Have you heard of Kissing Bug Disease? Known officially as Chagas Disease it’s transmitted through nocturnal insects known as Kissing Bugs.

Chagas disease has infected millions of people in Central America, Mexico, and South America has made it’s way to Texas, but now it’s becoming prevalent amongst dogs in Texas.

How Chagas Disease is Transmitted

The parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent of Chagas disease. It’s a tropical disease that effects 8 million people across Mexico and Central and South America.

Most cases of Chagas are transmitted to humans from direct contact with the feces of an infected bug. Kissing bugs bite humans, suck their blood and then leave feces behind that may penetrate the skin.

Other ways people can get Chagas include:

• Organ transplantation
• Blood transfusion
• Congenital transmission (mother to baby)
• Consumption of uncooked contaminated food

So while it’s quite alarming that the disease has been spreading in the southern U.S. keep in mind the chances of you getting it directly from your dog are very slim.

Infection Rate in the United States

In the United States the infection rate is estimated to be between 300,000 and 1 million. Most human infections are likely due to exposure in Latin America. Both humans and dogs are succeptible to the disease.

Symptoms of Chagas Disease

Symptoms of Chagas disease in humans and dogs range from completely asymptomatic to acute myocarditis and sudden death to chronic progressive cardiac disease. There is no vaccine available for humans or dogs. Currently there are no Food and Drug Administration approved drugs available to U.S. citizens to treat Chagas. Many of the treatments available are only effective if the disease is caught in its early stages though the medications are generally not well tolerated.

Since the Texas Department of State Health began tracking the disease in 2013 only 19 human cases have been found.

Evidence That Disease Has Been Spreading, Especially Among Dogs

Researchers have found evidence that the disease has been spreading in Texas and New Orleans. The research team based at Texas A&M tested 205 shelter dogs in Texas, 9% of the dogs in every part of the state tested positive. The study only tested shelter dogs but it’s common amongst all dogs across the state. Shelter dogs had widespread exposure to T. cruzi across 7 ecologic regions in Texas, with a conservative statewide average of 8.8% seroprevalence. -CDC

Chances of Catching It From Your Are Dog Extremely Low

The chances of a dog passing the parasite onto his owner is very low. For the parasite to pass from a dog to a person it needs to go through the kissing bug. The only way a human can become infected through there dog is if the kissing bug bites the dog and then quickly moves onto bite the owner after the dog has been infected.

“The last thing we want to do is put a bad taste in people’s mouths about shelter dogs,” she says. “Shelter dogs are not posing a direct risk to humans.” – Dogs Carry Kissing Bug Disease in Texas & Latin America

If dogs in Texas are bitten by a kissing bug the chances of the bug carrying the parasite that causes Chagas are quite high. Seven species of these kissing bugs known as Triatoma have been found across the state. Keeping your dog indoors or in an outdoor enclosed kennel can reduce the risk of your dog coming into contact with kissing bugs.

Dogs Susceptible to Catching the Kissing Bug

Dogs arriving at shelters, particularly stray dogs, are susceptible due to their prolonged exposure to the outdoors which leads to a much higher exposure rate to vectorborne pathogens.

Since the kissing bug itself isn’t common outside of southern & central Texas the disease is still considered quite rare in the United States

So while it’s perfectly fine to be aware that there’s a potential new health risk spreading we don’t need to worry about catching it from our dogs. So go ahead and give your dog a kiss – you won’t catch the kissing bug from him.

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Virginia-based veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson has three words of advice for dog owners thinking about breeding their dogs: Don’t do it. “Just because your dog is cute and your neighbor’s dog is cute does not mean they should get together to make puppies,” says Nelson. “You need experience and know-how to breed. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Nelson suggests spaying and neutering to avoid unplanned pregnancies. If you do find yourself tasked with the care of a pregnant dog, there are important steps you can take to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Below, Nelson weighs in on how to provide the best prenatal and postnatal care for your pet.

Veterinary Visits
When you first suspect your dog is expecting, it’s important that her veterinarian examine her in order to confirm the diagnosis. “Infections to the uterus can mimic pregnancy, with an enlarged midsection and discharge,” says Nelson. “These infections can be life-threatening, so it’s important to rule this out.”

