Blog
For Paws Hospice Seminar
The learning that you´ve been looking for! For Paws Hospice in Clearwater, Florida, is organizing a phenomenal event to guide pet care professionals in the area of pet hospice. From understanding the elements of pet care in the home to the inevitable death of our...
The importance of memorialization items for a family
How to help a family with a visual reminder, something to hold on to of their beloved deceased pet It´s only been a few short weeks since my beautiful Golden Retriever died. However, I am like most grieving pet parents, I´m scared that I will forget all of the details...
Be a “Go Giver”
A good read as you find your mission with your pet loss business "The Go-Giver" is a quick read - but a read with ideas for daily life that will certainly stick with you. Starting with the first law, the Law of Value - "Your true worth is determined by how much more...
The Center for Loss – 2nd Pet Loss Companioning Course
Are you a pet care professional wanting to further your skills in working with grieving families? Join us here! "What an insightful and interactive experience. I enjoyed the group current and contributions--which is a great kudo to Coleen and to Alan." Helen Buchanan...
Pet Loss & Grief Companioning Certification Registration
The three days of learning about pet loss and grief are intense and full of information! Not only that - but the networking with other pet loss professionals is priceless! It´s an honor to do this course for those wanting to further their skills in the area of pet...
Grieving as an experience?
How are you helping families to create an experience of grieving and honoring their deceased pet? It´s been a rough week with the loss of my beautiful Golden Retriever, Mike The Dog. As a pet care professional, I´ve companioned literally thousands of families through...
Guiding a family through the loss of their pet
Families "don´t know what they don´t know" when it comes to their options for memorializing the loss of their pet. As a pet parent, it´s so difficult to instinctively know what the options are to honor a precious little pet when they die. In our North American...
What is your vision for your pet loss program?
Without vision, and without seeing your business with fresh eyes, what are you truly seeing? "The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision." Author and Educator, Helen Keller. As always, with Helen Keller, a very profound...
Work Hard for Your Families
Your families and veterinary partners deserve fabulous service! While daily business practices will see challenges, these challenges can be met and dealt with successfully by keeping in mind the most infamous radio station, WII - FM. "What´s In It For Me." As a...
Pet Parents Will Want You to Do What You Say
Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold -- but so does a hard-boiled egg. -- Anonymous Pet Parents deserve service - and that´s what they will expect of you in your pet death care business. If you "intend" for...
The importance of listening,…
We were given two ears and one mouth for a wonderful reason! When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president. Powerful, isn´t...
Today I celebrate My Precious Little Girl!
On this day, Mico´s birthday, I celebrate her and what she brought to my life! I remember the day in May, 1998, when I brought her home. She was all of two pounds - and feisty! Guessing at her age as she had been dropped off at the shelter, in a box on the front door,...
Grief Education for Your Clients
Give them the learning that they are searching for! Tom Rood most recently sent me the following thoughts on the Pet Loss Grief Education that I shared with his staff and veterinary clients: “We brought Coleen Ellis into our Royal Oak, Michigan, location to provide a...
Honoring Your Story
The candles represent such warmth as our precious pets are honored. The memorial service at the Center for Loss was so special. To hear the beautiful stories of those precious little pets was so touching. As everyone took their turn, it was obvious that the grief...
How to decide on the final arrangements for your pet
How to decide on the final arrangements for your pet When your pet dies, what are the final arrangement options that are right for you?One of life´s inevitable events, the death of their beloved pet, will leave any pet parent reeling with what the options are. Knowing...
Creating Memories
Creating MemoriesWhat to do today to create memories for tomorrow Today´s technology makes it so much easier to secure "memories!" As I look back on the life that I shared with Mico - I am so grateful for the photos! But, I miss the fact that I did not have an imprint...
Making A Tribute Special
Making A Tribute SpecialHow do you sum up the life shared with your special pet to create a truly unique and special memorialization piece.For so many families, when they are designing an urn or a special memorial piece, the whole concept can become overwhelming as...
For the New Year, Please Give Me Strength
With the New Year, my grief journey continues,....Dear Father, as I look up, I see Baby New Year staring directly at me. With the New Year, I am reminded that another year is approaching, taking me further away from that day in April, 2002, and the loss of Mico, my...
Remembering our loves,….
Holding close the memories,... Giving thanks for the memories,...She hated it when I made her do this! But, being the good sport that she was, she´d always oblige! However, there was the pay off - she would always get extra treats for playing Mommy´s crazy dress-up...
Remember the Reason for the Season!
Mommy´s Christmas Gift! I am so thankful for their love,....To all of you- I trust your holiday season is blessed. For me - I am so thankful for the love of my babies. Their unconditional love is full of lessons on forgiveness and love. Thank you, My Creator, for...
Do their spirits stay with us?
Do their spirits stay with us?When we are so connected to our pets - I just know that they stay with us!My Baby Girl! I have loved her since the first time that I laid eyes on her in May of 1989! We had a wonderful journey together - for 14 years. Fourteen years of...