Hi my name is Daisy. I am following up on last week’s Second Chance Pet Column on helping children cope with the loss of a pet. This week I guide you in what to say (or not say) when discussing a pet’s death with a child. 

A recent study of the mental health impacts on children from the death of a family pet is showing that this experience can effect children more than we have realized. For many parents this may not be news as the bonds children form with pets resemble secure human relationships in terms of providing affection, protection, and reassurance. But how do we help children cope with the loss of a pet?

What does it mean to be humane? Many would answer with the use of words such as compassion, just, kindness, benevolence. Others would answer that it means accepting the role and responsibility as stewards of the animals and planet. Some would say it would be to treat all living creatures as you would a human. But some humans don’t treat other humans well so how can that be used as a measurement? To complicate things further, some humans treat animals better than they do other humans. Do we just need a new definition for humane?

Hi my name is Merle and I am a puppy mill survivor. I am learning that many people don’t fully understand what that means. I believe that as more people understand what that means the less dogs will have to suffer in puppy mills. So please read on, and don’t worry, my story has a sweet ending.

As a shelter cat here at Second Chance Humane Society I have been witness to what I believe is a growing disparity between the feline versus canine connection with humans. There are some strong indicators in shelters nationwide. For example, stray dogs are far more often reclaimed by their owners than stray cats and there always more cats in the shelter than dogs. This is not the cat’s fault and it needs to change.