Photo: Kathy Reiter (right) is awarded a Pawsitive Impact Award

In 2005, Kathy Reiter was awarded the Pawsitive Impact Award for her 21 years of volunteer service to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. During all these years, Kathy has led the Pet Loss Support Group meetings at the shelter.

Our pets are important and engaging members of the family. They are devoted companions who give us their unconditional love and acceptance. For a pet caregiver, the loss of an animal friend can be one of life's most difficult experiences. So, when we lose a beloved friend, it often helps by sharing our feelings with others who have also experienced a similar loss; with others who know "it was not just a dog/cat/bunny".

Every month, Kathy provides that kind of support to our community. Kathy is recognized as the area's leading authority on pet loss. By training, Kathy is a psychiatric social worker with a specialty in grief and bereavement. She has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS News with Dan Rather and PBS. Kathy has also been featured in the Washington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping and other widely circulated magazines.

Kathy was instrumental in establishing the Hospice movement in the United States and was directly responsible for the construction of the first Hospice in Arlington, VA. It was while the Arlington hospice was being built that Kathy's beloved cat, Prince, was diagnosed as being terminally ill and was given just 3 months to live. While being experienced human loss, Kathy was now faced with impending pet loss of her animal friend. Kathy turned for help, for resources, and yet found none.

Kathy made a bargain with the universe: "Let Prince live, and I'll help others who are facing the loss of their beloved animal". Guess what? Prince lived to be 23 years old!

The support group meets at 7:30pm the first Wednesday of the month in the shelter's Community Room. There will be no meeting on Wednesday, June 2, 2010.