Once your vet establishes your dog is indeed pregnant, her vaccination schedule should be checked to make sure she is up-to-date. “Maternal antibodies last 12 weeks in puppies,” explains Nelson, adding that the puppies “benefit from having a fully vaccinated mother.”

Dogs gestate their babies for nine weeks. Your dog will see her doctor two or three times during this period. The veterinarian can help you to anticipate what to expect during labor, especially if your breed has notoriously difficult deliveries. “Dogs with large heads and small butts often have labor complications,” says Nelson. “For example, bulldogs almost always need C-sections.”

Nutrition and Exercise
Because her most pressing need during pregnancy is for more calories, a pregnant dog should be fed a nutrient-dense puppy formula beginning immediately after her status as a mother-to-be is confirmed. Make sure, however, that the formula you choose is for small- to medium-sized pups, as large-breed puppy food contains fewer calories in order to slow growth.

Like a pregnant human, a pregnant dog can benefit from regular exercise. Stick with low-impact exercise, such as walking and chasing. If her muscles stay toned, she’ll have a safer labor and delivery.”

Labor Day
In advance, prepare a private, quiet place for the birth to occur. “Like human females, a female dog doesn’t want 10 people in the room when she’s in labor,” says Nelson. She suggests providing your pet with a birthing area — a comfortable bed or box. Nelson also suggests a room with a tiled floor to make cleanup easier.

Your veterinarian should speak with you about the signs that your dog is going into labor. “She may become very aloof, or on the flip side, very clingy,” says Nelson. Follow your dog’s lead: If she doesn’t want company, don’t force it on her. “Her hormones are raging. She’s very protective of these arriving babies. Read her body language and take it seriously.”

Postpartum
As with your pregnant dog, the most important consideration for your new mother is nutrition, specifically a higher caloric intake. She should continue to eat puppy food until her puppies have weaned (about eight weeks after birth). “Especially if the litter is big — more than three puppies — intense nutritional support is in order,” says Nelson. Consult your dog’s veterinarian about how much food she’ll need.

You should also be tuned in to the mother’s overall health. Postpartum dogs can develop eclampsia, which results from a calcium imbalance and can be life-threatening. It usually happens within a week of delivery, and signs include shaking, seizures and lethargy. If your dog exhibits these, get her to the vet immediately.

With the right medical and nutritional support, every dog can have a healthy pregnancy and a happy Mother’s Day — every day.

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The Mississippi State Department of Health has created a new policy allowing pet dogs to be present at restaurants and other food facilities under specific conditions.

MSDH has examined policies in other states and believes with the proper hygienic conditions public health can be protected, and local businesses wanting to accommodate their clientele can be supported.

OWNERS: This policy takes effect Friday, November 1, 2019. Check local and county ordinances to ensure that dog-friendly restaurants are not otherwise prohibited.

Conditions to Ensure Public Health

• No pet dogs will be allowed inside a food facility (with the exceptions of service animals).
• A separate outside entrance to the designated outdoor dog-friendly area must be established.
• All tableware in the area must be disposable.
• Pet dogs will not be allowed to come in contact with serving dishes, utensils, tableware, linens or any other items involved in food service operations.
• Pet dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, and employees may not touch or handle the animal.
• Employees who do come into contact with a pet dog should immediately wash their hands.
• Any accident involving dog waste must be cleaned up immediately and the area sanitized with appropriate products provided by the restaurant.

Permits and Inspections

All restaurants that wish to establish a dining area where dogs are permitted must first submit an application to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Once MSDH receives the application and relevant fee, an inspection of the facility will take place to ensure that dog-friendly requirements are met.

Restaurants with dog-friendly dining areas will be inspected at least twice a year.

Liability

• The restaurant or food facility can deny service if the pet owner fails to exercise reasonable control over the pet dog, or if it behaves in a manner that compromises the health or safety of any person in the restaurant. Failure to comply with the policy could result in a lower inspection grade for the facility or revocation of its permit variance for dog-friendly areas.
• These restaurants must have proper signage defining areas where dogs are permitted.

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — An anonymous donor has given 40,000 pounds of pet food and snacks to the Rogue Valley Humane Society.

The Daily Courier in Grants Pass reported Thursday that most of the food will go to the organization’s pet food bank, which fed 5,000 cats and dogs from low-income households in the last year.

Some of it will also be delivered to homebound seniors who have pets.

