We all love the thrill of opening up packages or handwritten letters. Something magical happens when we feel the paper under our fingers and hear the tear of the envelope or package tape. Our curiosity is piqued to see what’s inside. That moment of anticipation is fun, and it allows us to process the gift or letter in a slower, more appreciative way. Digital mail just can’t compare. Why delivered gifts make an impact Sending a gift through the mail instead of presenting it in person doesn’t have to diminish its impact. In fact, choosing the right gift online can make a lasting impression. It’s all in the presentation. At Barktique + Meow, our goal is to make every delivery a delight to open. For us, packaging the customized gift is top of mind, and we don’t want to sacrifice the experience of opening it, either. After all, first impressions really do matter. When a person receives a gift by mail, they can choose when to open it. We often wait to open a package until we have a moment to really look at it. They're a few quiet minutes that the recipient gets all to themselves, without digital ads or pop-ups. Who has time to rewrap? When ordering a gift online, we have choices in a variety of shapes and forms, coming in all sorts of random packaging—which frankly, doesn’t feel “gifty”. When this happens, we have to unwrap the packaged gift, then rewrap it so it presents more like a gift. That feels unnecessary. If you’re short on time or you don’t want to rewrap a gift when it arrives, your presentation can still have that “wow factor” if you shop with a business that packages their mail order gifts for a special unboxing experience. Send it right the first time. When you send a pet welcome or memorial gift from Barktique + Meow, the recipient receives a package so beautifully designed that the simple act of opening it feels like a hug from you. The fact that the gift is personalized with their pet’s image and name and includes a custom message makes it even more special. Sometimes half the thrill of receiving a great gift is in how it’s delivered. Even a gift purchased in a hurry can be the one they’ll still be talking about years from now. Choose a company that keeps the packaging presentation top of mind when sending your gift directly to your loved one. It will make all the difference. CONTENT WRITER, BARKTIQUE + MEOW
Kim BrittinghamKim Brittingham is a content writer for Barktique + Meow, animal lover, and history buff residing at the Jersey Shore. She is the author of Read My Hips (Three Rivers Press/Random House, 2011) and Write That Memoir Right Now (Blackstone, 2013). She's a willing servant to a rescued miniature poodle named Clarice.
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A first pet is a magical part of childhood. First pets awaken our compassion for vulnerable creatures and introduce us to one of life’s sweetest forms of love. Bringing home a new pet also creates a hands-on opportunity for kids to learn responsibility. But how can you be sure that your child will take their caretaking role seriously? These tips will help ensure a mutually rewarding experience for your child and your pet. 1. Have a Pet Chat. Talk with your kids about the responsibilities of pet ownership before you welcome the new pet into your home. Introduce them to the idea that a pet is not a toy; it’s a living being, just like them. Ask them to reflect on what their own needs are throughout the day. Do they feel hungry? Thirsty? Sleepy? Do they yearn to go outdoors and play? Explain that pets feel the same way, and that the pet will depend on the child to meet its needs. 2. Assign Specific Responsibilities. Every child, regardless of age, will need some guidance in how to participate in the pet’s care. Establish routine responsibilities for the child, like feeding, walking, or cleaning up after the pet. 3. Explain Safety Issues. Pets can face dangers indoors and out. Make kids aware of these hazards and explain what must be done to protect the pet. Here are some common examples:
4. Demonstrate Kind Hands. Pets invite affection, but children may not realize how their touch can be uncomfortable and even painful to the animal. Demonstrate the correct and gentle way to pick up, hold, and caress a pet. 5. Perfect Their Walking Technique. Walking a dog requires skill – especially a dog with abundant energy. Show your child the right way to:
A few sessions of professional dog training can be a bonding experience between dog and child. 6. Respect Rest. Some pets are more social than others, but even the most gregarious pet needs wind-down time. When you bring home a new pet, kids will be excited and may inadvertently overtax the animal with attention. That could lead to a grumpy pet who’d rather avoid your children than bond with them. It helps to remind a child of how it feels to be sleepy, and that animals often need more rest than people. Encourage them to “let sleeping dogs lie”. To learn more about dog sleep patterns and cycles, check out Your Dog Advisor's recent post. Now it’s time to pat yourself on the back. You’ve made the decision to bring home a new pet to your kids, and it’s one that will enrich your child’s life in so many ways – with love, compassion, and by teaching important life skills like patience and responsibility. By laying that foundation of conscientiousness and care, you’re giving your child one of the greatest gifts to humankind: the loving connection that’s possible with an animal. CONTENT WRITER, BARKTIQUE + MEOW
