Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

I am very sorry for your loss. It’s never easy to lose a pet. I had to euthanize one of my ferrets over 2 years ago and still get very sad. One year ago, I had to put my first dog (of my own) to sleep during an exploratory surgery. It’s all I can do not to burst into tears when I think of her. Her 12th birthday would have been yesterday; it was very sad for me.

Here is a list of some pet loss resources. These people will not think that you are crazy and they will sympathize with your loss. Call them and talk; it may make you feel better.

* (530) 752-3602, or toll free (800) 565-1526
Staffed by University of California-Davis veterinary students;
weekdays, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Pacific Time (PT);
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/petloss/index.htm

* (352) 392-4700; then dial 1 and 4080
staffed by Florida community volunteers;
weekdays, 7 pm to 9 pm, Eastern Time (ET);
or call (352)392-4700 X4744 (Joy Diaz) at the University;
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/vmth/companions.htm

* (517) 432-2696
Staffed by Michigan State University veterinary students;
Tuesday to Thursday, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, ET;
http://cvm.msu.edu/petloss/index.htm

* (630) 325-1600
Staffed by Chicago VMA veterinarians and staffs.
Leave voice-mail message; calls will be returned 7 pm to 9 pm, CT
(Long-distance calls will be returned collect)

* (540) 231-8038
Staffed by Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine;
Tuesday, Thursday, 6pm to 9 pm, ET

* (614) 292-1823
Staffed by The Ohio State University veterinary students;
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, ET;
voice-mail messages will be returned, collect, during operating hours

* (508) 839-7966
Staffed by Tufts University veterinary students;
Monday through Friday, 6 pm to 9 pm, ET;
voice-mail messages will be returned daily, collect outside Massachusetts;
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/petloss/

* (888) ISU-PLSH (888-478-7574)
Pet Loss Support Hotline hosted by the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/animals/petloss/;
operational seven days a week, 6pm to 9pm (CST) from Sept-April;
Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 6:00-9:00 pm (CST) from May-August.

* (607) 253-3932
Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline staffed by Cornell University Veterinary Students
Tuesday-Thursday 6-9pm ET, messages will be returned.
Http://web.vet.cornell.edu/public/petloss/

* (217) 244-2273 or toll-free (877) 394-2273 (CARE)
Staffed by University of Illinois veterinary students.
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7-9 pm Central Time;
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE/

* Argus Institute: Grief Resources,
Colorado State University.
For the Argus Institute office call (970) 491-4143

* (509) 335-5704,
Pet Loss Hotline, Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/index.htm;
staffed during the semester on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 6:30 – 9:00 PM,
and Saturday 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.

BOOKS

Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet
by Moira Anderson. 2nd Ed. Loveland Co., Alpine Publications 1996

Pet loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children
by Herbert Nieberg, Ph.D. New York, Harper & Row 1996

Loving and Losing a Pet: A Psychologist and a Veterinarian Share Their Wisdom
by Michael Stern and Susan Cropper Northvale, NJ Jason Aronson, Inc. 1998

The Loss of a Pet
by Wallace Sife, Ph.D. Rev. Ed. NY Howell Book House 1998

ORGANIZATIONS

Angel Hearts
A beautiful site with poems and the ability to post pictures of your departed pet for others to view.

Animal Love and Loss Network (ALLN)
The Animal Love And Loss Network (ALLN) seeks to bring together those who are mourning the injury, illness or loss of an animal companion. We also represent and support those who are working to end the exploitation and suffering of all animals. Weekly online forums to discuss your loss with others.

A Garden of Rest
A beautiful website offering a Pet Grief Forum, eSympathy cards and pet grief poems and stories all of which is completely FREE.

The Rainbow Bridge
Create a virtual memorial for your pet.

American Veterinary Medical Association’s Pet Loss Page
http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/
goodbyefriend/goodbye.asp

The American Veterinary Association
The American Veterinary Association web site has a listing of further resources in the Pet Care section of it’s web site at www.avma.org

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB)
PO Box 106, Brooklyn, NY 11230 (718) 382-0690

GardenersCardiff answers:

I totally agree about not liking the cages. I find they make it difficult to trim the tomato plant and everything ends up looking a mess.

A simple stake is all that is required (assuming you plan on growing the plant as a single stem). Make sure you tie the plant to the stake and regular intervals and keep pinching out side shoots to keep everything under control.

The stake needs to be tall enough to support your plant. Over the last couple of years I’ve started stopping my plants at 3 rather than 4 trusses (sets of flowers). It has made very little difference to the amount of tomatoes I get but does seem to yield a harvest earlier and is easier to to keep the plant in good condition.

Whatever you use as a support make sure you harvest regularly. The weight of tomatoes can pull the whole arrangement over.

Happy gardening.

GardenersCardiff answers:

The surface area of walls is comparable to that of floors. A mop of some sort is going to be your best bet.

I work for a housekeeping company, and when I’ve had to wash walls, I’ve used simple soapy water and our mops. We use the Sh-Mops at work and they’re wonderful. The mop heads are made out of terry cloth or microfiber, depending on what your purchase. Here is a link to purchase one on-line: http://www.amazon.com/SH-MOP-Sh-Mop-Complete-Starter-Kit/dp/B000ALEWA8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231623963&sr=8-4. I’m unfortunately not sure where else to buy them because I don’t do the purchasing.

Hope this helps.