Executive Director Margaret Varner says the truckload of donated food will cover the needs of both programs for at least six months.

The shelter itself is a no-kill facility and has room for 90 cats and 20 adult dogs.

The organization operates on donations and fundraisers and is not affiliated with the Josephine County Animal Shelter.

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PORT ORANGE — Pups and their people are may soon have the option to dine together in outdoor restaurants throughout the city. That is, legally speaking.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted 4-1 in favor of creating a dog-friendly dining program, where local eateries could pay a permitting fee, apply to participate and — as long as they follow state-mandated rules — designate outdoor areas for well-behaved, leashed pups and owners to eat together.

“This is kind of like a tail wagging the dog situation,” said Councilman Scott Stiltner to laughter from the room. “Some of these places, they do it now anyway. They’ve been doing it for years.”

While the practice is not officially allowed in city limits, several eateries already offer dog-friendly dining spaces, according to Senior Planner Penelope Cruz. She said city staff has observed dogs in outside dining areas at Panera Bread, Tomoka Brewery, Starbucks, Neighbors Ice Cream Parlor and the Original First Turn Steakhouse.

“We have allowed animals on our deck for many years,” said Denise Hilliard, co-owner of The Original First Turn Steakhouse & Lounge on U.S. 1, speaking in favor of the practice. “We supply water bowls. We supply treats. We have a doggie menu for our canine friends.”

While most elected officials voted in favor of the ordinance, allowing restaurant owners to decide for themselves whether to let their outdoor spaces go to the dogs, Councilman Chase Tramont, the lone dissenting vote, had lingering concerns about health and safety of diners.

He called the issue “tricky.”

“Frankly, it’s one of those issues that I wish had not come before us, because I’d rather just go on, you know, and not know about it,” said Tramont.

But since it did come up, he felt the city shouldn’t allow the practice.

City Manager Jake Johansson told leaders he has never personally received a complaint about dogs at any city restaurants. But Cruz said if there are ever any concerns from patrons, they can contact the city and staff will keep track of complaints.

“I think the people that own these animals are well aware that they’ve been given a privilege,” said Johansson. “I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I’m saying it’s never come to the city manager’s attention.”

After the vote, leaders suggested an annual permitting fee of $50. The ordinance is expected to go to a final vote Dec. 17.

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Puppies are without a doubt some of the most adorable things on the planet. Parenting a new puppy, however, is no walk in the park. Here’s a guide to help you care for the new addition to the family.

When the time comes to finally bring your new puppy home for the first time, you can pretty much count on three things: unbridled joy, cleaning up your puppy’s accidents, and a major lifestyle adjustment. As you’ll soon learn, a growing puppy needs much more than a food bowl and a doghouse to thrive. And while it may be a lot of work initially, it’s well worth the effort. Establishing good and healthy habits in those first few sleep-deprived weeks will lay the foundation for many dog-years of happiness for you and your puppy.

1. Find a Good Vet

The first place you and your new puppy should go together is, you guessed it, straight to the vet for a checkup. This visit will not only help ensure that your puppy is healthy and free of serious health issues, birth defects, etc., but it will help you take the first steps toward a good preventive health routine. If you don’t have a vet already, ask friends for recommendations. If you got your dog from a shelter, ask their advice as they may have veterinarians they swear by. Local dog walkers and groomers are also a great source of ideas.

2. Make the Most of Your First Vet Visit

Ask your vet which puppy foods he or she recommends, how often to feed, and what portion size to give your pup.

1. Set up a vaccination plan with your vet.
2. Discuss safe options for controlling parasites, both external and internal.
3. Learn which signs of illness to watch for during your puppy’s first few months.
4. Ask about when you should spay or neuter your dog.

3. Shop for Quality Food

Your puppy’s body is growing in critical ways which is why you’ll need to select a food that’s formulated especially for puppies as opposed to adult dogs. Look for a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the packaging to ensure that the food you choose will meet your pup’s nutritional requirements.

Small and medium-sized breeds can make the leap to adult dog food between 9 and 12 months of age. Large breed dogs should stick with puppy kibbles until they reach 2-years-old. Make sure your puppy has fresh and abundant water available at all times.

