Page 18 - Talk of Tequesta - February '25

Page 18, The Talk Of Tequesta

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The Pet Cottage Post

Love In Action: Thor’s Heartwarming Journey To A New Home

As February rolls in with its the founder and executive
celebration of love, we at The Pet director of The Pet Cottage,
Cottage are reminded of the assured him that miracles
countless ways love shines do happen.
in the bonds between people And happen they did.
and their pets. For us, love is the Just days before Jerry’s
foundation of everything we do departure, Marcia reached
— the love it takes to relinquish out to us. She and her
a cherished companion when life husband, Michael, had been
circumstances make it impossible to care following Thor’s story and
for them, and the love that finds these pets a new family felt a pull to reach out.
to cherish them. Experienced with large
Take Jerry and Thor, for instance. Jerry, a cancer dogs and with a spacious
survivor, shared an unbreakable bond with his 120-pound acre of land and a pool — a
Dutch Shepherd, Thor, for five wonderful years. dream for Thor, who loves to swim — they were eager to
Thor was not just a dog; he was Jerry’s best friend, meet him.
constant companion, and loyal confidant. But when health, but the lengthy flight When we visited Marcia and Michael’s home, it was
Jerry’s cancer returned unexpectedly, he faced a heart- and mandatory quarantine clear: this was the one. Jerry had the chance to meet them
wrenching decision. Moving to Australia to live with would be too much for Thor. and see the wonderful environment Thor would call home.
his daughter for treatment was the best choice for his Jerry’s priority was The bond was instant, and Jerry left for Australia with
finding a loving new home peace of mind, knowing his beloved companion was in
for Thor, where he could loving hands.
all abouT KiDs thrive. He tried on his own Today, Thor lives happily with Marcia and Michael,
enjoying his new home and their expansive backyard. Jerry
and through his vet, but
no match felt right. Then stays in touch through WhatsApp, sharing updates and
a friend, Jane, told Jerry photos, and The Pet Cottage remains committed to supporting
Thor and his Forever Guardians for the rest of his life.
about The Pet Cottage, and
When Young he reached out to us in late At The Pet Cottage, we witness love in its purest forms
every day. Whether it’s the selfless act of rehoming a
November. With a flight
Kids Hate booked for December 23, beloved pet or the joy of welcoming a new furry friend
into your heart, love truly is all around us.
the timeline was tight, but our mission was clear: find
If you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a Forever
the perfect Forever Guardians for this intelligent, active,
Themselves and affectionate dog. Guardian, visit www.thepetcottage.org. Together, we can
create a world where pets and people truly belong.
At The Pet Cottage, we believe every pet deserves
This February, we celebrate the love that makes miracles
a home that matches their unique personality. We
arranged two meet-and-greets with potential families, happen — the love that brought Thor to Marcia and Michael,
By Jim Forgan, Ph.D., Licensed School Psychologist one even including a skilled dog trainer for introductions. giving Jerry peace of mind during a difficult time. Thank you
However, despite their interest, neither was the right fit to everyone who supports our mission and helps us create
My first grader has for Thor. Jerry began to worry that Thor might need to these beautiful stories of love and connection.
recently said, “I hate be boarded while we continued the search. But I, Wendy, Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at The Pet Cottage!
myself” because she
doesn’t feel smart. She
says things are too hard
and I can see her getting
discouraged. She has
trouble remembering
letters, sounds, some
numbers. She can’t keep
up with everyone. Her
teacher says she is the
lowest one in her class.”
This concerned parent’s description of her child
cried out for help and understanding. It is highly
unusual for a young student to make statements such
as they hate themself, they feel dumb, or they want to
die. No student wants to go to school and repeatedly
fail. Furthermore, it is a giant red flag when your
child’s teacher says your child is the lowest one in
the class. Given these challenges, this young child’s
self-esteem is at risk of long-term damage.
As a concerned parent, you can provide your child
with support and understanding. If you suspect an
underlying learning disability like dyslexia, our school
neuropsychological testing provides answers. We
also test for processing problems such as a weakness
in phonics development and memory. Once you
understand the specific problem you can then provide
the right treatment to help.
The testing revealed this child had dyslexia
with anxiety. Her mom followed up with one of the
specialized tutors and started three times a week
tutoring. Once she received our written report, the
teacher helped get the child an IEP for school support.
The IEP allowed the school’s special education teacher
to work with her in addition to her private tutoring.
Parents used children’s books to help with her anxiety
of being embarrassed for her reading struggles. In
a follow-up conversation, her mom said she had
renewed hope for her child’s future.
We test students from age 2 through college for
dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, and
more. Call us at (561) 625-4125 to discuss your child
or learn more at www.JimForgan.com.