My story

Welcome Our New Family Member!

As you all know, our goodest girl, Nuka passed away in May 2022 from large masses in her lungs. Her death was unexpected; however, due to her age, we knew we only had a limited time with her. After her passing over the rainbow bridge, Beckham became depressed, anxious, and extremely sad. He has never been the only dog in the household, so the loss hit him especially hard; hence, we started to look for our new family member to help him through the mourning process.

Welcome Our New Family Member, Chai!

Chai was born January 21, 2022 in Connecticut at The Flying Buffalo’s Alaskan Malamute Ranch. In June 2022, my husband took my boys on a “boy’s trip” to meet the breeder, Lisa and her family in Indiana (midway between Connecticut and Arizona).

Lisa advised that Chai is a nervous little girl, but she warms up to her people fairly quickly. She would need some training and patience, but she would be a sweet dog for her forever family. We were ready to take on that challenge! All of our pets have been a little nervous or had some behaviors to work through, so we knew Chai would fit in just fine.

First Moments

The moment my boys laid eyes on Chai, it was love at first sight! Joshua, my oldest, took to her right away and made sure she felt safe with him. Caleb and Micah were a little more active and noisy; however, Chai warmed up to them by the end of the trip.

All the kids and Chai had a blast traveling back to Arizona. They were able to visit family in Colorado, camp in beautiful Utah, and also check out the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. (I was a bit jealous because they got to have all the fun while I was home working!)

Chai did well on the trip home. She loved checking out the new places (even if she was a little scared at times), getting to know her human brothers, and even accepting loves from my husband.

I could not wait to meet her!

Our New Family Member is Home!

The family arrived home on a Wednesday, while I was at the office. Do you know how hard it is to work when you are anticipating the arrival of your new puppy? My production that day was probably not what it should have been.

Once the work day was done, I happily sped home to meet this beautiful, little red girl.

Finally!

I walked in the door, ignored my husband and kids, and immediately went to my oldest’s room where he was hanging out with Chai. Okay, I really didn’t ignore the family… I said hi, and then ran up the stairs. Chai was just as stunning in person as she was in the photos. Her fur was a beautiful red and white with little crimped tufts around her ears. Her eyes were an amazing amber color, and her tongue was always hanging out of the side of her mouth!

She was a little nervous meeting me; however, she gained a little confidence with Joshua by her side. I was just as smitten with her as my kids.

Meeting the Rest of the Fur Family

We introduced Chai to Beckham slowly, knowing that Beckham just lost his best friend, and that Chai is in a brand new environment. We didn’t want any territorial tendencies to come out on Beckham’s part, and hoped that Chai’s transition to Beckham’s little sister would be smooth.

Beckham was super intrigued. Who was/is this little red girl in his house? Does she get to stay? Will she be a good fit in the family? Poor Chai had to deal with Beckham’s overly excited/nervous meet and greet..but don’t worry! We took it slow and they are now inseparable.

The cats, on the other hand, were not amused by this new puppy in the house. Hunter would not have anything to do with Chai unless he had a tactical advantage. He would sit on the table or counter, reach down when Chai walked by, and give her a good swat. Obviously, Hunter was the boss and Chai better believe it!

Jazz, my special little Torbie, wasn’t sure what to think of this new member of the family. She basically followed Hunter’s lead, and stayed above Chai’s eye-level, so she could learn more about this new floof. Is Chai a friend or foe?

Six Months in with Our New Family Member

We are now going into January 2023, Chai’s 1st birthday, and she is thriving! She definitely has puppy energy and loves to tear couches apart if she is bored; however, she is the most cuddly, sweet, and smart little girl.

Fun Times with the Human Brothers

The boys have so much fun with Chai. They love to help train her on her good behaviors, teach her how to say “hi”, “hello”, and even “I love you”. They work with her on her giving high fives and hugs, and run around the house playing chase. Chai especially loves to run with Micah, my youngest. They run up and down the stairs chasing each other from room to room…and past Mr. Grumpy Old Man, Beckham.

On walks, even on the harness, Chai loves to pull. You can tell she is definitely an Alaskan Malamute, because she looks as if she were pulling heavy cargo down the walkway…and she is FAST! There have been times when I have almost lost my balance because she has to run faster than Beckham…or Micah…or Caleb.