Feed multiple times a day:

• Age 6-12 weeks – 4 meals per day
• Age 3-6 months – 3 meals per day
• Age 6-12 months – 2 meals per day

4. Establish a Bathroom Routine

Because puppies don’t take kindly to wearing diapers, housetraining quickly becomes a high priority on most puppy owners’ list of must-learn tricks. According to the experts, your most potent allies in the quest to housetrain your puppy are patience, planning, and plenty of positive reinforcement. In addition, it’s probably not a bad idea to put a carpet-cleaning battle plan in place, because accidents will happen.

Until your puppy has had all of her vaccinations, you’ll want to find a place outdoors that’s inaccessible to other animals. This helps reduce the spread of viruses and disease. Make sure to give lots of positive reinforcement whenever your puppy manages to potty outside and, almost equally important, refrain from punishing her when she has accidents indoors.

Knowing when to take your puppy out is almost as important as giving her praise whenever she does eliminate outdoors. Here’s a list of the most common times to take your puppy out to potty.

1. When you wake up.
2. Right before bedtime.
3. Immediately after your puppy eats or drinks a lot of water.
4. When your puppy wakes up from a nap.
5. During and after physical activity.

5. Watch For Early Signs of Illness

For the first few months, puppies are more susceptible to sudden bouts of illnesses that can be serious if not caught in the early stages. If you observe any of the following symptoms in your puppy, it’s time to contact the vet.

1. Lack of appetite
2. Poor weight gain
3. Vomiting
4. Swollen of painful abdomen
5. Lethargy (tiredness)
6. Diarrhea
7. Difficulty breathing
8. Wheezing or coughing
9. Pale gums
10. Swollen, red eyes or eye discharge
11. Nasal discharge
12. Inability to pass urine or stool

6. Teach Obedience

By teaching your puppy good manners, you’ll set your puppy up for a life of positive social interaction. In addition, obedience training will help forge a stronger bond between you and your puppy.

Teaching your pup to obey commands such as sit, stay, down, and come will not only impress your friends, but these commands will help keep your dog safe and under control in any potentially hazardous situations. Many puppy owners find that obedience classes are a great way to train both owner and dog. Classes typically begin accepting puppies at age 4 to 6 months.

Tip: Keep it positive. Positive reinforcement, such as small treats, has been proven to be vastly more effective than punishment.

7. Be Sociable

Just like obedience training, proper socialization during puppyhood helps avoid behavioral problems down the road. At approximately 2 to 4 months of age, most puppies begin to accept other animals, people, places, and experiences. Socialization classes are an excellent way to rack up positive social experiences with your puppy. Just be sure to ask your vet about what kind of interaction is OK at this stage.

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At first glance, Lily Reilly looks like just another cute girl. But don’t be mistaken: She’s a working woman with a rough job.

Lily, a 5-year-old labradoodle, was the first of her Caring Canines colleagues to take the witness stand in a Maryland court Nov. 7, comforting a child while she testified as a rape survivor in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Lily can’t take people’s trauma away, but she can put her head in their lap as they recount the worst moment of their lives. And that sweet, calming presence can make a world of a difference for victims, said her handler Barb Reilly, who stood next to the witness stand holding Lily’s leash and escorted her through the court.

“In other cases, she sits in the courtroom… But this was different. This was a much bigger case,” Reilly said. “I think the child really, really appreciated having the dog there. It gave her a chance to decompress.”

Lily’s presence doesn’t just help victims, it also can make for a clearer case. The more comfortable young victims are, the more confident they become, which means they can open up and share more of their story, Reilly said.

“The dogs are really able to bring down anxiety a little bit. Sometimes kids can open up a little bit better,” Reilly said. “It’s amazing what the dogs can do.”

Erin Bogan said she’s also seen the difference dogs like Lily can make. Bogan is the marketing coordinator for Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat in Davidsonville, which certifies volunteer therapy dogs through its Caring Canines program.

“The comforting presence they have helps the child get out of their head and feel more confident and comforted and safe,” Bogan said. “It gives them a little bit of solace through whatever they’re going through.”

The Courthouse Dog and Child Witness Pilot Program has been part of Anne Arundel and Harford county courts since February 2018. Child witnesses eligible for the program are identified by the state’s attorney’s office, a best interest attorney or a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer who sends a request to the court’s administrative judge for approval.

Sen. Bryan Simonaire, a Pasadena Republican, is preparing to bring a statewide version of the program to the General Assembly in next year’s session for the second time since 2016. The program would be voluntary and set up protocols for any county that wants to use it, Simonaire said.

