Coping with loss: how your petsitter can help you through the grief

When you’ve been a professional pet sitter for as long as I have been, you have to say goodbye to a lot of pets. Most of us, as pet owners, say goodbye to only a handful of animals over our lifetime. When I became a business manager for a pet sitting company, I said goodbye to even more. Naturally, when you have over 200 clients, there are bound to be a few that are getting up there in age. It’s something I didn’t really think about when I took the job. It just is, as many things, a fact of life. It doesn’t make it any easier.

Sitters have a special bond with pets. We’re often the first ones to discover something is wrong. Since most of us see our pet clients daily, we notice the little things. Many of us have been in a pet’s life since the first week they were brought home. We share their firsts, wait patiently through their teething, help with the potty training and see them through to adulthood. When a pet client passes away, we experience the loss just as much as the owners. We may not be the pet parent, but we are their best friends. Anyone who loses a close friend knows their heart hurts very deeply.

You don’t have to suffer in silence though. I know it may seem hard to reach out to others when you’re feeling down, but sharing memories of your pet is a great way to talk through it. Pet sitters or family members are a great place to start. Not only do we know your pet, we can empathize immediately with the situation. We probably have some great photos or stories about your pet that might make you laugh.

We’ve all heard the old adage that “time heals all wounds.” I don’t think it’s time alone, but rather what you do with your time that counts. Remember, the goal is not getting over your loss, but rather adapting to life without your pet. After giving yourself a chance to grieve, it’s probably best to go back to your routine. It may be a good opportunity to start a new hobby. When you’re ready you might be able to memorialize your pet in some way. I’ve heard of clients doing a pet’s biography. They not only write out their pet’s life story, but they include photos and mementos, sort of like a scrapbook. Pet sitters can probably add a few stories or share some candid photos. I realize not all of us are crafty like that, but the important thing is to talk about it or share your work with others because you are not alone. Whether we came into your pet’s life at a young age or during their golden years, we shared a chapter or two of their journey.

I never forget how each pet has touched me in some way. I like to think of animals as a great way to bring people together. To this day, I remain friends with a number of former clients who don’t even have the same pet I cared for. Their indelible footprints on our lives were the starting point for something unexpected, but equally rewarding. I know not all pet owners are close with their sitters. That’s OK. After all, we come and go when you’re not there. Many of us hardly ever see each other, but the important thing is your pet saw us almost every day. I like to think that connects us, regardless if we feel connected.

Mary C. 

Devoted Fetch Petsitter

Day in the life of a dog walker, Chapter 1: The Wake Up Call

It’s 5 AM, and the evil overlord is chanting next to my ear.  I reach over and pick up the phone and ask it to wait 5 more minutes. Dog collars jingle. “Fi…mints…guys” comes out of my mouth in the most audible voice I can find. Too late. I feel a rush of wind as a long black tail whips my face.  More jingling.  I open one eye. The black tail rises from the foot of the bed, but it appears to be completely detached from any form.  At the corner of the bed, sits the little wrestler. Wide brown eyes, determined expression, chin slightly raised.  He is willing me to rise.  I close the eye. “hoawumph” I open the eye, as if I am looking for the source of the strange muffled sound, but I know where it came from.  The little wrestler’s lips are trembling.  I close the eye. “HOAWumph” More jingles.  I open the eye.  Behind the little wrestler stands a furry wolf-like creater,a nd the black tail is curled high and is now attached to a long black body and head with a long brown snout.  All eyes are on me.  I close the eye.  “HOAWUMPH!” followed by the sound of tiny galloping horses, which in a flash, seem to have jumped on top of me.  My face is getting a bath and I am now awake and giggling.

Administering Flovent from a sitter’s perspective

Call me naive, but I never knew you could use an inhaler on a cat. This is coming from

someone who has almost 10 years of experience as a professional pet sitter. Just like

people, our feline friends have all sorts of ailments from diabetes to UTIs, and even

asthma! They can experience wheezing, coughing, gagging and heavy panting. Signs of

feline asthma tend to be chronic and can be life threatening. As always, check with your

vet if you think your kitty may be suffering from something more serious than your

average hairball.

Recently, I started working for two clients whose kitties require Flovent. Luckily, a nifty

device known as the AeroKat was invented. It’s basically a rubber face mask attached

to the end of a plastic tube in which you release the Flovent. The tube holds the aerosol

medicine into a chamber, while the rubber piece ensures your cat breathes it in, sending

the Flovent to the lungs. Administering inhaler puffs are a cinch, even if you’re a sitter

who’s new to this procedure.

Here are the basics. Flovent is a steroid, which is used as a coughing and wheezing

deterrent. Cats with asthma may also use an Albuterol rescue inhaler for when they

have an attack. This is generally used in cases of emergency and not for prevention.

First, check the chamber and rubber end to make sure it’s clean and free of debris.

Next, uncap the inhaler and pop it into the back of the AeroKat tube. Next, shake the

inhaler for about 15 seconds. You may want to give your kitty a “dry run” to get her used

to the idea. I usually pet the cat to calm any nerves before administering the inhaler. It’s

probably easiest to do this on the floor where you are positioned behind the cat on your

haunches. Place your hand gently on the cat’s chest, so she has no room to back up

without making her feel trapped or smothered. In other words, try not to lean too far over

her. Once ready, place the rubber mask over the cat’s face making sure her nose

doesn’t press against it. Press down on the inhaler releasing the medicine into the

chamber. There’s a green flap that will move inside the AeroKat system to indicate she’s

breathing. The amount of breaths vary, but I usually make sure the cat gets at least 10

solid breaths before letting her go. I immediately shower the kitty with attention and

treats afterward for positive reinforcement and association. If your kitty squirms away,

just give her a second and reapply the mask. You don’t need to release another puff of

Flovent. There will still be plenty of medicine in the chamber. Detach the AeroKat, and

reseal the inhaler and you’re done. Of course, feel free to soak the AeroKat system in

warm water to clean it before the next use. Leave the pieces out to air dry. So, there you

have it! Believe me, it’s not as complicated as it sounds once you start doing it. Keeping

the kitty relaxed and in position to take solid breaths is the most important part. They will

love the rewards of love you give them for a job well done.

While feline asthma cannot be cured, it can be managed with medicine, which should

greatly reduce coughing and allergic reactions. You can also take other measures such

as keeping the cats away from perfume, cigarette smoke, dusty kitty litter and pollen.

Simple things like keeping windows shut, adding air purifiers and getting rid of clay kitty

litter (try Yesterday’s News or Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract instead) can make your cat’s

asthma more manageable. So, whether you are the sitter or the loving pet parent of an

asthmatic kitty, there are neat tools on the market to help in your new routine. This,

along with some basic home adjustments can ensure the comfort of your cat and help

them live a long relaxed life.

Devoted sitter Mary C.

Fetch! Sherman Oaks to North Hollywood
Fetch! Hollywood Hills
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Welcome to our new blog!

Welcome to the new blog of  Fetch! Hollywood Hills and Fetch! Sherman Oaks to North Hollywood. You'll be hearing from some of our stellar sitters, admin staff, and owner Peggy Kennedy, about all things Fetch! Let us know if there is something you'd like to hear about. We're looking forward to sharing our experiences with you!

Cheers,
Peggy Kennedy
Owner since 2006
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