"And now, to all the good dogs..."

25 years ago, I was one of a handful of grief counselors beginning a new job in a field that we were inventing as we went along.  The field was referred to as "pet loss counseling" and even the veterinarians we were working with thought we might not be doing the right thing by "paying attention" to their clients' grief.

There was a prevailing belief that "paying attention" to the loss of a pet would just make matters worse for grieving pet parents.  "We've just killed their pet. What could we possibly do that would make them feel any better?" one skeptical veterinarian asked me.

Frankly, I wasn't sure myself.

Then, a wonderful woman named Cathy Bender visited me at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and showed me her line of Eldorado Arts pet sympathy cards.  She created her cards so veterinarians could send them to their grieving clients.  Cathy was a gifted artist and paired her realistic artwork with poignant words to express just the right sentiment for the occasion.

Today, sending a sympathy card when a pet dies is standard procedure for veterinarians.  But, back in those days, sending a sympathy card when a pet died was a new idea. Cathy's cards, from her company Eldorado Arts, were among the first of their kind. 

One of Cathy's Eldorado Arts card pictured dogs of all sizes and breeds running together through the grass and it quickly became my favorite.  The card featured a quote from George Papashvily that read, "And now, to all the good dogs... the special ones you loved best, those of ours we still miss...good-bye, until, on some brighter day, in some fairer place, they run out again to greet us."  For me, this card conjured just the right blend of empathy, hope, and spiritual uplift.  I added my own note and sent them to all my dog-parent clients.

And, then, Cathy discontinued the card.

I was lost!  Oh, there were many, many other wonderful cards that replaced it.  Cathy was, and still is, a prolific artist.  But, I really missed that particular card.....

So, today, I have some fun news to share with you.

World by the Tail, Inc., is now the new owner of Eldorado Arts cards and my favorite design is once again mine to send!  Cathy decided to retire after 24 years in the card business and we were fortunate enough to become the keepers of her artistic legacy.  Along with Cathy's business, we acquired her original art, so my card is now one of dozens available for me---and YOU---to send to grieving pet parents.

Tammy has my "Good Dogs" card, along with all the other sympathy cards, posted on our veterinary website. Message note cards, blank note cards, and postcards are also available. Please take a look and help us welcome Eldorado Arts cards to our Veterinary Wisdom® line of client support products!

--Laurel

Comments

[Lindsay]

When my golden retriever died, my dad and I went in the room with her while she was euthanized. Afterwards, the vet gave my dad a hug. I was touched by that.

I always send pet sympathy cards. Losing a pet is very, very hard, and it's nice to know someone cares.

[Laurel]

I so agree, Lindsay. I send cards, too. Many of our cards have words that could be expressed by a veterinarian or a pet parent. It's nice to have a variety of cards on hand because it seems to me that the stores are always out of them when I need one right away.

Glad to hear that you and your dad had a sensitive, understanding vet when your dog passed. Thanks for commenting! --Laurel