KIM BRITTINGHAMKim Brittingham is a content writer for Barktique + Meow, animal lover, and history buff residing at the Jersey Shore. She is the author of Read My Hips (Three Rivers Press/Random House, 2011) and Write That Memoir Right Now (Blackstone, 2013). She's a willing servant to a rescued miniature poodle named Clarice. I was told my dog Tillie had three weeks to live, tops. I was devastated. She hadn’t always lived with kind people, so I wanted her to go to her final rest knowing what it was to be loved. I put my heartache aside and focused on her happiness. Being a Labrador retriever, there was nothing – nothing – she loved more than chasing a tennis ball. After learning her days were numbered, I vowed to take her to the park to play every single day. And I did. But one day, weather got in the way. During a torrential rain storm, I called a local pet training facility and asked if I could rent a room for two hours. I explained why and they were quick to agree. While the rain drummed against the windows, Tillie bounded about the wide, gym-like room, lost in the ecstasy only a dog with a ball can know. Naturally we want our pet’s last days to be as happy and comfortable as possible. Here are 5 doting ways you can see your animal friend to the other side. But First… Check with your vet to see what, if anything, could make your pet uncomfortable. For example, long walks or extended play could cause pain, as could certain foods. People, Places and Things
No-Holds-Barred Pampering If there was ever a time to spoil your pet rotten, this is it.
Along for the Ride. If you have a dog who loves being in the car, take them along for the ride as often as possible – and roll the widow down enough for them to stick out that happy head and relish the breeze.
We can’t keep them forever, and it stinks. Big time. But we can keep them as comfortable as possible, and even keep them happy through their final days. With every little thing we do, they understand – in their own way – that they are loved. CONTENT WRITER, BARKTIQUE + MEOW
Kim BrittinghamKim Brittingham is a content writer for Barktique + Meow, animal lover, and history buff residing at the Jersey Shore. She is the author of Read My Hips (Three Rivers Press/Random House, 2011) and Write That Memoir Right Now (Blackstone, 2013). She's a willing servant to a rescued miniature poodle named Clarice. Congratulations on your decision to give a pet a safe and loving home! If you’re a first-time pet owner, you may not realize what potential dangers lurk in your home, especially for an insatiably curious puppy or kitten. Keep your new family member safe by puppy proofing or kitten proofing your home. Even experienced pet owners may need a refresher course when bringing home a new pet, especially if you’re accustomed to living with an older or ultra-chill pet with few exploratory urges. You may have forgotten what it’s like to be vigilant, and a pet in new surroundings will inevitably want to scout the terrain. To keep them safe, take these easy steps to cat proof or dog proof your home. Here’s what you need to know: Pet Toxins: Know ‘Em and Stow ‘Em The average home is full of things that can be toxic to pets. And we’re not just talking about the obvious substances like rodent poison and cleaning supplies. Commonplace foods and house plants can cause illness and even be deadly to animals. Eliminate or carefully store these items out of your pet’s reach: - Food and Drink Chocolate, grapes, onions, and many more common edibles can be poisonous to your pet. The ASPCA offers a list of these substances and how they can harm your cat or dog. - Drugs Drugs account for 22% of pet poisonings. Keep all prescription and over-the-counter medications safely stored. Always open medicines over a sink to prevent spills and wayward pills that pets could lick up. - Household Chemicals It probably goes without saying that safely storing household chemicals is a must for a pet-safe home. Here are some you might not have thought of:
- Plants It’s worthwhile scoping out your indoor and outdoor plants for varieties that can sicken or even be fatal to your pet. Here are some of the most common:
The Pet Poison Helpline offers a more in-depth list of plants that are unsafe for pets. Anything Can Be a Chew Toy – And That’s Not a Good Thing Pets like to nibble and gnaw, especially young ones testing their new choppers. But that can be bad news, for you and for them. It helps to stay tidy and keep all of your belongings stowed out of your pet’s reach or in pet-proof cabinets and drawers. Here are some things to be careful with:
Now is the time to live by the adage, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Border Control One of the simplest and best ways to keep a pet out of harm’s way is to cordon off danger zones and create safe spaces with fences and gates. For puppies in particular, it’s all too easy to bound recklessly into the street or tumble down stairs. The time and attention it takes to puppy proof or kitten proof your home isn’t much, and it’s worth it to create a safe haven. You brought them into your home to provide a better life. These simple pet-proofing measures will help ensure that their life is long, healthy, and happy. For any animal poison-related emergency, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 24 hours a day, 365 days a week at 888-426-4435. A consultation fee may apply. CONTENT WRITER & CONTRIBUTOR, BARKTIQUE + MEOW
Kim BrittinghamKim Brittingham is a content writer for Barktique + Meow, an animal lover, and a history buff residing at the Jersey Shore. She is the author of Read My Hips (Three Rivers Press/Random House, 2011) and Write That Memoir Right Now (Blackstone, 2013). She's a willing servant to a rescued miniature poodle named Clarice. What’s the next best thing to welcoming an animal companion into your home? When a friend brings home a new pet!
Whether we get to scratch, snuggle or pet our friend’s new addition in person, or wave long-distance via Zoom, we experience the vicarious thrill of new love. And isn’t it wonderful that there’s so much love to go around that we can adore someone else’s pet without diminishing our love for our own? Grieving pet owners may appreciate words of comfort, but these animal lovers say that some sentiments are more welcome than others. When someone’s pet passes away, what should we say? Or maybe the better question is, what shouldn’t we say? Ideally, we want our expressions of sympathy to bring real comfort to the grieving pet owner. At the same time, we hope to avoid clumsy condolences that may be inadvertently painful. When my Labrador retriever Matilda passed, I was fortunate to have received only kind sentiments from others. I was surrounded by fellow animal lovers who understood that losing a pet is as painful as losing any family member, so I suppose it’s not surprising. However, when a friend lost her beloved cat, she posted an unsettling anecdote on Facebook that got me thinking more deeply about pet condolences. Immediately after the burial, her father remarked, “Well, I’m glad it wasn’t my cat.” Not the most comforting thing to say. It prompted me to speak with fellow pet owners who’d lost an animal companion about how others reacted to their bereavement, and how those reactions were received. Some of what they shared went beyond the commonplace “what to say to a grieving pet owner” advice. They showed me that the kindest condolences are mindful of potentially insensitive mis-steps, perhaps as much as (or more than) merely offering pretty words. The following are their most stand-out pieces of advice: It's time to Retire the Rainbow Bridge What is it? The identity of the author of Rainbow Bridge – a piece of writing sometimes referred to as “the Rainbow Bridge poem” – is unclear. The piece begins, Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. The piece goes on to imagine the pet’s afterlife and its eventual spiritual reunion with its owner. The Rainbow Bridge story is commonly shared with grieving pet owners by well-meaning friends and family members, and it’s likely been a comfort to some. However, others feel it’s time to put “Rainbow Bridge” to rest. What Pet Owners are Saying
Celebrate the Individual Pets have personalities, endearing traits and individual quirks that make them memorable – just like people. Many pet owners appreciate condolences that specifically acknowledge the uniqueness of their fur-baby.
Veterinary Practices Take Note Among the pet owners I spoke with, this kind of personal acknowledgment was also appreciated from veterinarians and staff. It could be a simple as using the pet’s name, or recalling a funny anecdote about how the pet behaved in the office, such as being comically friendly with other pets in the waiting room, or having exemplary composure during examinations. Respect the Spectrum of Beliefs Belief systems surrounding death are manifold. Some are connected to religion – and there are upwards of 4,000 different religions in the world. Many people who don’t subscribe to a particular religion consider themselves “spiritual” and have unique opinions about an afterlife, or a lack of one. For many, spiritual beliefs are a source of comfort, so it feels natural to speak from that place when someone is grieving. However, we can’t always know when our words might make a mourning pet owner feel uneasy. Love is Universal Given the wide spectrum of beliefs, some pet owners would prefer that messages of sympathy remain focused on a more universal understanding of love and loss, rather than religious sentiment. This issue came up several times in my interviews with pet owners, but it’s seldom talked about. Stopping to Think Often we don’t recognize when our words may contain religious undertones.