“I’m thrilled to see a vision actually become reality,” Simonaire said. “We’re hopeful it goes statewide this year so we can help more children. That’s the real goal of this legislation.”

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Last week, Riverside County Animal Services posted an adorable photo of what it called “one of the oddest ways a pet came to us as an over-the-counter dropoff” ― a puppy squeezed into a Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries box and brought to one of the organization’s shelters in Jurupa Valley.

The female puppy, named Razz Berry at the shelter, had a severe case of the fleas, and shelter staff believes that the woman who brought the dog in put her in the box to avoid getting fleas on herself, animal services spokesman John Welsh told HuffPost.

The woman said she found the puppy in a dog park. However, Welsh added that some staff suspects Razz Berry was actually “one of a litter of pups she was selling online” but that the woman “did not want to deal with the fleas.”

Either way, Razz Berry’s good looks and delightful personality meant that she was in high demand among those looking to adopt at the shelter. Welsh described her as playful and energetic, and noted that she “loves to be held.” Though Razz Berry is estimated to be about 9 weeks old, she likely “won’t get too much larger,” Welsh said.

On Saturday, Razz Berry found her new home with a local family whose beloved dog had died the same day they first saw a story about Razz Berry in the news, People reported.

If a photo that animal services tweeted out on Wednesday is any indication, Razz Berry is settling in well in her life.

Plus, some of the people who came to the shelter because of Razz Berry ended up adopting other pets in need of homes, a news release said, leading to a “win-win for the four-leggers here in Riverside County.”

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IN AN ERA CONSUMED BY partisanship and deep policy divides, Republicans and Democrats appear far apart on major issues dominating the headlines. But there are two notable exceptions – veterans and dogs – and we are leading a new bipartisan effort to score a win for both.

In mid-July, The New York Times noted the Veterans’ Affairs Committees in both the House and Senate were a “case study in Washington working as designed.” Veterans issues, from accountability reform and whistleblower protections to the “forever GI bill,” appear to be among the few things folks in Washington can agree on.

After learning that the Department of Veterans Affairs was using taxpayer dollars to buy dogs, breed them and subject them to painful experiments, we both agreed that something had to be done.

The result is the Preventing Unkind and Painful Procedures and Experiments on Respected Species Act – the PUPPERS Act – to stop the VA from using taxpayer dollars for the agency’s most painful experiments on dogs.

We are proud to have introduced the bill with several of our congressional colleagues who are military veterans; and we are excited we have already had bipartisan success to cut waste and protect animals.

The House passed an amendment we sponsored in the “minibus” spending package to implement this prohibition for one year. That is a promising first step. But Congress must work to make it permanent.

Frankly, details of the VA’s dog experiments almost amount to torture. Recent and ongoing VA research on hundreds of dogs involves causing heart attacks in hound-mix puppies and giving methamphetamine to narcoleptic Dobermans. Some of these experiments are categorized by the VA as involving extreme pain and distress that is left unrelieved.

Beyond the upsetting details of the actual experiments, new exposes of these cruel and unnecessary experiments have identified animal welfare violations, oversight failures and accountability lapses. Many of these abuses and missteps were only brought to light through repeated requests from a tenacious nonpartisan taxpayer watchdog group called White Coat Waste Project.

A new VA oversight report prompted by complaints from advocates and Congress members found the Richmond VA Medical Center approved questionable, painful heart failure experiments on dogs without adequate justifications. It also shows researchers killed dogs with botched surgeries and conducted unapproved procedures on dogs. Moreover, for years staff routinely failed to keep accurate records of how many dogs were used, whether sick dogs were provided with medical care and how dogs died.

In Los Angeles, the Greater LA VA secretively bred and experimented on narcoleptic Dobermans for more than 20 years until members of Congress helped expose the laboratory and its misleading public statements that the experiments were just “observational.” In this case, the VA announced that it intends to end the program.

Unlike many other problems in Washington, this is one that is easy to grasp and tackle. After LA’s announcement, only 3 out of the 74 VA animal research facilities still perform painful experiments on dogs: Those situated in Richmond, VIrginia as well as Milwaukee and Cleveland.