Chai is also the biggest snuggle bug. She loves to sit next to her family members and make them hold her paw while she is getting scritches. She also gives hugs when her family returns from an outing or if she is excited to see the boys.

She is still a little skittish around people that are not her family; however, she is doing so much better than when she first came home. She sneaks sniffs of people that she doesn’t know to get more familiar with them and then will slowly warm up as long as the person is willing to work on her terms. So far, everyone has been extremely accepting of her requests!

Shenanigans with the Fur Siblings

Chai and Beckham are hilarious together. It has taken Beckham a little time to understand that he can play with Chai, and it has been great to watch how he has broken out of his “fun police” shell. Chai goads him into play and within minutes, both are play-bowing, barking, and wagging their tails…and then running crazy through the yard.

They are both food motivated, so Chai has taught Beckham a few things on how to say “hi” or how to high-five for treats. Who knew old dogs could learn new tricks?

@4furrystooges
she loves her crackers!#mybabydog #alaskanmalamutelife #malamutelife #alaskanmalamute #dogsoftiktok #floof #malamutesoftiktok #mydog #petsoftiktok #happydog #crackertime #snacktime #iloveyou #chai

♬ original sound – Beckham, Chai, Hunter, & Jazz

Hunter and Chai have become great friends and now even play together. Chai understands that Hunter has claws and Hunter understands Chai has teeth and a great right hook. They chase each other through the house and on occasion, Hunter will surprise attack Chai…and the boxing match is on! Chai is extremely gentle with him, so it is neat to watch how their relationship has evolved.

Chai knows that Jazz is not a normal cat. She is extremely gentle and loving with her and doesn’t chase or box with her like she does Hunter. There are occasions when Chai will nudge Jazz, and Jazz will swat and hiss at her, but Chai just lets her do her thing. They will walk together through the house, but it is like Chai is trying to take care of Jazz and make sure nobody else gives her trouble.

Conclusion

So, with a full heart, I am glad to say that Chai, our new family member, is thriving! She is such a blessing, and I can’t believe we are so fortunate to have her as part of our family.

She fits in with my kids, my pets, my husband…and even me! She loves us unconditionally, and the feeling is mutual. I can’t wait to see what the future brings with our silly little girl, Chai.

You can check out some of hers and the fur babies’ shenanigans on TikTok “@4furrystooges“, on Instagram at “brikel4“, and on Facebook Reels under “Kelly Bernier-Smith“.

Check them out and let me know what you think!

The Goodest Girl – A Story of How Nuka Changed Our Lives

It’s not fair. Why can’t our pets live as long as we do? We know she was “older”, but nobody expected her to leave us so soon. My family has been dealing with a range of emotions; sadness to anger, guilt to grief.

Why did she have to die? She was only 11….Why cancer? Instead of dwelling on the horrible reality that is, I want to take a minute to talk about the goodest girl ever…Nuka.

Nuka’s Beginnings

Should We Get Another Dog?

After Roc’s death in 2016, my husband was hesitant to get another dog because of the cost and the care that comes with adding members to the family. 6 months went by, and my kids and I started perusing the shelter pages for adoptable dogs.

None stood out.

Don’t get me wrong, Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas can make great pets (well, maybe not Chihuahuas…just kidding!), but those breeds just don’t fit our family. We are more of a fluffy, but not crazy group; laid back and quiet, yet ready for fun when needed.

Malamutes Are Us

Roc taught us so much about the Alaskan Malamute breed and he showed how Malamutes are very family oriented, laid back, super fluffy (double coat, anyone?), and just our speed. I decided at that time that if we were going to adopt a dog, this dog had to be the fluffiest, cutest, adult Malamute who was good with little kids, cats, and noise.

So, where do you find a very specific Malamute in Phoenix, AZ? You don’t.

I started looking at animal rescues throughout Arizona, but still only saw Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas who were in need of a loving home. I then turned to Alaskan Malamute breeders seeking information regarding any mommas or papas being retired soon. Summit Alaskan Malamutes stood out to me regarding how they cared for their dogs and why they were specifically Malamute breeders.

Summit Alaskan Malamutes

The owner of Summit Alaskan Malamutes, Lisa, listened to my story of how we lost Roc 6 months prior and we found Malamutes are our breed…however, we have certain criteria of what we are looking for.

