Tara Lipinski Opens Up About Her 'Anxious Dog Mom' Journey and How She Found Peace (Exclusive)
Tara Lipinski admits to PEOPLE she used to be anxious about her dog's health following the death of a past pet
The Olympic gold medalist has found relief by working with a pet care service called Dutch
Lipinski is a mom to her 19-month-old daughter, Georgie, and her flat-coated retriever, SullivanTara Lipinski grew up surrounded by dogs. At one point, her family had five running around the house.
"It was a hoot," the Olympic gold medalist, 42, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "Just us with all these dogs, sometimes traveling to different training centers around the country and bringing them along."
But for Lipinski, her first real dog was Dublin, a brown flat-coated retriever gifted to her by her parents several years ago. So when she revealed in February 2020 that Dublin was battling two aggressive forms of cancer, she was devastated.
As Dublin underwent treatment, Lipinski and her husband, Todd Kapostasy, welcomed Sullivan — "Sully" — another brown flat-coated retriever, into their home. Though the two dogs overlapped for a time, Dublin eventually died. The loss marked the beginning of a deeply emotional journey for Lipinski, which further cemented her identity as a devoted dog mom.
"That was my son," Lipinski says.
"Obviously, we went through a huge medical journey with Dublin, and I've just been very, very conscious of Sullivan's health," she continues. "You can't always prevent something, but I really want to take every precaution and stay on top of everything to make sure he has a long and healthy life."
To do that, Lipinski — also a mom to 19-month-old daughter Georgie — began taking extra precautions, including working with Dutch, an online pet care service. While she still values her longtime vet in Los Angeles, Dutch has offered a different kind of support when she says "life gets busy" and she becomes a "little bit of an anxious dog mom."
That anxiety flared when she recently noticed a bump on Sullivan's tongue.
"Because of everything I went through with Dublin, I immediately thought, 'Oh my goodness, what is this?'" she recalls. "I called the vet but couldn't get in for two weeks because it wasn't an emergency. I was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to sit with this and worry that it's maybe something like Dublin had.'"
"I have spent many nights worrying about something, or the dog's whimpering, or he might've jumped off the bed wrong — and I'm sitting at the vet for six hours while I wait to get my name called," the dog mom adds. "And then I go in and, of course, everything's fine. But still, the process of it all can be difficult."
"I'm sure vets are so in demand with so many emergencies and things that happen, but that's why I really love Dutch. It's given me a lot more control and peace of mind, and I'm also able to tackle things that I probably wouldn't have before."
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
With Sullivan's health under control, Lipinski says she can now focus more time and energy on being present with her growing family. Lately, it's been especially rewarding to watch the bond between Sullivan and her daughter Georgie blossom.
"He loves to be part of the bedtime routine," Lipinski says. "He'll cry and scratch at the door if he isn't. He has to be in there — every part of her day. It's like we have a second baby. He needs to sit right at her table when she has breakfast."
"She loves him so much, and he is so gentle. He's so great with her," she adds. "When we do a bath and he's a big 95-pound dog in her little bathroom, he has to be lying right by the tub while we do it. If we're playing with the toys, he's looking — he's in on everything."
"The dropping of the food, too — I think he's in heaven," she continues. "He is like, 'This is what life is meant to be.' Those moments are really cute. He is so big and cuddly, and she's still so small. So to see her curled up next to him and how she says his name with her little baby talk — it warms my heart."
Read the original article on People
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wall Street Journal
33 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Colonoscopies Beat the Alternative Every Day
I read Jim Sollisch's complaints about the discomfort of colonoscopy preparation with amusement and concern ('Colonoscopy Prep Is Worse Than IKEA,' op-ed, June 3). I have had 12 colonoscopies since I was 50 thanks to a family history of colon cancer. The prep is uncomfortable and inconvenient. The alternative is far worse. My father was diagnosed with this terrible cancer in 1958. Doctors gave him six months to live in a time before colostomies were common. He lasted five years—a time I cherish—but the cost to him was high. I think watching someone die from colon cancer might help Mr. Sollisch put the prep into perspective. It isn't as unbearable as he describes, and I would never want to see anyone decline a procedure for one of the most preventable cancers. If you are at risk for colon cancer, schedule your procedure today. Ken Gurak
Fast Company
35 minutes ago
- Fast Company
1 in 5 people are having fewer children due to fear of the future: UN
Falling fertility rates typically get blamed on the women of the world. But a new study published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says both men and women 'face significant barriers to realizing their fertility aspirations.' It's not that they don't want to have children—rather, they just aren't able to in the ways they want to. According to the report, barriers in political discourse, healthcare policies, financial instability, and climate change are some of the leading causes for globally declining birth rates, and furthermore, they prevent many from realizing their preferred child status. 'The evidence is clear: We are moving from a world of rapid population expansion, in the mid-20th Century, to a period of declining fertility rates,' Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA said. UNFPA partnered with YouGov to ask 14,000 people across 14 countries what they want for their reproductive futures and why. According to the report, nearly 1 in 5 participants cited fears of the future affecting their decisions to have fewer children than desired, including concerns about climate change, environmental degradation, wars, and pandemics. Meanwhile, 39% reported financial limitations affecting their decisions. The countries included in the study represent a third of the world population, and include North Korea (the country with the lowest fertility rate), Nigeria (the country with the highest fertility rate), and the U.S. (somewhere in the middle). All participants' reasons behind their reproductive status were divided into five factors: Health, including infertility and a lack of medical care Economic, including unemployment and housing situations Changed desires, including partner or personal decisions Concerns over future, including political or climate concerns Other, including lack of partner or societal pressure 'It is hard to escape the conclusion that these concerns—which certainly warrant policy responses—are rooted in outdated notions around who should be reproducing and why, and the notion that the achievement of a country's preferred birth rate will ensure economic and political security,' Dr. Kanem said.
