Caring Pathways

06/23/2026

A Tribute for Teddy 🐾💜

Eighteen years ago, in 2008, Teddy came into my life as just a tiny puppy full of energy and s***k. That energy and s***k lasted through the years, only giving way when his body started to become too tired.

I was a young teenager when I received him as a birthday gift, and little did I know at that time, he would be my very best friend. I had the privilege of having Teddy grow up with me, side by side, for eighteen incredible years.

Teddy only got four short years of having a Dad, but in that time they developed a deep, loving bond that would last for the rest of this lifetime and into the next.

Teddy was loyal until the end, the bestest boy one could ask for. Teddy was our whole world, and he will be missed for longer than we had the chance to love him.

06/22/2026

Supporting a child through the loss of a pet can feel incredibly heavy, especially when you’re grieving too. 💜

Children don’t always understand death the way adults do, and their reactions can change depending on age, development, and emotional connection to the pet.

What matters most isn’t having the perfect explanation.
It’s:
• Using honest, simple language
• Allowing space for questions and emotions
• Helping them feel safe while they grieve
• Letting them see that it’s okay to feel sad too

If you’re in this place right now, you don’t have to navigate it perfectly.
You just have to show up with honesty, steadiness, and care, for them and for yourself.

For more resources to help you and your loved ones through this tender moment, visit our website 💜

06/18/2026

We’re honored to see our own Dr. Tyler Carmack, Director of Hospice & Palliative Care, and Dr. Chelsea McGivney, Executive Director of Operations, contributing to an important national conversation about the future of veterinary medicine.

A recent AAHA Trends article highlights a meaningful milestone in the profession: the proposed American College of Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Medicine (ACVHPM). This initiative reflects growing recognition of hospice and palliative care as an essential part of comprehensive veterinary medicine—supporting pets and families with compassion, clarity, and quality-of-life focused care.

This is a pivotal moment for the field, and part of a larger conversation about how veterinary medicine continues to evolve to better serve patients and the people who love them.

If you are interested in the future of hospice and palliative care in veterinary medicine, we encourage you to read the article and share your perspective through the public forum linked within it.

Read more here:
https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/a-new-chapter-the-american-college-of-veterinary-hospice-and-palliative-medicine/

Learn more about the American College of Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Medicine, a proposed RVSO dedicated to advancing the care of animals experiencing chronic, progressive, and quality-of-life-limiting conditions.

06/15/2026

If you're asking, "Am I doing enough for my senior dog or cat?" 💜

The answer isn't always simple, but the question comes from a place of deep love.

Doing enough doesn’t mean doing everything possible. It means:

✔️ Keeping them comfortable
✔️ Managing pain and mobility
✔️ Protecting their quality of life
✔️ Giving them safety, routine, and love
✔️ Making sustainable decisions for your whole family

Your pet doesn’t need perfection. They need you.

Save this for the hard days, and send it to a fellow senior-pet parent who needs the reminder. 🐾

06/11/2026

One of the hardest questions pet families face is knowing when it’s time.

In this video, Dr. Mavi Graves shares guidance on quality of life, hospice care, comfort care, and end-of-life decisions for beloved pets.

Caring Pathways proudly serves families throughout Northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, Wellington, and surrounding communities.

06/09/2026

Tribute for sweet Korey 🐾🌈

"Korey came into my life in October 2022 through Second Chance German Shepherd Rescue, and from the moment he arrived, he became family.

At the time, we lived in Citrus Heights, California, in a home with a backyard that quickly became one of his favorite places. Every evening, Korey looked forward to “neighborhood bark time,” standing proudly outside, talking to the world in that unmistakable German Shepherd voice. He loved being part of the neighborhood, part of the moment, part of our little pack.

Korey went wherever life would allow. He traveled with me to Fort Collins, Colorado, to visit family, spent peaceful days at Lake Tahoe, and explored the rugged beauty of Point Arena Lighthouse on the Mendocino Coast. No matter where we went, he carried his loving, fierce German Shepherd spirit with him.

Then Millie came into our lives — a tiny Brussels Griffon with a huge personality — and somehow the two of them became perfect best friends. Korey was always so careful and gentle with her. During their play fights, he would growl dramatically while keeping his mouth open so he would never hurt her, letting Millie believe she was the fierce one. Watching them together was pure joy.

We were a pack.

But lymphoma came for Korey far too soon. At only six years old, a heart that loving and loyal should have had so many more years ahead of it.

Korey, you gave us comfort, laughter, companionship, protection, and unconditional love. You filled every place we lived with warmth and life. The house is quieter now, but your presence is still everywhere — in the trails we walk, the windows we look through, the spaces beside us in bed, in your dog hair that still lingers no matter how many times I vacuum, and in the memories we carry every day.

Millie and I miss you every single day and love you every second.

You were, and always will be, our loving muffin."

Read Korey's full tribute on our website.

06/09/2026

Today, on World Pet Memorial Day, we remember the pets who changed our lives with their unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship.

Though they may be gone, they are never forgotten.

🐾 Comment below with the pet who will always have a place in your heart.

06/08/2026

Cats are incredibly skilled at hiding pain and discomfort. What may seem like a small change in appetite, grooming, activity, or social behavior can sometimes be a sign that your cat's needs are changing.

Our Pathway to Care Assessment for Cats was designed to help families recognize subtle changes, evaluate quality of life, and make informed decisions with greater confidence and clarity.

Whether you're managing a chronic illness, caring for a senior cat, or simply wondering how they're really doing, this free assessment can help guide the conversation and support your journey together. 💜

Take the Pathway to Care Assessment for Cats today. Link to the website in our bio.

06/04/2026

Happy Hug Your Cat Day! 🐾
Celebrate the comfort, companionship, and unconditional affection our feline friends bring to our lives.

Whether they're curled up in your lap, following you from room to room, or demanding treats with perfect timing, cats have a special way of making every day brighter.

🐱 Give your favorite feline an extra hug today and share a photo of your cat in the comments!

06/02/2026

A Tribute for Nala 🐾

" We got Nala in 2012. I was 13 years old. My dad had promised me that if I got my wisdom teeth out, I could get a dog. A few weeks later, while shopping at PetSmart, I saw her and gasped at how cute she was. She was perfect. We took her home the next day.

It was the summertime, and my parents were divorced. I remember my mom would bring me over to my dad’s house at 5 in the morning on her way to work so I could see my new puppy. We spent many mornings together playing and cuddling. We were kids together.

She watched me through my teenage years, and she was the first one to greet me at the door when I came home from college. She was there when I moved on from middle school to high school, when I graduated high school, when I graduated college, moved into my first apartment by myself, and bought my first house. She even got to spend time with the dog I adopted as an adult, which I never would have had the courage to adopt had it not been for our 5 a.m. play sessions and all the things she taught me about puppyhood.

We grew up together. As I grew older, so did she, but she aged much faster than I did. We made the decision to euthanize her in May 2026, before her tumor caused her any more pain. This is when she taught me how to love an animal so much that you let them go when the time is right.

I hope that she knows how much she taught me, how much I love her, and how much I’m going to miss coming home to my dad’s house and hearing her bark for me at the door.

Nala was the best part of being a teenager and the best part of coming home. We grew up together, and I wouldn’t have the life I have today if it weren’t for her. She spent her whole life loving my dad and me, and we’ll spend the rest of ours missing her."