Custom Candles to Remember Your Beloved Pet

Posted by Barbara Techel

I love the name of this new custom candle company, A Chosen Moment.  Started by Nadine M. Rosin, author of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood, which I highly recommend everyone read.  It was the most honest and authentic book I have ever read.

About a month ago I won a free 1/2 hour consultation with Nadine, which I also highly recommend.  She is a very intuitive and caring woman.  She told me about her new candle company she was beginning and asked my thoughts.  She said they would be candles with photos of loved ones, human or pets on them in their honor or memory.  I loved the idea!  What a beautiful way in which you can connect with your beloved pet (or loved one) in a quiet time of reflecting on fond memories, with the light of the candle bringing out the spirit and glow of all your pet was to you.  The idea made my heart tingle.

So I submitted a photo of my chocolate lab, Cassie Jo, who passed away in 2005, for the contest she was running to introduce her company. I was thrilled when I learned that Cassie Jo was one of the photos that won and could hardly wait to see my candle.  So if you follow me on a regular basis, you know I believe in signs.  The photo I submitted was taken in April 2005, three months before Cassie Jo passed away.  I won the candle in April of this year.  Cassie Jo will be gone five years as of July 11th, so I plan on lighting my candle on that day.  Again this just makes my heart tingle.

So before revealing the photo I submitted I have to tell you why it is my chosen moment.  Cassie Jo was the first dog I had in my married life.  For some reason my husband and I decided that dogs did not belong in the living room, only the kitchen (as you know I’ve surpassed that stupid rule!).  Eventually she was “allowed” in the living room, then on our bed and before you knew it she was deeply embedded in our hearts.  The one “rule” I would not let her break was the rule of laying on the living room furniture.  My red chair was sacred to me.

Well in April of 2005 we realized Cassie Jo was not going to be with us too much longer. She was showing signs of declining.  One day I discovered her sitting on my sacred red chair.  In that moment I realized I would give anything to have her well again.  So what if she sat on the furniture?  It was only a material thing.  I’d live with shabby chic furniture the rest of my life if I could just have her with me a little while longer.

Though that was not meant to be, she did get to enjoy the sacred red chair any old time she wanted and I even fluffed up the arm of the chair with her favorite sleeping bag… so is the photo that is my chosen moment on my custom candle.


The sacred red chair became a place of comfort for me when Cassie Jo died.  It also became the place where I would sit with pen and journal in hand as I began my authentic search for who I truly was.  Cassie Jo lead me to that search and she continues to be with me in my heart as I live a life of joy that she taught me.

I also ordered a custom candle for my new friend, Erin who runs Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuaryin loving memory of her disabled horse, Moki who was put to sleep on May 26th due to extreme pain and mental anguish he was in.   Frankie and I truly enjoyed gifting her with the candle for her quiet moments of reflection.  As I finish typing this blog post Barbra Streisand is singing, “Memories.”  Must be a sign.  🙂

 

 

National Dog Week- Help Us Celebrate Disabled Pets & You Could Win

Posted by Barbara Techel

Don’t you think we should have National Dog Year?  Though happy to have a week devoted to these special critters because they so deserve our love!

I need your help… so please read below… and then at the end see what you could win for helping!

Campaign:

 THERE IS HOPE!

My passion is bringing positive awareness to animals with disabilities, especially dachshunds diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).  There are still so many that are not aware of the hope there is for this breed when diagnosed with IVDD.  So many are told there is no hope and their dog must be put to sleep.  I am here to tell you that a doxie with this diagnoses CAN live a quality life.  Frankie is living proof, along with oodles of others.

 

Sadly many are still being put down. I just learned of another doxie needlessly put to sleep last night because they were told there was no hope.  It broke my heart beyond any words I can say.  Please, during this week of National Dog Week help educate other dachshund owners, vets, vet clinics, etc. that there is HOPE.  Please share with them the resource of Dodgerslist which is a website dedicated to helping educate others on the options available.  You can print out brochures to give to your local vet clinics or to those you know have a doxie.

 

If your doxie is diagnosed with IVDD it is imperative that they have IMMEDIATEcrate rest and get to a vet specializing in IVDD asap.  See Dodgerslist for more Emergency FAQ’s and please pass along.

The cost for surgery may not be an option for many due to various reasons but there is conservative treatment which often times works.  Frankie had the surgery, followed by physical therapy and now in her wheelchair.  She has made leaps and bounds since being fitted for her wheelchair from Eddie’s Wheels four years ago. Her wheelchair has helped maintain her muscle tone and she can spinal walk at times without her wheels- this is huge!!  I shudder to think if I had made the fatal mistake of putting her to sleep.

So what’s in it for you?  How can you help?  It is easy! Just forward this post to any dachshund owner, vet, or vet clinic you know to help educate others that IVDD is not a death sentenceand that there are many options available ( I don’t need proof as I will just trust that you do).  Post it on your Facebook or Twitter about it or if you have a blog post a link back to this information. Or print out the brochure from Dodgerslist  website and give to your vet or doxie owner you may know. Just let me know that you did in the comment section and I will enter your name into a drawing to win:

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Book Series

(Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog, Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House, Frankie Activity Workbook)

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog T-shirt

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog pin– EXCLUSIVE!

Dachshund magnet set

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Tote Bag

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Poster

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Stickers

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog book, by Dana Hilton

(thank you to Sparkles for donating your book- you are a great friend!)

Almost Perfect:  Disabled Pets & the People Who Love Them by Mary Shafer

(thank you so much Mary for donating a copy of your beautiful book!)

Donation made in your name to Dodgerslist

$150 value!!  Drawing will be held Sunday, May 9th.

Thank you, during this week of National Dog Week, in helping to save the lives of dachshunds whose lives are often cut short due to a diagnoses of IVDD.

With your help we can make a difference and save their lives. 

Thank you so much for passing this on!