You image needs to be Square!

Please crop your image below, then save using the green button, or cancel using the red X

My beloved Buster, by Jim Harkins

In June 2014, I lost my beloved dog Beanie to bone cancer at the age of 13. He was my first companion dog. It took me four months to overcome my grief enough to even think about adopting again.

The following October I went to my local rescue shelter, intending to adopt an old dog in honor of my Beanie, and give it a few good final years. Little did I know the Good Lord had other plans for me. Through an amazing turn of events, I ended up bringing home a four-month-old Jack Russell Terrier mix (my Buster), who had been rescued and brought to my local shelter that week.

From his first day home, Buster was a bundle of joy and he absolutely loved people. I live in a retirement community and Buster quickly became a favorite of all the park residents. His favorite pastime was laying belly-up in the sun on the picnic area opposite my home. Because the park doesn’t have fences, dogs have to be leashed. This meant I could be seen standing in the picnic area every day holding his leash, while Buster did his belly-up thing in the sunshine!

In another part of the picnic area, there was a concrete bench that nobody ever used, so the park management allowed me to move it to the area across from my home, so I could sit down each day while Buster did his thing. This bench eventually became “Buster’s Bench”.

In February 2023, my beautiful Buster was suddenly hit by an autoimmune disease! I was in total shock, as I’ve never seen anything happen so quickly – one day he was happily playing fetch and enjoying the sunshine, then less than 96 hours later he was gone.

My only consolation was that his suffering was short, and I know he is up there playing with my Beanie, until my time comes to join them both.

Buster was given the honor of being the first dog to appear in the obituaries in the park’s monthly newsletter. Last month a memorial plaque was placed on the concrete bench, officially designating it “Buster’s Bench”.

Archives

Are you sure you want to Log Out?

Webinar: A Conversation on Pet Loss with Author E.B. Bartels

Join us for this exciting event

Rainbow Bridge
Memorial Celebration

In honor of Rainbow Bridge Memorial Day (August 28), we are offering a 20% discount on Silver and Platinum memberships throughout the entire month of August.

By joining us, you will have the unique opportunity to create a lasting online memorial for your pet, complete with photos and stories you can cherish.

Live Webinar

Navigating Pet Loss & Grief

Thursday, June 6th, 2024
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern

Sponsored by:

Navigating Pet Loss & Grief, hosted by Moose’s
March, this webinar is designed to support pet
owners through the difficult journey and depth of
pet loss, anticipatory grief and understanding
guilt. This webinar will also provide 3 key
takeaways for the management of grief,
Featuring insights from renowned experts
Colleen Rolland, Association of Pet Loss and
Bereavement and Dr. Nancy Curotto, Pet Loss &
Bereavement Specialist. Attendees will have an
opportunity to ask questions of the experts.

Special Holiday Schedule

We understand that the holidays can be a difficult time for pet parents missing their fur babies. APLB will be extending our hours this year to help you – we’ll get through this together.

Chat Room

Sun Dec 24: 2 – 4 pm EST
Sun Dec 24: 8 – 10 pm EST
Mon Dec 25: 8 – 10 pm EST
Tues Dec 26: 8 – 10 pm EST
Wed Dec 27: 8 – 10 pm EST
Fri Dec 29: 8 – 10 pm EST
Sun Dec. 31: 2 – 4 pm EST
Sun. Dec 31: 8 – 10 pm EST
Mon Jan 1: 8 – 10 pm EST

Video Support Group

Sat Dec 9: 7- 9 pm EST
Sun Dec 10: 7- 8:30 EST
Sat Dec. 23: 7 – 9 pm EST

This year the Association of Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB) is participating in Giving Tuesday, December 3rd. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. 

Please give generously. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those grieving the loss of their cherished pets.

This year the Association of Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB) is participating in Giving Tuesday, on December 3rd. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. 

Please give generously. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those grieving the loss of their cherished pets.