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
The Right Way to Wash a Heated Blanket Safely
Nothing matches the feeling of crawling into a warm bed after a long, tiring day, especially if you have an electric heated blanket. These not only provide targeted warmth but are also cost-effective, eliminating the need to heat the entire room. Despite their benefits, electric heated blankets come with some concerns, especially for first-time users. Chief among them: How do you wash one? After all, most electric blanket manufacturers recommend washing the blanket before use. If you've been wondering this, too, you're not alone. Several Reddit users share the same concern, having tried various cleaning hacks and ruining a few blankets along the way. Here's everything you need to know so you can use your heated blanket without worrying. If you're looking for more information about sleep, check out the wellness editors' favorite sleep tips and how to take a nap without ruining your sleep. Can you wash a heated blanket? Generally speaking, yes. Most electric blankets are machine washable and can even be dried in the dryer. But before you go toss yours in the next load of laundry, take a moment to read the blanket's care instructions. Different blankets may have different washing instructions. For example, Sunbeam, a blanket manufacturer, recommends presoaking the blanket and then washing it in cold water and mild soap on delicate for two minutes. Another blanket maker, Sleepme, makes electric blankets with weighted inserts. They recommend removing the insert, then washing only the outer cover on a gentle cycle. Materials you'll need to wash your heated blanket Depending on the care instructions, here are some things you may need to wash your electric blanket. Washer Dryer or drying rack/clothesline Laundry detergent Clean cloths (if needed for stain treating) How to wash an electric blanket Washing a heated blanket isn't difficult, but there are usually some things you'll need to do to prepare the blanket for the washing machine. Here are step-by-step instructions to follow. 1. Remove the cords The electric blankets cords are what allow the electricity to travel from the outlet into the blanket. Electrical cords should not be submerged in water. Damaging the cords could cause the blanket to malfunction or stop working entirely. It's best to remove all connected cords to ensure the blanket isn't damaged. 2. Review the blanket's washing instructions Somewhere on the blanket or in the information that came with it, there will be washing and drying instructions. They will usually indicate if the blanket can be machine washed or should be hand washed, what washing machine cycle to use, how to dry and even sometimes soap specifications. It's important to read these before laundering the blanket. If the washing instructions indicate that the blanket must be hand washed, skip ahead to step four. 3. Run on a delicate cycle Most electric blankets should be washed on a delicate or gentle cycle. This helps to eliminate dislodging or damaging the wiring inside the blanket. 4. Wash by hand Though most heated blankets can be washed in a washing machine, there may be some that must be hand washed. In that case, remove the cords, and fill your washing tub with cold water and gentle detergent. After you've soaked the blanket for a bit, use your hands to wash the blanket, similar to how a washing machine agitates. When you're satisfied with the amount of washing done, drain and refill the tub with water to rinse the blanket. Do this until all soap is gone from the blanket. Squeeze excess water out and either lay flat to dry or dry in the machine on low if the care instructions indicate you can do so. 5. Dry the heated blanket Most electric blankets can be tumble dried on low in the dryer. Be sure to dry your blanket according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. If the blanket must be air-dried, try laying it between two towels to soak up excess water and then lay or hang it flat to dry. You might be tempted to wring out excess water by twisting the blanket, but do not do this as it may cause damage to the internal often should you wash a heated blanket? How often you should wash your electric blanket depends on how much the blanket is used. As a general rule, you should wash the blanket when you think it needs it. You may need to wash it infrequently if it is on a bed that doesn't often get used, or if you're a nightly user, you might prefer to get in a routine of washing the blanket each time you wash your other bedding. If you plan to pack away the blanket, wash it before putting it in storage. When you shouldn't wash a heated blanket Do not wash a heated blanket that still has any cords attached. Additionally, if the blanket's care instructions suggest hand washing instead of machine washing, do not wash the blanket in the washing machine. How to get rid of stains on a heated blanket If you use your electric blanket a lot, it's inevitable that, eventually, you'll need to treat a stain or two. In most cases, a regular washing process will do, but when it won't, try mixing some laundry detergent and warm water and pretreating. Using a clean cloth, apply the soapy water mixture to the stain. You can either leave that setting and then wash the blanket following its care instructions or rinse the stain-treated area with another damp cloth and then air dry.
