Diedre Knowlton
Call at: 206-941-4474
Family Pet Work
Counseling can keep the pet in the home
Is the cat or dog in the home causing discord within the family due to unwanted behaviors? Is the family arguing about a pet because one person does not reinforce training?
Sometimes the family pet becomes the issue that causes families to argue, feel hurt and even separate. It can look like jealousy or a lack of concern for feelings. It can be concern for the belongings in the home when a pet is destructive or voiding in the house.
Often one family member is bothered by the animal’s behavior and blames another who then feels hurt and defends themselves and the pet. This increases the tension and communication becomes even more difficult.
This pattern snowballs and the animal’s anxiety increases as does the human anxiety. The animal often increases the unwanted behavior due to the increased anxiety in the home.
These types of problems can change when family members are willing to work towards better understanding each family member’s thoughts and feelings regarding the pet and his or her behaviors.
Pet Injuries, surgeries and hospice
Often our pets need medical care that improves the quality of life such as difficult to administer medications, dramatic surgeries or even amputations. Not only can this be expensive; it can cause emotional pain and families often struggle with making decisions.
Working together, we can explore the thoughts and feelings of each family member and better understand what each member feels. This is an emotional time for us so making decisions can be very difficult.
Further, sometimes the treatment is ongoing such as diabetes and family members struggle to administer treatments such as giving injections, help is sometimes needed to assist the family caregiver.
Pet Grief
When it is time to let go, we can allow our pet to die naturally or assist them. Both decisions are difficult to bear. We worry that our pet will suffer if we don’t intervene yet we struggle to make an appointment for euthanasia “before it is time”. Once decided, it is easy to feel stuck with that decision and follow through then end up with regrets. Working through this in advance of those final days can make a difference in how this is experienced.
We often grieve in private with pet loss due to a poor understanding of that loss by others. There is no time limit on grieving and we who love our pets as family members do not want to “get another” as some well-intentioned people will say.
I am available to be present with pets and family as needed during these difficult times. This includes staying with you and your pet during the final moments. I always feel honored to assist with this process.
Is the Pet the Family Problem?
I will work with you, your veterinarian and/or trainer to assist you with your pet problems.
