Author: Azure Holland

5 tips to memorialize your pet

I thought I would share 5 tips that I have found helpful with pet loss and to memorialize your pet.

1.  Start a new daily ritual.  Take your favorite photo of your pet and put it beside your bed.  Say hello each morning.

2. Take an object that you can relate to your pet with you each day.  Place collar tags on your key chain or wear a cremains pendant near your heart.

3. Make a keepsake.  You can write a poem or make a scrapbook.  Carve your pet’s name into a garden stone.

4. Give back.  Make a donation in your pet’s name to your local SPCA or your other favorite pet cause.

5.  Plant a memorial garden.  Plant a new tree or create a memorial garden in your pet’s name.

 

Bruno 2005-2010

Bruno, our Boxer was such an amazing dog. He was the first dog I have ever owned. I remember seeing him for the first time when he was just 8 weeks old. He wiggled his little Boxer nub and instantly became my companion. Bruno was my sidekick. He was there for me through my first major break up, to finding a career, living on my own to finding the man of my dreams. Bruno took care of me. Bruno unfortunately at 5 years of age was diagnosed with cancer, T-cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy was useless with this type of cancer. My world shattered. I didnt want to lose him in my life. I kept him comfortable as the cancer progressed. I slowly saw my sweet puppy look older and sick. It broke my heart. Three months after his diagnosis, I decided to let him go before he lost his dignity. My husband and I invited all those close to Bruno and who loved him dearly. Everyone came to our house and said their goodbyes to my sweet boy. It was so comforting to have everyone at our house and with Bruno in his favoritve place in our livingroom. We let him go and it was so peaceful. My husband whispered in Bruno’s ear before he passed and told Bruno “I will take care of mommy now, thanks Buddy for being there for her before I met her.” I will always cherish my sweet boy. I am so grateful to have our last moments with Bruno at our home. Nicole and Aldo

Dr. Holland On NBC 17 My Carolina Today

Dr. Holland was recently featured on NBC 17 My Carolina today discussing her house calls for home euthanasia.  Dr. Azure Holland’s mobile veterinary service is an alternative for pet lovers in Raleigh, Cary, Durham and Chapel Hill. Dr. Holland also provide in home pet hospice services.  With her latest appearance on My Carolina Today she told viewers about this helpful and comforting mobile veterinary service. She also spoke about her decision to become a veterinarian and start this service.

She drew her inspiration to become a veterinarian during her childhood years. Growing up having many farm animals, she saw her grandparents tending to them on a regular basis. This is what inspired her to take up veterinary medicine.

It was an incident in the family that urged her to start this service. It happened after the loss of a beloved family dog a few years ago. She was called by her parents to “say goodbye” to Venus, the family’s golden retriever. As Venus lounged at her favorite spot, the family was lovingly able to say goodbye to their dear pet in privacy surrounded by love.

Dr. Holland believes that at home pet euthanasia is very different from a hospital visit, primarily because there is a strong sense of comfort and intimacy. The family gets a chance to grieve the way they would want to. At the same time, the pet does not need to have a disliked car journey to the hospital. Pets may associate the hospital and the vet with anxiety and discomfort because of vaccines and medicines administered in the past. This is why a mobile veterinary in-home euthanasia is a better alternative. Now pet owners in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill can have a safe and dignified alternative to a hospital administered euthanasia.

Dr. Holland also talked about how tough the euthanasia decision can be for a pet owner. Some owners try to “talk” to their pet or make other efforts to know the general wellness and behavior. Owners need to examine different aspects about their pet: Are they eating? Are they enjoying general activity? Are they able to walk? Are they suffering from chronic pain? There are other considerations as well that need to be kept in mind. While making this decision, going to the vet for an examination certainly helps to determine the quality of life left for your pet. Physical checkups, blood work, X-rays will reveal where the pet stands, medically. But the other important component is emotional. It certainly takes a long time to condition the self and the family, emotionally.

With this mobile veterinary service, Dr. Holland hopes to offer families and their pets they love in the triangle a loving and dignified way to say good bye.  Watch Dr. Holland’s appearance here.

Abby

I adopted Abigail (Abby) from the Wake County Animal Shelter on July 5th, 2010.  She was black as midnight and had the most beautiful green eyes that would have made any emerald jealous.  She came to me at a time that I was really depressed and lonely.  I had been through a 10-year relationship that had become pretty rough.  My heart was hard and I couldn’t see myself loving anything again.  I was watching TV and heard about a July 4th Adopt-a-thon with the Wake Co Animal Shelter and thought that I would just go over there and play with the animals for a while.  Well, that idea lasted for about 10 minutes after I got there.  I found Abby and decided I wanted to take her home but she had just had kittens and had to be spayed before I could get her.  I told them I would be back the next day and left to go to Walmart and purchase all of the animal supplies I knew she would need.
When I showed up the next day, they let me adopt her and we went home together.  Her first night at her forever home was priceless……she hid for a while, then got curious and investigated every inch of the house and when I came out of the bathroom from getting ready for bed, there she was, on top of the bed waiting for me to get in.  She slept on the pillow beside me and became the best companion I had in over 13 years.
On November 8th, 2010, I came home from work and found Abby dead on the couch where we would sit at night.  I was devastated!  Dr. Holland told me that she suspected some type of hemorrhage or aneurysm.  I grieved for her all night, laid her rest in the back yard under a tree, and was back at the animal shelter by 1:00 that day.  I simply couldn’t stand it being so quite in the house.  Abby was always playing with bells and balls and without her, the silence was deafening.  There, I found my second forever kitty….Belle.  Belle was quickly re-named Anastasiya (meaning “resurrection” in Greek) and Zhanna (meaning “God is good” in Hebrew).  Abby had opened my heart up and let me know it was ok to love again and paved the way for me to be able to get another companion once she was gone.

Venus 1996-2008

Venus was a gem of gems and always aimed to please.  Her greatest times were loading up in the Expedition to make the trip to the beach.  The boat ride to Bear Island, the swim in the salt water and as you can see in the picture her fair share of pizza.  She will always be missed and has a special place in our hearts.  There will never be another Venus.  John, Connie, Azure and Christopher

Dr. Holland to be a featured Speaker at International Conference

We are excited to announce that Dr. Holland will be a featured speaker at the 7th International Conference on Pet Loss and Bereavement in Newark, NJ May 16th – 18th, 2014.

Dr. Holland will be presenting on Saturday morning about at home euthanasia for pets.   Azure will share about her experiences helping families in Raleigh and surrounding areas with her specialized house call service to other Veterinarians and counselors from around the United States and abroad.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement was founded in 1997 by Dr. Wallace Sife, the nation’s expert on pet loss and bereavement and the author of the book, “The Loss of a Pet,” now in the 4th edition.  The Association is a nonprofit organization of volunteers who have come together to offer support and comfort to those who have loss their beloved pet.

Dr. Holland is a proud member of this organization and offers Dr. Sife’s book to all of her clients as part of her services.  In addition, Dr. Holland was trained in bereavement guidance by Dr. Sife and his colleagues at the Association.  For more information on the Association and the upcoming conference please visit: www.aplb.org

When Comfort Counts…

Dr. Holland believes in the compassion that home euthanasia offers because she can relate to her own experiences. Offering personalized home euthanasia services to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and surrounding areas is important to her as a veterinarian and pet owner.  No stress for your pet, no cold office – just warmth and familiarity of your own your home.