11/07/2026
Ok, this one is going to be a little long and a little different... but there's a point, I promise.
This time of year is a little bittersweet in our family.
By pure coincidence, Penny, Mork and Monty were all adopted in June (in different years). They have all brought so much love and joy into our lives, and if you've followed me for a while, you'll know that our pets are a huge inspiration behind my business.
But three years ago, also in June, our beautiful girl Penny was diagnosed with cancer and, just five weeks later in mid-July, we had to say goodbye.
As heartbreaking as that time was, when I look back, one thing stands out above everything else: the kindness we were shown.
The vets, veterinary nurses, receptionists and specialists who cared for Penny also cared for us. They patiently answered our questions over and over again while we tried to get our heads around what was happening. They sat with us through the hard conversations and showed us so much compassion.
That experience is always at the forefront of my mind at this time of year, so when I saw that@ballaratvetpractice was hosting the Ballarat Veterinary Nursing Conference this weekend, I was absolutely honoured to share a little Mittens and Moods sticker pack with each delegate. Just a small gesture of thanks that I hope brings everyone a little giggle.
I also wanted to mention Nikki from . Nikki is speaking at the conference, but she also wrote a wonderful book called Fur The Broken Hearted and offers support with quality-of-life assessments. I can say, hand on heart, from first-hand experience, that if you're struggling with making an end-of-life decision for a pet, Nikki's book and assessment tool were incredibly helpful for us.
So, the next time you take your fur-baby to the vet (or your feather-baby, scaly-baby or hoofy-baby... you get the picture!), be sure to thank the team for their care.
Thank you to every person working in veterinary care. You look after our beloved pets, but you also look after the people who love them. That kindness leaves a lasting impact, and it's something I'll never forget.
