Choosing Cremation As Your Pet’s Memorial
Coping with the loss of a pet
Losing a Pet is Like Losing any Loved One
Helping Children Cope with the Death of a Pet
What To Do In Case You Loose Your Pet

.Choosing Cremation As Your Pet’s Memorial by Angel Ashes

Considering Pet Cremation

When your pet passes, the preferred final care choices are burial of your pet in a pet cemetery, or cremation. Although pet cemetery burial is a good option, it may be too costly or unavailable in some areas. Many pet owners today are choosing cremation since it enables you to keep your companion near you in your home, while at the same time enabling you to bury or scatter a portion of your pet’s ashes in your yard or a favorite place your pet enjoyed. Cremation also permits you to take your pet’s ashes with you when you relocate.

A Simple Overview

Typically your Veterinarian will assist with arranging the necessary steps in scheduling cremation. The process of cremation takes place at a crematorium in a cremation chamber where extreme heat and evaporation reduce the body to a state of cremated remains, or cremains. Though we commonly refer to cremains as ashes, they are actually bone fragments in a sand-like state.

Your pet’s ashes are usually returned to you or your Veterinarian in a cardboard, plastic or tin box, sealed in a plastic bag. The entire bag of cremains can then be transferred to a more permanent urn. For Pet Owners who find transferring the ashes too difficult a task, your Veterinarian, family member or a trusted friend can assist you with the transfer of ashes.

Four Pet Cremation Options

When considering pet cremation, it’s important for you know there are actually four methods commonly used for the cremation process. Prior to making your decision, you may wish to review the details of the various methods with your Veterinarian who will help you choose an option you feel comfortable with.

? Private Cremation ensures that your pet alone is placed in the cremation chamber,
and on completion of the process your pet’s remains are returned to you in an urn.

? Viewing Cremation, a variation of private cremation, involves the Pet Owner and family or friends who are permitted to observe the cremation process through a viewing window. This procedure is not available at all crematories.

? Individual Cremation is conducted with your pet sharing space in the cremation chamber with other pets. However all pets are separated so that you will be able to receive your pet’s cremains.

? Communal Cremation (or Mass Cremation) requires your pet to be cremated along with other pets. The cremains are not separated and no urn is returned to the Pet Owner, since the remains are commonly disposed of commercially.

Be sure to confirm the type of cremation you desire for your pet with your Veterinarian or crematorium.

Selecting a Special Resting Place

Most Pet Owners want to do something special to memorialize their beloved companion and are pleased to find well-designed memorial urns which serve as a lasting tribute. One popular style of urn is fashioned as a wooden box which displays a personalized nameplate, a lifelike figurine of the breed of your pet, or a photo of your pet. In larger sizes, this type of urn can hold additional remembrances such as your pet’s tag, collar or favorite toy.

To determine the size of urn needed, simply equate your pet’s healthy weight in pounds with the urn’s capacity measured in cubic inches. For example, an urn for a 50 pound pet would have an interior area of 50 cubic inches.

Valuable Resources

Since Veterinarians traditionally have a relationship with a reputable crematory, it is wise to consult your Veterinarian for assistance with cremation in your area. For the selection of an appropriate memorial urn, you can find comprehensive details and supportive information direct from pet urn designers /manufacturers on the Web.

Seeking help with your pet’s final arrangements will help de-stress your decision making. And simply knowing what questions to ask can smooth the path to respectfully honoring the memory of your cherished family member.

Angel Ashes is dedicated to bringing peace and comfort to those of us who have lost or are about to lose a beloved pet.

Source: www.angelashes.com

Founded by pet lovers, Angel Ashes was born from the desire to commemorate the life of a very special Maltese named Abbey Dog. Angel Ashes is a manufacturer of quality, customized pet urns designed to celebrate the life of pet companions. Angel Ashes is committed to sharing information about ways to heal grief associated with pet loss.

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Coping with the loss of a pet by Dave Watson

I run an online pet memorial web site and as you can imagine I come into contact with many people who have lost a much loved pet or animal companion.

Looking through the memorial web sites that pet owners create when a beloved pet passes away has shown my that there are a number of ways that people come to cope with the loss of a pet.

Some people seem to be unsure or even embarrassed about the depth of grief and loss that they feel when a close pet dies. In the back of their minds they may think that others would think “It was just a pet”, “only an animal” and be surprised at how the death affects them.

But the truth of the matter is that we form a very special bond with our pets, they become part of the family and we love and take care of them for many years.

Many people confide in their pets (if my dog could talk I’d be in big trouble.), pets help to take us out of ourselves when things are not going so good in other areas of your lives and they have unconditional love to give us. All of this goes to form a special bond that when broken by the death of our pet, goes to make a substantial loss.

Possibly those who think “it’s just a pet” have never really formed that special human /animal bond, and this brings to mind the beautiful quote by Anatole France.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.”

