family focus MaPP ~ J fir, Beyond The Paw Print • Looking for a unique birthday gift? companions." Pablo and Nelli died while she was at Madonna. "I learned that pet-loss grief is called 'disenfranchised grief, expe- rienced in private because often the community's response is 'What's wrong with you? It was just a dog/ cat/rabbit ... go out and get another one ... It was just a pet; get over it!' We grieve in isolation so as not to suffer further from those who don't understand. "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." We will print you the entire theJEWI SHNEWS.com QV/ ■ OIT JEWISH N sr ...„,:"s", s Pees cover story Your Name Here 14, 1995 in the Detroit Jewish it nZTZU Irriette. News and what happened on the week of your birthday. DETROIT JEWISH NEWS CNT./ED INSIDE edition from the archives showing just what was going on that week when that special person was born. Plus, we can create a personalized cover for them featuring their photo. This special Birthday edition is produced on glossy paper and bound in a magazine format. Call us now for details and pricing: The Group In Action 248-351-5114 195448 $2 41 OFF 1Chlitid CHINESE FOOD • CARRY OUT OVER $10 PURCHASE • WE DELIVER Limit one. Exp. 12.30.14 OFF OPEN 7 Days a Week OVER $20 PURCHASE Mon-Thur 11 am-lOpm I Fri & Sat 11 am-11 pm Sun Noon-9:30pm • GRAND OPENING 26044 W. 12 Mile Rd. Oak Park location 9 Mile & Coolidge Southfield, MI 48034 248.352.7511 248.547.4663 Limit one. Exp. 12.30.14 $12 I OFF , _Limit OVER S40 PURCHASE Exp. one. 12.30.14.. Overwhelmed by the thought of moving? Need help in finding the right place for yourself, a family member or friend? Need to sell your home? What do you do with all the excess items? HERE DO YOU START? MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE WITH Right Moves for Seniors We help you move from "For Sale" to SOLD and settled. Ahh! We will help you downsize, prepare your current home for sale, help you find a great new home and sell your extra household items through our Right Moves Consignment and Estate Sales retail location. Linda Hiller Novak and Carolyn Stieger 3116 W. 12 Mile Rd. Berkley, MI 48072 rightmoves FOR SENIORS'" (855) 232-1010 www.RightMovesforSeniors.com 1967820 40 December 18 • 2014 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:' ❑