hetrick

media.com

& pet-sitting

losing my dog ville (pronounced vee-lay, the version of the name "william" if you live in finland, meaning "determined protector") in 2023 to a tumor of cancer eventually taking over after many good months despite the mass, changed my world and my heart in a way i knew might come someday, but i had no idea how vast and complex my grief would become and what a teacher it would be for me.

i learned so incredibly much in the months of taking care of him once we knew he was sick, especially toward the end, and even more so once he was no longer in my world and days. missing him is still so strong of a feeling for me, but i'm grateful for the time i had with him more than i can fit into language, yes, even as a writer. that's how big this loss was for me, but again, brimming with lessons which i appreciate at such a deep and cavernous level.

later in the year after losing ville, in missing him so fully, i began pet-sitting as i'd done before i had more than decade prior, in wanting to spend more time with animals again. but this time, my connection with animals and my understanding of their worlds had grown so much, and it continues to do so every time i get to know another fur kid a little better. working with more and more animals also means i've developed a more informed understanding of animal needs and care, often with customized approaches based on what's best for an animal and their loved ones.