It is possible to take something beautiful and lasting out of the heart-wrenching experience of seeing the animal you love move inexorably toward death. Jon Katz animalbeautifuldeath Change image and share on social
I'm always happy when people choose to get another dog because it's a healthy and healing thing to do, and there are millions of them needing homes. But there is no single time frame to do it in because grieving is an intensely personal experience. Jon Katz choosedogexperience share on social
Dogs are not 'people' of another species. They are another species. To train and care for them properly, to show them how to live in our complex world, requires first and foremost that we understand that. Jon Katz carecomplexdog share on social
When people buy, rescue, or otherwise acquire a dog from unscrupulous breeders or amateur rescue groups, they are making a decision with ethical consequences. They have a profound responsibility to consider their actions; to gauge the dog's behavior, to train it thoroughly and rigorously, to protect other humans and dogs from harm. Jon Katz acquireactionamateur share on social
If you're going to love animals and have a life with them, the odds are you're going to lose them. It's helpful when you get a dog to accept the fact that this dog is not going to be with you your whole life. Jon Katz acceptanimaldog share on social
My goats are not contemplative, accepting, or introspective. They are the Greek chorus of my farm, sometimes of my life. They watch me closely and remind me that I am foolish. Jon Katz acceptchorusclosely Change image and share on social
Dogs and other animals - goats, donkeys, cows, a grumpy rooster - continue to change my writing life. Jon Katz animalchangecontinue Change image and share on social
Kids leave us and go off on their own lives. Family members tell us what they think of us. Animals can't do that. They really are blank canvases, and we can project anything we want onto them. So the relationship is very pure and simple. Jon Katz animalblankcanvas share on social
Taking responsibility and having faith in your own judgment will help you make good choices and decisions at the end of your pet's life. Jon Katz choicedecisionend Change image and share on social
When I wrote about media and technology, I had a lot of lonely, even intimate book talks. Since writing about dogs, I have a lot of company at book signings. Jon Katz bookcompanydog Change image and share on social