1. 1. We don’t want puppies
  2. We need a dog that loves little kids
  3. The dog must be cat friendly

This is a difficult checklist to mark off as northern breeds tend to have a high prey drive, so “cat-friendly” is highly unlikely.

I was told she did not have any soon to be retired dogs; however, she would let me know if something came up or if someone else needed to rehome their pet. Within a week or so, I received an email from Lisa stating she was looking to retire one of her females. Birthing puppies was too hard for the momma and Lisa was looking for a comfortable retirement home for her.

Is She the One?

She stated this dog was super sweet, loves kids, was raised with cats since she was around 16 months old. The only quirk she had was she was super skittish of men. Once I heard good with kids and cat….I was sold! (We can figure out the men thing a little later.)

We set up a date to drive up to Lisa’s house to meet this sweet girl, Nuka. My husband kept reminding me that it was only a meet and greet; we weren’t going to bring her home on that date. I politely nodded, while crossing my fingers behind my back.

Love at First Sight!

December 31, 2016, we packed the family into the Explorer and drove about 2 hours north. The kids and I could not contain our excitement, and if I am honest, I think my husband was looking forward to meeting Nuka as well. We pull up to the house and are greeted by Nuka, Chris, and Summit in their respective dog runs.

Oh my, what beautiful dogs!

We chatted with Lisa and her husband, Mike, about who we were and what we were looking for in a dog (more of a confirmation of the communication through email). Lisa brought Nuka in the house and it was love at first sight for my oldest. Nuka and Joshua connected immediately.

I think at that moment my husband knew Nuka was coming home with us. She is now family.

The New Pampered Life of the Goodest Girl

The Beginnings

Nuka’s Best Friends for Life

We brought Nuka home New Year’s Eve and she began her new life (retirement) with a boisterous, loving family. Due to Nuka’s fear of men, my husband would make himself as “small” and “soft” for her sake. It’s quite the undertaking for my 6’1″ man! The progress was slow; however, she let him pet her as long as he was lying on the floor.

My oldest did not leave her side for the rest of that weekend. They snuggled on the couch together, played in the backyard, and even fell asleep close to each other. It’s true what they say about a boy and his dog…best friends forever!

The two littles (my younger two) wanted to hang out with Nuka as well, but they could be a little overwhelming at first due to their high activity and noise levels. Nuka soon became accustomed to their craziness and accepted she was part of the family.

Who is Nuka, the Goodest Girl?

Nuka’s personality began to blossom as time went by. She became more comfortable with our family, friends, and neighbor kids. Her excitement to be with her people showed in her zoomies and when she would try to catch her tail.

In typical malamute fashion, she was stubborn when she either wanted something or if she didn’t want to do something.

A New Nuka

In March 2017, I received a text from Lisa stating she needed to retire Beckham (my favorite red malamute I met when we met Nuka) and asked if we would still be interested in giving him a home. I said, “Absolutely!”, so in mid-March, Beckham became a part of our family as well…

And, I still cannot believe how Nuka completely broke out of her shell. At this point, she would actively seek out my husband for affection. She loved being the center of attention when we walked to the boys’ school. She would even goad Beckham into play and chase him around the yard.

She became a much more relaxed dog who knew she was the queen of the house.

Food Thief

Nuka also really liked food; almost any food. If food was accessible and you weren’t looking, she would sneak it off of your plate. Your yummy dinner would be gone! She has stolen many food items including: raw carne asada, raw chicken, turkey, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, bread…and all of Beckham’s food.

If it was forbidden, she was going to try to steal it.

Silly Walks

Taking walks with Nuka was always amusing. Her little fluffy butt and Corgi sized legs made her look like she was royalty walking down the street. She was too good to meet other dogs, but she loved the adoration humans bestowed upon her. It was extremely important to her that she walk beside Beckham and pee on anything Beckham marked first. We laughed every time we were out with her.

As time went by, we noticed Nuka started to slow down, but her sassy little attitude never let up.

An Aging Nuka

Nuka was 5 years old when she became part of our family. Typically, large breed dogs live to be around 12 years old; however, I had hope that she would see the ripe old age of 17 (like Roc). Knowing she was spayed later in life, we were aware there was a higher chance of cancer in her future.

We watched Nuka slow down around 9-10 years old; however, she never indicated anything was wrong other than some mild arthritis and a couple fatty tumors. Even the mammary tumor that was aspirated and showed no signs of cancer, didn’t keep her sassy attitude from coming out.

The Last Few Years

In her last years, she continued to be a food hog, the queen of the house, and the play instigator. She never let Beckham beat her in a wrestling match and she didn’t miss an opportunity for some loves. Nuka was so spoiled we even picked her up to put her on our bed!

Aging Sucks

In March 2022, we noticed the mammary tumor on her belly was growing exponentially fast and another tumor was growing on the left side of her neck. I contacted our vet to set up an appointment to remove the masses.

When the vet saw how large the mass was, the first word out of her mouth was “Fk!”. At that point, I knew it wasn’t good and there might be a possibility of cancer.

Surgery Time!

The surgery went well and the vet removed both masses, the one on her belly being 2.5lbs. We were informed both had clean margins, but we could test the mass to see if it is cancer. Due to the cost and the fact Nuka was older, we opted out of the test.

Nuka’s spryness came back with a vengeance. She was as sassy as the day we brought Beckham home…and she let us know it! Everything looked great. Nuka was feeling great…

It’s Not Fair

April 2022, we noticed another little nodule on the right side of her neck and at the base of her skull. She started coughing like she had something in her throat. The food hog stopped taking doggy donuts and carrots.

We attributed the behavior to getting older; however, we were being proactive regarding the masses on her neck. Unfortunately, with the veterinarian shortage and our clinic only having 1 doctor on staff (due to a permanent medical leave), the only appointment would be 2 weeks out.

The first weekend in May 2022, I noticed Nuka’s breathing was more labored. She was hacking more, and she could not get comfortable in any position. I called the vet’s office to see if there were any cancellations where we could slip in, and the appointment was made for the next Thursday.

A Vet’s Visit, Finally!

I called on Wednesday because Nuka’s breathing became worse and was able to get her in. The doctor noticed the mass on her neck had abscessed and she had a fever. She wasn’t sure if the mass was due to a puncture wound or if it was another mass like one she removed in March.

Antibiotics and pain medication on board, I took Nuka home. Even in pain, Nuka was stubborn! I could not get the pain medication down her throat and she had stopped eating some of her food.

On Friday morning, I called the vet’s office again, because I could see Nuka was in a good amount of pain and she started to stretch her neck out to breathe. They asked me to email a video of her breathing. Even after sending the video, they said I could bring her in for an observation.

To the Vet Again!

I rushed Nuka to the vet’s office and gave them all the details of what I was seeing. That afternoon, I received a call, stating she was breathing fine and I could pick her up.

When I picked her up, I could tell she was still not breathing ok. The vet staff told me that the antibiotics had not had time to work and that we should just watch her over the weekend. It didn’t make sense, but I trusted their judgment at that time.

Friday evening, I told my husband that Nuka was not ok. She can’t breathe. She won’t eat. It is obvious she is in pain. I can’t let her continue to be in this condition over the weekend.

That night, I slept downstairs with her to monitor her.

Rushed to Emergency

Saturday, May 7, 2022, I rushed Nuka to the emergency vet’s office. Her condition deteriorated overnight, and I needed to fix it. The vet tech rushed her back to X-Ray and the doctor examined her. The moment the doctor walked into the room without Nuka, I knew the news was not going to be positive.

Diagnosis:

According to the X-Ray, Nuka had a large mass on 1 lung, and a ton of masses on both lungs. She was not getting any oxygen into her lungs and the doctor said the blood test showed she was anemic. This could mean that blood was filling her lungs as well.

All we could do is look at quality of life. Due to her age and the fact her lungs were covered in masses, the only humane option was to euthanize her that morning.

I started to cry, but I also knew the doctor was right. It would be unfair of me to keep her alive with the amount of pain she was in. I called my husband to bring Beckham and my oldest to say goodbye.

It’s not fair…I’m not ready to let her go.

The Last Moments with the Goodest Girl

We were able to spend quality time with her and tell her how much we love her. We told her she was amazing and that we were going to miss her terribly. It wasn’t fair that we didn’t have enough time with her, but we were honored she shared her life with us.

