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Pablo and Nelli died while she was
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"I learned that pet-loss grief is
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We grieve in isolation so as not to
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"I founded BPP to make meaning
out of my loss and create a legacy in
memory of my beloved felines. The
group offers a safe place for people to
grieve and tell their stories without
fear of judgment."
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from page 39
Dr. David Whitten of Hilldale
Veterinary Hospital in Southfield,
where Golden Moore took her cats,
said, "Micky has an amazing capacity
for empathy and is able to validate
the feelings of people at her meet-
ings:'
Whitten has promoted BPP and
Golden Moore's services at veterinary
conferences and to his clients. His
hospital gave her paw prints of her
cats, but she realized there was more
to the grieving process.
She found a home for Beyond
the Paw Print meetings at Orchard
United Methodist Church in
Farmington Hills, where the rever-
end and staff understand the issue.
The free BPP gatherings are held
from 7-9 p.m. the second Monday of
every month and are attended by no
more than 12 people carefully select-
ed by Golden Moore, who limits the
number so all have a chance to speak
during the two-hour sessions.
Participants are greeted with
resource material, including hand-
outs written by Golden Moore. Some
of the group's goals are to assure
members that their grief is real, tears
are OK, they are not alone and that
sharing can help soften the wounds
of loss.
"We have people from throughout
Metro Detroit at meetings, and some
have traveled from Ann Arbor and
Oxford, and even from Ohio and
Indiana," Golden Moore said.
Karen Irwin lost her dog, Scout,
after a tragic accident and is recover-
ing by using the feelings from his
death to help fight against substan-
dard conditions in the kennel where
she bought him. Support from Golden
Moore and BPP gave her the courage
to speak out.
"I doubted the group would help
me:' Irwin said. "But, to my surprise,
speaking to others in a non-judg-
mental setting helped me more than I
ever thought possible!'
Jill and Mitchell Solomon became
members of BPP after losing their
dog, Danny.
"Micky and her wonderful group
saved us:' Jill said. "Danny had can-
cer and the only loving act left for
us was to end his suffering. We were
devastated. I tried calling for some
support, but there wasn't much avail-
able. I went online and found Micky
and her group. I can't express enough
how great it was to have a place to go
where people really understood your
pain!'
People also can take advantage of
BPP's website (www.beyondthepaw-
print.com ) and Facebook page, which
encourages people to share their
experiences by posting stories and
pictures.
Active Facebook participant Lois
Raitt, informal facilitator of the page,
said, "The online group is also a
wonderful place to vent, cry, share
and comfort. I've lost three dogs
and know the pain these people are
enduring. There's so much love and
support in the back-and-forth posts."
Jewish Viewpoint
Rabbi Michael Cohen of Young Israel
of Oak Park said, "When people
experience loss and grieving, there's a
mitzvah to lift their spirits, no matter
what it is that causes their feelings:'
Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield said,
"I never really understood the sig-
nificance of pets until I became a pet
owner myself. As one who has had to
say goodbye to Dahlia, our first cat,
and Chaya, our first dog, I know pets
can become part of the family.
"The Torah doesn't speak of ani-
mals as 'pets' per se, but in God's
commandment for humans to rule
over the animal kingdom, we are also
required to care for animals and not
treat them with cruelty. Pets can and
should be a special part of our fami-
lies:'
Golden Moore said, "The Talmud
says, 'the highest form of wisdom is
kindness: I consider myself Jewish
through-and-through, and this state-
ment resonates with me as a simple,
beautiful truth rooted in my faith.
"A mainstay of the Jewish com-
munity, one that's so important in
ministering to people of all faiths, is
to come together to be with those in
need, to not allow anyone to suffer
alone and to offer a hand to hold and
a heart to understand:'
❑