I am on Dr Becker's emailing list.  I received this and thought these were awesome tips for remembering our new/current pets.  I am lucky enough my mom thought of getting some of Sassy's ear fur the day she crossed the bridge because they had to shave the inside to get her O2 level at the vet otherwise I wouldn't have any of her velvet fur. 

Please think about doing some of these things.  I know I am planning on doing some of them with Snickers. 

I am almost ready to get a firebox to put my back up drive in it with all my pictures on my computer that way I will still have them if there is ever a fire.

hugs

Michelle & Angel Sassy

Dr Marty Becker

When you lose a beloved pet, will you have more than memories of your time together?

Few things in life are as special and memorable as welcoming a new four-legged family member into your heart and home.

Whether you got your pet from a shelter or rescue group, off the streets, from a breeder, or from a friend or family member, think about it: Of all the pets you’ve had in your life, how many times have you regretted bringing one into your family? That’s right. Regrets on getting a dog or cat are about as rare as jackalope sightings.

I’ve been a veterinarian for 34 years, and a lifetime pet lover. My earliest memory is holding onto the back fur of a working cattle dog, an Australian Shepherd named Shep, as I learned to walk at our Southern Idaho ranch.

How I wish I had more than just wispy memories of Shep! That's why I want you to “begin with the end in mind” when you get a new pet. A decade or decades from now, what will you wish you had to remind you of this special bond you shared?

I’ve been telling pet owners for over three decades to do some or all of the following:

Take a snippet of hair and put in a small plastic bag. Puppy hair is often a different color and consistency than an adult coat.
Consider saving some of your pet's baby teeth.
Use a stamp pad and get a "pawtograph" on a sturdy piece of paper.. Do this at different life stages, on the same piece of paper, and label appropriately.
Save your pet’s first toy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a decapitated vinyl toy, shredded plush plaything, or a dried slobber-slick tennis ball. It will be a totem of many warm memories of time spent together.
Save photos. I like to have pictures of important milestones: bringing the pet home, first days, special events like pet’s birthday paw-ty, opening presents on a holiday), or on vacation with you.

When you have to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to a beloved pet, those mementos will bring you the warmest of memories.

Wags and meows (and the occasional neigh),

Dr. Marty Becker
“America’s Veterinarian”