Pet Memorial Peternity Blog

Healing Poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Out of the bosom of the Air
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
Even as the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels.

This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Boats" - An Ode to a Water Loving Lab

I think this is one of the most unique settings that we've ever seen for a pet headstone. Boats was 16 when he passed recently, but he lived with in the Virgin Islands and spent most of his life aboard his owner's boat.

He was VERY well loved and is terribly missed.
 
   

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Suggestions for Coping with Pet Loss & Pet Grieving

It has been said that experience is not what happens to you, but rather what you do with what happens to you. So it is with grief. Now that this death has happened to you, you must decide what you can do with your grief. Coping with grief is not a passive process; it involves many courses of action. For example, you can begin with these:

• Know that you're not losing your mind; you are grieving.
• Believe that you will return to your normal level of functioning.
• Give yourself permission to operate at half speed right now.
• Be patient with yourself; grief takes time.
• Read some accounts by other grievers, to assure you that your reactions are normal.
• Slow down if your thoughts are racing and you feel as if you're running from one task to the next.
• Keep in mind that it will all get done, and not everything must be done today. Make a list, then prioritize it.
• Put off whatever big decisions you can, until you can think clearly and until you can adjust to a new and different life.
• Deal with one concern at a time.

Excerpted from Finding Your Way through Grief: A Guide for the First Year, by Marty Tousley
*Marty Tousley is a hospice bereavement counselor who specializes in pet loss & writes about various aspects of grief.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Pet Loss Expert Tips for Getting Through the Holidays

The holidays can be a very difficult time for reliving losses and reflecting back on our beloved pets who are no longer with us. The holidays stir up old happy memories which can be very hard to face. 

Here are some pet loss tips that I've shared with others in the past that have proven to be very helpful.

• Be sure to spend the holiday with loved ones with you whom you can be yourself. It's best not to be alone but it's also important to be able to cry or sit quietly if necessary.
• Choose the book that's helped you through your pet grieving process most and write a dedication in the inside cover to your pet. Donate the book to your library.
• Instead of pushing aside the painful emotions you may be feeling stuck in, try allowing yourself to acknowledge the way you feel. Minimize your difficult feelings and their power over you by expressing them. Write a letter from the heart to your pet, telling him all the things you miss about him and how grateful you are for all the memories and friendship that he so generously gave. You can even post your pet memorial on the internet if you'd like to.
• During your holiday meal, place a special candle on your table and light it in memory of your pet. She will be with you in spirit and will still be included in your holiday celebration.
• Volunteer at an animal rescue or shelter. It always lifts our spirits when we're grieving to take the focus off of ourselves and give to others who are in need.

May your holiday season be filled with love, joy and moments of silence where you can again find peace in your heart.

Lovingly,

Colleen

Pet Grave Markers - Perfect for Homeowners and Apartment Dwellers

Today more than ever, there are so many different options to choose from when it comes to memorializing the lives of our pets. The most popular are still the pet urn and the pet grave marker.

However, there are some misconceptions about pet grave markers and pet headstones. It is understandable that people would believe that they are only appropriate for pet burials and pet cemeteries, but they are actually also ideal for cremations and apartment dwellers. How can that be?

Take for instance our beloved 112 lb golden retriever, Bobo, that we lost last spring. We own our home, but don't plan on being here forever. Also, Bobo was a very large dog which would have required us to dig down quite far (you need to check with your county - they often have depth requirements depending on the weight of your animal), so we didn't want to bury him, but we wanted to memorialize him with something special in our yard. We have two small children, so we decided to create a Kidoodlyrock for him (a pet grave marker where we engrave the childrens' drawing of the pet right onto the stone). It's nestled in the ice plant in our backyard and is a beautiful reminder of our big, furry guy. Bobo was cremated. Some people like to keep the ashes of their pets in an urn, but I wanted Bobo returned back to nature, so we didn't keep his ashes. The pet gravestone was perfect for us.

Now, for apartment dwellers, pet grave markers are ideal if you don't want to keep your pet's ashes, or if you would like an indoor reminder of your dear friend. Pet grave markers of many sizes can be placed in a bookstand on and end table, a mantle or a shelf. Oftentimes, people who choose to bury their pet in a pet cemetery, will also do a small marker for inside their home as a gentle reminder.

There are so many special and creative ways to pay tribute to the love and friendship that are pets so generously give to us. Make your tribute as unique and special as your pet was.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Coping with Pet Loss: An Interview with Marty Tousley

Last year I had the privilege of interviewing Marty Tousley, CNS-BC, FT, Bereavement Counselor on the topic of pet loss. Marty has been a hospice bereavement counselor for over 30 years and is a leader in her field. Her work covers both human and pet loss.

We discussed the difficult topic of euthanasia, managing grief and resources to help with pet loss.

You can listen to the interview here http://tinyurl.com/lybwbb. I hope you find it helpful in your journey of healing.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Pet Urns, Butter, Yoga and Counter Surfing Dogs?

Yesterday was National Pet Memorial Day. In honor of the memory of dear countersurfing Bobo, I'm rerunning this blogpost that was enjoyed by so many of our readers.

I love butter! I'm proud of it and I enjoy it at room temperature.

Okay, so here we are at the beginning of another year. Another year of promises to take better care of ourselves. My husband plays basketball two nights a week so I should be able to squeeze in a yoga class one night a week, right? He can handle bathing the kids and getting them to bed with their teeth brushed without all hell breaking loose, right? Of course!

There are All Kinds of Pets! Emus are Special Too

You would be surprised at the wide variety of animals for which we create pet memorials. One of the most interesting was Elmo the Emu.

Elmo would respond to his name and understood several voice commands. He loved to be held and petted. He particularly enjoyed summer baths in a large plastic pool, where he would splash and gurgle with joy while enjoying a rub down.

Read more about this most special bird . . .

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Children and Pets by Stanley Hall

To the young child there is no gap between his soul and that of animals. ~ Stanley Hall

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Confucious

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~ Confucius

Can you guess who these feet belong to? Take a wild guess.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen