Benefits of Owning a Pet

Pets sustain us and keep us healthier, happier and more hopeful as we age – no bones about it. A recent story in Harvard Magazine cited an American Heart Association finding that pets reduce our mortality rate by 24 percent and Mayo Clinic confirms…

There are many ways that you can support your grandchild with pet loss. Your grandchild may look to you to help them through their feelings of grief and mourning, to help them understand that death is normal. These five tips…

As a woman over 60, having a pet in your life can give you boundless love and happiness. You probably don’t need anyone telling you that the love you have for your pet is the boundless. Yet, you can be devastated when you learn they have…

Socialization is fun, and many reports state that remaining active and social as older adults can keep us healthy and help us to live longer. But what happens when it’s no longer just as simple as hopping in the car and going?

“I said I’d take a dog, but I’m not sure I want that one.” “He’s a real sweetheart,” Brittany, a staff member, assured me. He was big with the smushed-in face of a bulldog, but the height of a boxer. He had a barrel chest, and his front legs were shorter than the back ones…

Many baby boomers, like myself, own dogs. My husband Eric and I are the proud ‘parents’ of five German Shepherds. They have become a part of our family now that our kids are grown and left home…

I’ve always loved dogs, but allergies in the household kept me from having one. After a painful divorce 18 years ago, I decided to buy a little non-shedding poodle/terrier. On the way home from the pet store I tried out a raft of names…

National Dog Day is celebrated each year on August 26. The buoyancy our furry friends provide is balm for our Covid-weary spirits. Pets made great companions during the throes of the pandemic. I experienced separation anxiety when we felt…

Making arrangements for your home or apartment before leaving for a vacation can feel like a daunting task when you think about all that needs to be done. Depending on how long you will be gone, you likely need to think about: having the mail/newspaper held…

Life lessons come in all sizes, and often life’s teachers are from unlikely places. In particular, our animal friends, both domestic and wild, have a lot to teach us. The lessons of aging are no exception…