We told her she was the goodest girl and nobody else can take her place.

Conclusion

No words can express the utter grief we feel. It doesn’t feel right not seeing her big Malamute smile when I walk in the door. It feels weird not calling her name and her running over for some love.

I hate not seeing her and Beckham running around the loft and tackling each other. I don’t have my food vacuum cleaner anymore…

Even through the pain, I know Nuka is in a better place. She is able to breathe and run pain free with the others over the rainbow bridge.

One day, I will see her again, and I will be able to tell her that she is still the goodest girl.

Goodest Girl

My Favorite Pet Memories

Have you had a pet (or pets) that have been extraordinary? Were they more like spirit animals or soul mates? As I start this new blog, I thought I would share some of my favorite pet memories, and how these furbabies shaped my life. Many pets have come through my life; however, I want to focus on a few that really shaped my life and als0 helped me learn how to cope with loss.

1. Patches – Favorite Pet Memories

My Favorite Pet Memories - Patches

My First Love

Patches was a tortoiseshell calico who made up for being the runt of the litter. She was a pudgy cat with a small head and quite an attitude. She was quirky, drooled any time you pet her, and she loved breath mints. My parents and I adopted her and her sister, Midnight from a neighbor’s house. They were two cute little kittens who stole everyone’s hearts, but also taught me a few things about how to care for cats.

I was super excited to have my own cat (Finally!), and I made sure Patches was fed every day, had plenty of water, and had a clean litterbox. This was my first time being responsible for a pet, so I was taking it seriously!

Some of Patches quirks were endearing; at the same time, some were a little more frustrating. For example, if I left home overnight, Patches would leave me a “present” to find when I arrived home. I never thought a cat would seek revenge, but Patches proved me wrong.

oUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER

When I moved out of the house at 19, Patches was by my side…she wasn’t pleased to move, but she acclimated after a little time. As time moved on, and I got married to my high school sweetheart, her revenge became a daily occurrence. Unfortunately, nothing I did to appease her worked. Since my new husband and I lived in an apartment, I felt Patches would be happier at my parent’s house.

My parents cared for Patches and Midnight until they were old and ill. My mom was responsible for bringing her and Midnight to the vet when they were ready to cross the rainbow bridge. I regret not being there for Patches; holding her paw and loving her while she slipped away. More importantly, I regret putting that responsibility on my mom’s shoulders.

fIRST LEARNING EXPERIENCES

When I look back on my time with Patches, I realize there was so much I didn’t know about cat behavior. For example, declawing a cat is a horrific surgery. I didn’t know that cat body language can speak volumes and that multiple cats in a household need multiple access points to a litter box.

There were so many things to learn, and I thank Patches for the beginning of that journey.

2. Harley – Favorite Pet Memories

My Favorite Pet Memories - Harley

oH hARLEY!

One of the reasons for Patches moving back to my parent’s house was that my husband and I adopted an amazingly beautiful and young Maine Coon named Harley. Harley was a super chill cat who would get along with everyone, and who loved to be close to his people. He was the only cat I could hang upside down or wrap around my neck. The only problem was that Patches did not like him, and he nonchalantly made sure that she became the pariah in that relationship.

After Patches left, Harley didn’t stay alone very long. We ended up adopting a 4 week old female DMH, who we named Aprilia. Their introduction would make most Behaviorists cringe. My husband and I brought Aprilia home and then promptly placed her in front of Harley, and told Harley he now had a little sister. (We call this a baptism, yikes!) To our amazement, Harley sniffed Aprilia and started grooming her.

THE HORRIFIC DAY

My husband and I lived in Washington at this time, and fleas were a problem in the area. The vet recommended we give both Harley and Aprilia a bath to get rid of the fleas. I purchased a good flea shampoo, drew a bath, and was able to bathe Aprilia with no problem.

When I put Harley in the tub to try and clean him off, he let out a low gutteral sound, and stopped breathing. I scooped him up, yelled for my husband, rushed Harley into my room and tried to give him CPR. His body was rigid, his body expelled feces, and I could not get him to breathe. I called the vet, and they told us to come in immediately.

We rushed him to the office and it felt like time stood still.