A Favorite Phrase Among the pet owners I interviewed, one phrase was a hit across the board: “You gave him a good life.” It keeps the focus away from an afterlife and celebrates the life shared by the pet and its owner. Refrain From Sharing Your Story When a friend is mourning the loss of a pet, we may feel compelled to share our own experience of pet grief. Maybe it’s because we want them to feel less alone with their heartache. However, this approach felt uncomfortable to some of the pet owners I spoke with.
Avoid Discussing a “Replacement Pet” Everyone’s Different A bereft pet owner may eventually welcome another animal into their home, but they might not be ready to talk about it. “There are no rules when and if you do get another animal,” said Eve M. in Oregon. “For some people the next day is the right day. I don't judge anyone on that.” People grieve very differently. For some, a new pet can heal the loss of the old one. Others need more time to mourn. Kiri B. in New York shared, “I was very, very attached to my cat of seventeen years. After she passed, my boyfriend at the time said the dreaded, ‘You can always get another cat’. That’s the worst thing to say.” They’re Irreplaceable Prematurely suggesting to a grieving pet owner that they should get a “replacement pet” can be seen as disrespectful. For some, it hints that the pet who passed was insignificant and easily replaceable. Yes, it’s a Big Deal “The worst is someone minimizing (the loss) in some way, as if animal companions aren’t worthy of full mourning,” says Caroline G. Tread Carefully on Social Media Photos can be painful. “I had a well-meaning friend paste her photos of the dog I was grieving all over my (Facebook) timeline. It wasn’t helpful to me and made it more painful,” shared Dionne W. from Delaware. An avalanche of comments may be unwelcome. “I posted my pet’s photo on Facebook and all of the comments were appreciated,” said Maureen W. in Canada. “But I don’t think anyone should post pictures of someone else’s dead pet on Facebook. It’s weird. And if you tag them, their timeline blows up with the comments, and that may not be cool with them.” Is it support, of “hijacking grief”? Dionne in Delaware made a point similar to Pati’s about sharing another’s grief. “So often people hijack other people’s grief in an attempt to be supporting – whether animal or human. I prefer to grieve quietly, and I find the performative ways of grieving too jarring. I also recognize that others are different and want different things. I think people should do a better job of taking their cues from the bereaved in terms of what is helpful to them.” Caring Words If you’re looking for sensitive condolences to offer either verbally or in a pet bereavement card, here are a few to choose from. Use the pet’s name whenever possible.
Getting Help If you or someone you know would like to process the loss of a beloved animal companion with a counseling professional, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) can help. They offer:
Visit APLB.org. For legions of animal lovers, pet bereavement is neither easy nor fleeting. However, when our condolences can’t soften the blow of losing a pet, we can sidestep adding insult to injury with our carefully chosen words – and that’s a loving choice indeed. CONTENT WRITER, BARKTIQUE + MEOW
Kim BrittinghamKim Brittingham is a content writer for Barktique + Meow, animal lover, and history buff residing at the Jersey Shore. She is the author of Read My Hips (Three Rivers Press/Random House, 2011) and Write That Memoir Right Now (Blackstone, 2013). She's a willing servant to a rescued miniature poodle named Clarice. We are excited to welcome Kim Brittingham as our content writer and curator intern. Kim comes to us with a wealth of writing experience, having published two books and curated content for various programs. Kim is a writer, animal lover, and history buff residing at the Jersey Shore. She is the author of Read My Hips (Three Rivers Press/Random House, 2011) and Write That Memoir Right Now (Blackstone, 2013). She's a willing servant to a rescued miniature poodle named Clarice. We are so fortunate to have her on board! Barktique + MeowPet gifts from the heart. |
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