Losing a Best Friend

By Carol Boker

Editor in Chief of Pet Product News International and Pet Style News

I took Belle, my black Lab, to the vet’s office last week. I had intended to go out of town for a few days, and she had developed terrible swollen glands in her neck region.

I was taken aback when the veterinarian reported that all her lymph glands were quite swollen and she had advanced stages of lymphoma. She said she might not make it until Christmas time.

She has slowed down with her walking and her breathing has gotten more labored; however, I thought it was typical of an 11-and-a-half-year-old Lab. The vet said we could talk about chemo, but my husband and I will not put her through anything else. She is on steroids to make her more comfortable, and we just plan to give her lots of love and attention and rides in the car (her favorite activity, next to eating).

Eva Scholtz, managing editor of our directories/buying guides, was out of the office on Monday. She had the difficult task of taking her dog to be put to sleep. Being animal lovers, we all find these to be tough times, but inevitable in the life’s journey.

As retailers, you need to celebrate life and death of your customers’ pets, so offering an array of products to help with the grieving process is necessary.

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