The vet gave Harley an injection that was supposed to jumpstart his heart, but it didn’t work. Harley had actually passed away in my arms at home. I was devastated. Did I do something wrong when I tried to bathe him? Did I press on his back too hard, or did he inhale deadly fumes?

I then began asking questions about Aprilia. What will happen to her? Is she going to die too? There were so many unanswered questions, but at that time test results seemed to take forever to come in.

The vet performed an autopsy and determined Harley’s heart suddenly stopped. This incidence was similar to when an athlete collapses on the court or the field. There is no telling why or how it happened; it just does. Harley had only been a part of our family for a year…at most.

wHAT COULD i HAVE DONE? wHAT’S NEXT?

I continued to beat myself up as I thought I caused his death. Should I have really given him a bath? Did I get the wrong shampoo? Or…could it have been something like heartworms? I still don’t understand his death to this day…and it was about 20 years ago.

Looking back on his death, I realize, Harley is the one who led me into working in the animal welfare sector. He is the one who taught me to continue loving my pets as well as those in the shelters; but to also learn how animal behavior works, and to see that each animal is treated with love and dignity – in life and in death.

3. Aprilia – Favorite Pet Memories

mY BABY GIRL

Aprilia is one of my most recent pet memories, and it is still raw. After Harley’s death, I annoyed Aprilia with how close I monitored her health. Any sniffle, weird looking nodule, or awkward meow, I rushed her to the vet.

Once the wounds started to heal, I got to know Aprilia for who she really was. Aprilia was a goofy little girl, who loved to drink from the faucet and groom my husband’s beard. She would climb up tapestries and Christmas trees, and zoom around the apartment. Snuggling was off limits, but she would lay close to us and let her motor roar while we fell asleep. Aprilia was an amazing little cat.

ALL THE CHANGES

My husband and I moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2003, and the journey from Washing to Arizona was an interesting one. Aprilia took it like a trooper. We moved into my husband’s uncle’s casita and then to 1 bedroom apartment. In this time, my baby had been exposed to my in-law’s house (and their dog), multiple hotel rooms, and other small spaces.

When I began volunteering at a rescue, she was introduced to many different friends. Her first friend was Abel, a 17 pound DSH, who made me a failed foster parent. Soon after that, she was subjected to three tiny kittens, Mozart, Brahms, and Francesca. Once the kittens were adopted, I fell in love with an Alaskan Malamute named Roc. So many changes for my little girl to work through, but she handled it like a champ!

A life lived to the fullest

Aprilia lived to be 18 (passing away in 2019). Her entire life was filled with constant change; be it through the lives and deaths of a few favorite friends, the births of my three boys, and moving to yet another house. Aprilia was a trooper, and she allowed me to learn how cats interact with other pets as well as humans; the nuances in body language and that even though I may have failed her in some ways, she still forgave me, and loved me…unconditionally.

Her last days were hard. A cat who is fastidious with grooming and litterbox became incontinent and unkempt. She stopped eating and couldn’t get up. I couldn’t stand to see her in such distress, so I had her humanely euthanized with myself and my sons surrounding her and giving her love.

I sit here crying now because I love her. She was my companion my entire adult life, and she experienced everything with me. I miss her to this day, and pray that I didn’t wait to long too let her go.

4. Roc – Favorite Pet Memories

THE BESTEST OF THE BEST

This story is the hardest for me. Roc, an Alaskan Malamute came into a limited intake shelter with his brother Koda. I was working there that day, and we almost didn’t take either of them in due to the breed’s stoic demeanor. As it turns out, Roc and his brother probably did a little better in the shelter than most dogs because of the stoicism.

Weeks went by and nobody wanted to adopt either of these amazing northern breeds. (Who blames them? We were in the desert and Mals belong in the snow.) After a couple months, his brother Koda was adopted which I found odd because Koda had Valley Fever. Roc was completely healthy.

As time went on, Roc became my favorite dog in the shelter. Anytime I taught classes or was working in the behavior department, I brought him out. I didn’t want to take him home because Malamutes can have a strong prey drive, and I didn’t want anything to happen to Aprilia. Interestingly, I found out the cattery was actually using him to dog test the cats! I immediately told my husband, and we decided to foster him.

FAILED FOSTER

We failed at fostering once again! Within a week, Roc was a member of the family. This six year old Malamute, befriended our cats, Aprilia and Abel, was house-trained, and loved his family.