It is totally okay to grieve for a lost pet and it is also necessary if you had that special bond with your pet.

Many people find that writing down their feeling helps enormously.

A simple heartfelt verse or poem is a very good way to contact the grief that you feel. Writing down your favourite memories, or an expression of the relationship that you had with your pet will go to help with the grieving process.

Others may want to mark the passing of a pet in other ways with a headstone or other physical memorial.

More and more people are creating online memorials and a lot of the people who do say that it actually helps them to focus on their feelings and memories as well as giving friends and family a chance to better understand the relationship that they had with their pet.

It is well accepted that in order to truly come through a period of loss and grief, one must be able to face every aspect of the loss. Focusing your attention on your pet’s life and what they meant to you will help in that process.

We sometimes have to cry the grief out to allow the joy of our good memories to shine through.

If you are coming to terms with the loss of a pet or animal companion and if you are finding it difficult, try focusing your attention on your pet, try writing a short poem, try writing down exactly what your pet meant to you. Yes the tears will come, but if you continue to look at those memories and feelings soon the tears will go and you will be left with the good memories. But more importantly you will be able to enjoy those memories once the grief has gone.

Dave Watson is the owner of Sadly Missed Pets.com and has written extensively on pet loss and coping with the loss of a pet. There are many article and resources on the web site and many online memorials created by those who loved their pets.

I run an online pet memorial web site and as you can imagine I come into contact with many people who have lost a much loved pet or animal companion. Looking through the memorial web sites that pet owners create when a beloved pet passes away has shown my that there are a number of ways that people come to cope with the loss of a pet.

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Losing a Pet is Like Losing any Loved One by Sally Doyle

Anyone who has allowed a pet to become a part of their life understands that a pet is a member of your family. When you lose that pet, whether unexpectedly or from old age, it does not change the fact that a hole has been left in your life. You still need to take the time to grieve your loss until someday, you feel able to celebrate your pet's life.

Unfortunately, many people do not understand your grief, and their lack of understanding may cause them to inadvertently hurt you further. They may do this by acting as though the pet never existed and your grief is not real, or by making the suggestion that it was just a dog, cat, ferret, or whatever and can be replaced.

If you've ever loved a pet, you know that they cannot "just be replaced", much like a person cannot be replaced. I'd like to offer some suggestions that may help you in your grieving process:

•Do not try to rush yourself through the grief process. Telling yourself that it was just a pet and you shouldn't feel this way just invalidates your feelings and makes you feel worse. Accept your grief and understand that only time will heal you.

•If you are not comfortable doing so, do not rush to get rid of everything that may remind you of your pet. Sometimes removing everything that reminds us of the pet that has shared our life for years just makes the emptiness seem larger.

•Seek out others who understand how you feel. Many people understand what you are feeling, and an ear and a box of tissues will make you feel better.

•Make a picture collage to celebrate your pet's life. You can include pictures from every stage of your pet's life as a reminder of the good times you've shared with your pet.

•Light a candle to your pet. On our resources page, there is a link to a website where you can light a "virtual candle" for free. You may find comfort by doing this.

•Buy a picture pet urn or memory box. If you cremate your pet, you can store the ashes in it. If you do not cremate your pet, or if you scatter the ashes, you can store a favorite ball or leash inside to create a memorial to your pet. It doesn't have to be expensive to be attractive.

•When you are ready to bring another pet into your life, it may be better to get a different breed. The new pet will never replace the one that you lost. It will have its own unique personality and you will enjoy the bonding process more if you are not comparing it to your previous pet.

For additional ideas on coping with pet loss, please visit Petzurn.com Offering ideas on coping with pet loss and supplying affordable pet urns and memory boxes.

Anyone who has allowed a pet to become a part of their life understands that a pet is a member of your family. When you lose that pet, whether unexpectedly or from old age, it does not change the fact that a hole has been left in your life. You still need to take the time to grieve your loss until someday, you feel able to celebrate your pet's life.

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Helping Children Cope with the Death of a Pet by J Gardener

The death of a pet can be a traumatic experience for the whole family. For a young child, it can also be confusing-it's often the first time a child must deal with such loss. In many cases, the pet has been with the family since before the child's birth, so he or she has grown up with the pet as a real part of the family. Children tend to relate to pets as playmates, so the loss, to a child, is often the loss of a best friend.

But while it's a sad time in a family's life, it can also be an opportunity for learning, in ways that will help a child cope with life's future stresses.

As parents, we naturally want to shield our children from pain and grief, but most experts agree that masking the reality of what's happening can only add to a child's confusion. We need to be honest and shouldn't avoid using words like "death" and "dying", even though very young children may not be able to grasp their finality. Phrases like "put to sleep", on the other hand, can connect harmful connotations to normal activities; if a child thinks that sleep is something from which he may not recover, he could develop an unnecessary phobia of going to bed.

