nancy Wizner)
Michelle Crossley, PhD, LMHC
Copy Editor
Breeze 03/19/05 -- 12/18/20
Marina Resa, LMFT Our little Breeze, you lived to be almost 16 years old. We
Editor miss you so much. Your sisters miss you also. You were
our "Gentle Breeze" Run free!!!
Contact Us -- Love, Carol and Ken Miller
P.O. Box 194
Kawkawlin, MI 48631-2511
info@aplb.org Cali 04/25/09 -- 01/07/21
www.aplb.org Cali, my girl kitty. I will always love you. You were so
beautiful. We girls had to stick together, because our
Webmaster household was all males other than the two of us! I will
Joe Lemire never, ever forget you!
IT Consultant --Kathleen S. Mandell
Marshall Neely
Chico 01/03/07 -- 12/31/20
Executive Officers Companion, friend, and so happy no matter the problems or
pain. A most wonderful gentle Amstaff that loved all people
Colleen Rolland, BA, MA
President and tolerated the cat.
-- Rachel Tretch
Michelle Crossley, PhD, LMHC
Vice-President Dante 2012 -- 10/02/20
You brought a light into our lives. The Dante shaped hole
Marsha Zimmer left in our hearts will never be filled. Our little man of the
Treasurer
house. Ileen’s little red shadow.
Laurie Koen -- We miss your little face. (Derek and Ileen)
Secretary
Gus 2000 -- 07/10/17
Board of Directors Gus, always looking out for his best friend.
I will always miss you.
Ellie Waldron, President Emeritus -- Mary Mooney
Alana Birchall
Michelle Crossley, PhD, LMHC
Laurie Koen Tosca 2003 -- 01/29/21
Marina Resa, LMFT Brave, good-natured and pretty for over sixteen years. Will
Sarah Robinson miss you endlessly, Tosca, until we meet on the other side.
Colleen Rolland, BA, MA -- Mary Mooney
Marsha Zimmer
APLB Pet Loss Chatrooms
Pet Loss
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
8-10 p.m. EST
Sunday
2-4 p.m. EST
Anticipatory Bereavement
Thursday*
*1st and 3rd of the month
8-9:30 p.m. EST
Please visit the APLB Pet Loss &
Anticipatory Bereavement page for
more information and directions
on joining the chatrooms.
Help Needed
APLB is in need of a new financially savvy
Treasurer. If this is you, please contact us
to join our team!
This is a volunteer position, a working
knowledge of Excel, general computer
skills, and a passion for pets are
requirements.
Stories from the Web
Pet Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
If you’re shopping for pet
insurance, it’s important to
understand the limitations of
the policy—such as treatment
for pre-existing conditions,
which can add up.
Just like car insurance, which
doesn’t cover accidents before
coverage begins, pet
insurance typically won’t
cover any expenses related to
ailments or injuries that are
already present.
Knowing what counts as a “pre-existing condition” is crucial.
To read more click here.
‘The Traveling Zoo’: Life on the Road,
with Pets at Their Side
Many truckers depend
on the companionship of
dogs, cats, birds, pigs —
or even a hedgehog.
It can get lonely on the road,
but Rebecca Washington, a
long-distance trucker who is
sometimes away from home
for months on end, has
Ziggy, Polly, Junior and
Tucker along for the ride:
her “rig dogs.”
“People call me the traveling
zoo,” she said.
“We’re away from our families a lot of the time,” added Ms. Washington, 53, whose
home base is Springfield, Mo., and whose children are grown with children of their
own. “Animals are good companions, and walking the dogs at truck stops is a good
way to lose weight and stay healthy. I take them out two at a time. It’s a routine.”
Long-haul trucking companies mostly don’t complain about on-the-road pets, and
some even encourage them, because happier drivers are more likely to stick
around. The nationwide driver shortage is acute, and the coronavirus only made
matters worse.
Read this story from the New York Times
A Dog Who Kept Sneaking into a Dollar General
for a Unicorn Toy Gets His Plush and a New Start
The animal control officer who moved Sisu from the Dollar General store to the
shelter bought the stray dog his unicorn toy before bringing the canine in.
Dogs may be man's best friend, but
apparently, a unicorn — a stuffed purple
one at that — is a dog's best friend.