Roc was my rock (pun intended) when I miscarried my first pregnancy. He was by my side during an incredibly devastating time; but more importantly, he helped my husband learn how to care for me.

When I brought my firstborn son home, Roc did not leave my son’s side. My son wasn’t my baby…he was Roc’s baby. He was the same with my other two boys. I have pictures to this day where he was either guarding the bathroom door during bath time or letting the boys hug on him.

Even as I went through a heavy postpartum depression, Roc was always there to reassure me that things were going to be ok.

learning experiences

My Roc-Roc lived to be almost 17. I feel that even though I failed him on so many levels, he loved me unconditionally. He forgave me for the hard times we went through and just wanted to make sure that our family would remain in tact after he was gone.

Roc taught me so much in the 10 years he was with us. He never left my side. He cared for the cats as well as his humans.

There was so much love given that my heart overflows even thinking about him. In his last moments, he was surrounded by his favorite human, my oldest son (6 at the time), my husband, and myself.

To this day, I thank him for getting me through the toughest times in my life, but also look forward to meeting him on the other side.

Conclusion

These are just a few stories of the pet memories that have changed my life. Each pet provided unique learning experiences as well as amazing memories to reflect on. As time passes, I know there will be many more pet memories and losses; however, the journey with each pet is worth the time. It is better to have loved and lost than not loved at all…right?

About Kelly

Hello everyone, and welcome to my site “Keeping Your Pet’s Spirit Alive”. My love for animals started at a young age. I have shared my home with cats and dogs for as long as I can remember. The one thing that always stood out was how difficult it was to keep our pets healthy and then when they passed away.

As hard as it was to lose a pet, I was consistently reminded that “it was just a pet” or “you can get another one”. I didn’t understand this sentiment because when I lost a human family member, no cost was spared to keep them in remembrance; through flowers, donations, keepsakes, and even obituaries.

There were not many options for keepsakes or communities where I could continue to remember my pet family members. Why?

We are now in an age where pets are truly considered a part of the family (and in some cases they are considered more of a family member than our blood relatives)! Over the years, I have been through the loss of mine and my family’s pets. I have learned very valuable lessons from each loss.

As we move forward, I am excited to share some insight and ideas on how you can keep your pet’s spirit alive even when they are no longer physically with you. I am also excited to share ideas on how to keep our pets healthy for longer lives!

My life has always been intertwined with pets in one form or another. When I was young, my family either had dogs or cats who we doted on daily.

Whenever we would see a stray animal on the side of the road, we would stop and see if we could help the animal and find if they had a home.

When I moved out of my parent’s house, I adopted a Maine Coon named Harley from the Humane Society and then introduced a little 4 week old female DMH to the family. Her name: Aprilia.

When my husband and I moved from Washington State to Arizona, I needed to find something to do with my time while my husband was in school. Where did I turn? Animal welfare became my life! I volunteered at a cat rescue where I was introduced to animal behavior and my love for pets grew from there.

I trained under a top Animal Behaviorist and learned how to read body language, train volunteers on how to handle pets, and taught dog obedience classes. I also worked through difficult tasks such as shelter intakes and when dogs or cats were euthanized.

Euthanasia was difficult, but regardless of the reason(behavior or illness), I was there to help show them they would not die alone. They were loved, and each one took a piece of my heart with them.

A New Generation

Now as I have grown my family by 3 pre-teen / teen boys, 2 Alaskan Malamutes, and 2 rescue cats, I want to return to my love of animals by helping their human counterparts. I want to help people go through the mourning process with no judgment, and I want people to be able to share their stories in hopes of helping others. Let’s provide ideas and helpful tips to get through these difficult moments.

The times have changed from the days when pets were only used for work. They are now our comfort, our confidants, our lives… Let’s build a community to remember them.

Let’s Build a Strong Community

The goal of this website is to teach, be taught, and to lend a shoulder for those who are experiencing or have experienced the loss of their beloved pet. My hope is that the website will be interactive where everyone can share their thoughts, ideas, and dreams.

Let’s work together to remember our fur babies!

If you ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help you out.

All the best,

Kelly

Beckham and Nuka a month prior to her passing

berniersmith.com