If a pet's decline is due to age or illness, and euthanasia is recommended by your veteranarian, it can be helpful to include your child in the decision-making process. Explain the stiuation honestly: "Spot is in a lot of pain, and the doctor can't make him better. We don't want him to suffer, and we can help him die in peace."

Your vet has experience in explaining the problems of illness and the process of euthanasia to children, and most vets are happy to help you answer your child's questions. As well, if your pet has suffered traumatic injury, your vet is the best resource to explain the reasons for death.

Encourage your child to express his feelings. It may not happen with words-your child may not yet possess the nuance of vocabulary necessary to properly convey such feelings. He may find it easier to draw a picture of his life now, without his friend.

Express your own feelings, as well. Tell your child how sad the loss of Spot makes you feel. Hiding your pain may make your child wonder if you'd miss him, if he were gone.

A number of resources are available on the internet for dealing with pet loss-Amazon.com lists many books written specifically for parents to help guide their children through the processes of loss and grief.

One important piece of advice many experts offer: Don't rush out to replace your cherished pet, in the hopes of quickly alleviating your child's pain. Allow the process of grief and recovery to run its course. Your child may not be ready to give a new pet the same love and attention he devoted to Spot. And, again, you don't want to teach him that lost loved ones can be instantly replaced. That can add to his own insecurity, regarding his place in your family.

Grieving is a natural part of life, and so is recovery. Sharing these processes as a family can help teach your child important life lessons, as well as provide the extra attention your child often needs, during this time.

The death of a pet can be a traumatic experience for the whole family. For a young child, it can also be confusing-it's often the first time a child must deal with such loss. In many cases, the pet has been with the family since before the child's birth, so he or she has grown up with the pet as a real part of the family. Children tend to relate to pets as playmates, so the loss, to a child, is often the loss of a best friend.

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What To Do In Case You Loose Your Pet by Kadence Buchanan

According to the most recent Synovate pet survey (Sept. 2005), conducted in nine markets across the globe, the UK and the US were shown to be the two absolute leaders in pet ownership. But the world-wide annual statistics on missing pets are shocking. Over 10 million pets go missing every year and millions never make it back home. This short rescue guide was compiled in order to minimize the chances of you ever having to file a missing pet report and to provide to all US pet-lovers a comprehensive list of the things one should know and do before and after his/her independent companion decides to migrate and explore the unknown. Just read carefully the tips that follow keeping in mind that you should not get discouraged or panic if your pet disappears. By following our advice and keeping yourself organized and prepared at all times, the chances are that you will be reunited with your lost friend again soon.

Plan ahead: Create an emergency action list and keep it handy in house or car. Check frequently your pet's neck to ensure that the collar is in place and that its rabies tag and pet license tag are there; apart from pet's ID your current phone number should appear. If your pet carries a microchip or a tattoo have that number with you all the time (in your wallet). Make sure you have recent reliable photos of your pet. Create a pet file on your PC with pet web directories and have all the local pet authorities' telephone numbers also in print. Keep an updated map of your area with your emergency pet kit. Frequently check your locks, doors, windows and fence for possible escape passages. Do not trust strangers and never leave your pet unattended outside stores or inside vehicles. Register your pet to the available services of your area; you will save precious time if your pet becomes lost.

Your pet is missing: Check everywhere you can and do it quickly! Ask friends, neighbors and local pet authorities to assist you in your search. Create and distribute flyers including your pet's pictures and your phone number and never state the exact amount if you decide to offer a reward or your real name and house address. Scan your neighborhood and give a copy of the missing pet's flyer to everyone you meet, asking them to call you in case they see or hear anything. Have a real live person or if that is impossible a telephone recording machine answering the phone. Check all the clinics of your area frequently and visit the local shelters in person everyday. Befriend the employees and request their assistance. Inform the local veterinarian offices and the police. Provide all the details they need, but leave a few of your pet's characteristics out. These will later help you identify whether the person claiming to have found your pet has actually your companion in his/her possession. Never visit by yourself someone that called and reported to have your pet. Take a friend with you or arrange to meet in a public place or the police department. Contact the local media and create a publicity fuss. Publicize your pet's disappearance via the internet and local newspapers. Check the 'found pet' section of your local newspapers daily. Most importantly, do not give up hope. Keep looking and good luck!

Your pet is back: Once reunited with your pet, of extreme importance is for you to discover what circumstances allowed it to escape and perform any necessary changes to prevent a similar incident from happening again. Do not forget to call your neighbors, friends, local veterinarian clinics and shelters, to inform them that your pet is back. Of course, always remember to keep a collar and a current identification tag on your pet at all times, even when they are in your house. Your pet's ID is actually its ticket home.

Over 10 million pets go missing every year and millions never make it back home. This short rescue guide was compiled in order to minimize the chances of you ever having to file a missing pet report and to provide to all US pet-lovers a comprehensive list of the things one should know and do before and after his/her independent companion decides to migrate and explore the unknown.

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