Animal experiments are notoriously wasteful, and we are making technological advancements to move toward alternative methods of experimentation. The National Institutes of Health has acknowledged, “animal models often fail to provide good ways to mimic disease or predict how drugs will work in humans, resulting in much wasted time and money while patients wait for therapies.”

The NIH has ended chimpanzee research, and has said that available technologies are more accurate, faster and less expensive than animal testing. The U.S. military is moving away from using live animals in trauma medical training and the U.S. Coast Guard recently announced it was suspending its live tissue training program.

In a recent Pew poll, 80 percent of Americans stated that they do not trust lawmakers in Washington to do the right thing on most issues. Nearly the same number of Americans – 75 percent – oppose experiments on dogs, according to a national poll by Lincoln Park Strategies. Dogs are cherished pets, members of the family, faithful partners to servicemen and women on the battlefield and sources of comfort and healing to those who have returned home from war.

Passing the PUPPERS Act will protect dogs from painful experiments, trim waste and implement a change that both Democrats and Republicans can agree upon.

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The love and devotion many people have for their pets runs deep. Sometimes, this even goes to extremes, like a pet owner wanting their dog to be buried with them if they pass away. In most cases, though, if a dog dies, it’s important to understand that you’re allowed to grieve. You don’t have to “get over it” just because it’s an animal and not a person. You know your connection with your pet better than anyone, and allowing yourself time to process their death will make it easier to cope, in the long run. 

You might feel as though you’ll never be able to move on. Maybe your pet died of natural causes or old age. Maybe the death was unexpected or caused by a sudden illness, like bloat. No matter the cause of death, it doesn’t make it easier to move on. 

So, how can you? This article will focus on a few ways you can deal with the pain of losing your pet, and how you can begin the healing process to move on. 

TALK ABOUT IT

Again, losing a pet is like losing a family member. If you try to keep it all inside, you’ll never be able to work through the stages of grief in a healthy, effective way. One of the best things you can do is to talk about your pet the same way you might talk about someone’s life at a funeral. Share stories with your family, laugh about the happy times, and tell each other what you miss and what you remember. 

Talk to anyone and everyone about your pet who will listen or who might be interested. If you find that you’re really struggling, consider opening up about the loss of your pet in a therapeutic setting. Keeping everything in can lead to symptoms of trauma, such as mood swings, irritability, or feelings of overwhelming sadness. 

Talking to a counselor or therapy group about your loss can help you to accept the change and to keep going with your life. That doesn’t mean you’ll ever forget about your pet or stop missing them, but getting the initial shock and weight off of your chest can make a big difference. 

LET GO OF YOUR GUILT

One of the big differences between the death of a pet and the death of a person is that your furry friend can’t tell you what’s really going on with them. They can show physical symptoms of being sick sometimes, but not always. As they get older, they also can’t tell you if they’re in pain or struggling to do certain things. 

If your animal dies, you might start to feel guilty, wondering if you should have done something else for them. Or maybe your guilt will stem from holding on for too long and allowing them to be in pain. 

Letting go of your guilt, wherever it stems from, is hugely important when it comes to moving on. Take comfort in knowing that you gave your pet the best life you possibly could. Remember everything you did for them and the beautiful memories you have, whether it was throwing a doggie birthday party or taking your cat to a “kitty spa” for the day. Thinking about the good times you had with your pet and the good things you did for them will help to alleviate some of your guilt. 

TAKE YOUR TIME TO GRIEVE

There isn’t a concrete timeline for getting over the death of your pet. Some people might think you should get over it quickly because it’s “just an animal.” But we can’t stress this enough: if that animal felt like a part of your family, you’re allowed to grieve that way for as long as you want. 

Additionally, even after getting through the stages of grief, you don’t have to forget about your pet. That’s why many pet owners struggle with the idea of getting a new dog or cat after the death of one they loved so much. It can actually be therapeutic to bring a new animal into the home — not as a replacement but to share the love you still have in your heart with an animal that truly needs it. 

The bottom line? Everyone grieves differently. The best things you can do to move on after the loss of a pet are to take your time, don’t let anyone pressure you into “getting over it” quickly and talk to someone about how you’re feeling. It’s up to you if you’d eventually like to get a new pet or not, but no matter what happens, it’s important to grieve in a way that works for you. If you allow yourself to do that, you’ll have an easier time moving on and looking back on memories of your pet fondly, instead of with sadness.

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