Animal control officers were called to a
North Carolina Dollar General store after a
stray dog kept coming into the store and
beelining for the toy aisle.
"He went straight for the unicorn, the same
one every time," says Joe Newburn, a
supervisor at Duplin County Family
Services.
"It was so strange, one of the strangest calls
I've ever dealt with," Newburn adds.
Workers at the Kenansville store (about 80
miles from Raleigh) told animal control officers that they caught the Lab mix darting into
Dollar General every time a customer exited. Each time the stray dog made it in, he went
to grab the same plush purple unicorn toy.
"Finally, they had to lock the door and called us," Newburn tells PEOPLE about how
animal control became involved in this playful pooch's story.
To read more the unicorn stealing dog, click here.
Veterinary Reflections
by Mark A. Zimmer, DVM PhD (retired)
Let’s start by introducing myself and this column. I’m a retired
veterinarian after 41 years of service and still can’t stop talking
about it, hence this column. Over the years I’ve seen thousands of
animals of all kinds, from cockroaches to Indian Gaur to dogs and
cats. Most of them were pets owned by loving owners. I felt that
these beloved pets, whose owners placed in my hands, were as
much my pets as my animals at home. Not only the animals were
a huge part of my life, but the owners were as well. In fact, some
of my best friends were clients and they are a big part of my
retired life.
Veterinary Reflections is intended to share some of the stories of
my veterinary career that are closest to my heart. I’d also like to discuss some of the
common problems our pets face. We can do this without the time restraints of an exam
room and without the nerves that go along with bringing your pet to the vets office. So let’s
get started!
Veterinary Relationships in 2020/2021
‘Unusual’ and ’Unprecedented’ are adjectives that hardly come close to describing what
2020 has been like for most of us. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of
our lives and seemingly will for sometime to come. And of course, veterinary hospitals
across the world and their patrons are facing new challenges added to those they usually
face. A bit of knowledge of how veterinary hospitals are dealing with the pandemic may
ease fears that some of us(as a retired veterinarian I have taken one of my dogs to the
emergency clinic) are feeling.
The first issue that confronts us is the decision to bring our pet to the veterinary office.
Each veterinary hospital will have its own ideas, based state regulations, of what is truly
necessary. If you aren’t sure if your pets issue is suitable for an office call, check the
hospitals’ website or give them a call. I’m sure they will advise you on what to do. They can
help make a decision that will protect you, your pet and themselves.
You chose your veterinarian based on how they represent their profession and on the
rapport that you have developed with him/her. This is a time to benefit from this
relationship. Things will be a little different when you do go to the veterinarian’s office.
Out of mutual respect, both veterinary staff members and pet owners should take
reasonable precautions to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus. First, if you suspect you
may have recently contacted a COVID-19 infected person or you may be feeling sick, find
someone else to take your pet to the veterinary office. The veterinary staff also should not
come to work under these conditions. Everyone should were a mask, use a hand sanitizer
and maintain as much distance apart as reasonable.
If this is your first time to this particular veterinary hospital, you may be somewhat nervous
about it. This may be especially true if the visit is for a surgery appointment or for an
emergency. While the staff is ALWAYS busy, most have a few minutes to answer your
questions to allay your concerns.
Payment procedures may differ also. My experience was that I needed to pay with a credit
card over the phone, However it is done, the staff is trying to limit personal contact for
everyone's’ safety.
Many hospitals have alternative procedures if it is the right time to have your pet
euthanized. An attempt is often made to allow you to be with your pet so you can comfort
your beloved friend at this moment of transition. While not every request may be able to
be met, the staff and the veterinarian will do whatever is possible to help you through this
difficult time.
We can all look forward to the day when we can meet the veterinarian face to face and
further our joint relationship with our pets. May we all be safe and enjoy our animal friends.
Giving to APLB
We would like to thank everyone for supporting
The APLB is a our much needed work. We want to express our
501(c)3 special appreciation to those who have donated
philanthropic at the Platinum Angel, Gold Angel, Silver
organization. Angel, and Patron Angel levels, as well as
those who gave Additional Donations.
All dues and
Please see our website’s About the APLB Page for
donations are tax more information on these
deductible.
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