Delta Society’s Interactions Magazine

Amber and I are on the cover of the spring issue of the Delta Society’s Interactions magazine, a magazine celebrating the human-animal health connection and our animal companions. 

Andrea Leigh Ptak’s article titled More Than Pets – How Animals Enrich Our Lives, features a segment contributed by me, under the heading Coping with Loss.  I had completely forgotten that Andrea had requested a contribution from me for this article, and I certainly had no idea that Amber and I would end up on the cover.  It seems rather timely, all things considered.

Here’s the segment:

Our pets can help us get through difficult life changes in ways that our two-legged friends never can.

Ingrid King considers her cat Feebee a life saver.  “Feebee was a grey tabby cat who came into my life when my former husband and I moved to Northern Virginia.  When my marriage ended after he had been a part of our family for ten years, it was never a question that he would stay with me.  And it’s a good thing he did.  Because the divorce was only the beginning of a very dark period in my life:  four months after my former husband left, my mother passed away after a short illness.  Between trying to adjust to life as a newly single woman, and mourning the untimely passing of my mother, I felt completely overwhelmed.  Just getting through each day seemed impossible at times.  But Feebee was by my side for all of it, and somehow, I managed.  He let my tears soak his soft grey fur.  His quiet, loving presence eased my sadness.    He was a great listener, and his rumbling purr provided comfort.  He cheered me up with his utter cuteness.

Despite his loving presence, the pain and sadness sometimes became unbearable, and there were times when I considered just ending it all.  But whenever these dark thoughts entered my mind, I would also think of Feebee.  Knowing that someone still loved and needed me made it impossible to give up on life.   Who would take care of him if I wasn’t around?  And each and every time, love pulled me back from the edge – this special love between a cat and his person.  Feebee gave me many gifts throughout the almost sixteen years he spent with me, but none greater than the gift of life. ” 

The Delta Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to to help lead the world in advancing human health and well-being through positive interactions with animals.  They help people throughout the world become healthier and happier by incorporating therapy, service and companion animals into their lives.  For more information, visit www.deltasociety.org.