• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Mind Over Miller: Poetic advice on grieving

February 1, 2012
Robert M. Miller, DVM

Dr. Miller's offering for owners who have lost a pet.

Every practitioner has experienced, all too often, an owner's lament at the demise of a beloved animal: "Never again. I can't go through this again. I'll never own another dog (or cat, or horse...)!"

Yet we know if this person loves animals to the degree that the death of one causes grieving so deep, so sincere, and so lasting, that sometime-eventually-he or she will find another to take its place.

Early in my career, my wife found a poem by an unknown author that expresses this grief. The poem is appropriately titled "Weak Resolution."

My wife embroidered and framed the poem, and whenever I heard bereaved clients express this vow, I would escort them to the wall where it was displayed. I would explain that they had expressed a weak resolution and that the fastest way to heal the wound in their hearts was to replace the creature that had passed on. Some promptly took my advice. Others did so long afterward, suffering the loss for longer than was necessary.

I took my own advice. Debby and I have always owned two or three dogs at any given time. As soon as one becomes old and infirm, we get a new puppy before the old one has passed on.

Advertisement

It lessens our sense of loss, and it lessens the mourning of our surviving dog or dogs. Call it preventive medicine. Of course this policy never replaces the loss of a true friend-a family member-but it does make it easier.

When I retired from practice, I kept only two things that decorated my little clinic when I first opened my own practice-a lamp made of a worn blacksmith's anvil and hammer and this poem, framed and embroidered by my wife. We have them still.

Related Content:

Clinical
3 categories of inappetence in dogs
3 categories of inappetence in dogs
UC Davis oral surgeons repair kitten’s severe cleft palate
UC Davis oral surgeons repair kitten’s severe cleft palate
Dermatology expert explains the PSPP system when dealing with ear disease
Dermatology expert explains the PSPP system when dealing with ear disease

Advertisement

Latest News

Morris Animal Foundation appoints new chief program officer

CDC issues warning over cat-transmitted sporotrichosis

An AI solution is speeding up insurance claims processing

3 categories of inappetence in dogs

View More Latest News
Advertisement