More Than Tuna

I met Karen Fine, DVM, in 2018, when I interviewed her for an article about rethinking pet loss. The article was ‘killed’ (never published), but we kept in touch. Last year, I had the great honour of reading an advance copy of THE OTHER FAMILY DOCTOR: A VETERINARIAN EXPLORES WHAT ANIMALS CAN TEACH US ABOUT LOVE, LIFE AND MORTALITY, and I literally couldn’t put it down. THE OTHER FAMILY DOCTOR comes out next Tuesday, March 14, and I’m as excited as I was about TUNA.

The holidays can be a painful time for anyone who has lost a beloved companion (of any species, including human). It’s a time of reflection, gratitude and looking forward, all of which can bring up old grief or make new grief seem more painful. Combine the holidays with family gatherings, and it can be a recipe for being triggered and grieving all over again. Our culture pressures us to feel happy-happy-joy-joy during the holidays (and pretty much all of December).

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a newsletter, but please know that I’m notified every time someone new subscribes. Whenever I see a new name, I think of all the heartbreak that person (and their family) is enduring, and I hold all of you, and your grief, in my heart. I’ve done a number of interviews in the past eight months, all of which focused on grieving the loss of an animal friend/family member. Each interview has a slightly different focus: The Stress Nanny, hosted by Lindsay Miller.