Losing a furry family member can be as
devastating as losing a human family member or friend. The bond that grows from
the unconditional love has saved many from emotionally debilitating
circumstances. It’s easy to look forward
to the excited tail wagging and bright eyes as you walk through the door,
especially if it has been consistent for years. Which is why, many find it very
painful when they lose their four-legged best friend and want to give them the
same send off they would for their human family- whether that be a cremation or
cemetery.
More and more people are choosing to
memorialize their pets, opting for more than the backyard burial. According to
Bloomberg Business Week, there are approximately 700 pet cemeteries, funeral
homes and crematories offering services for pets across the U.S.
There was a time when people hid their grief
because many couldn’t understand the emotional impact of the loss; after all it
was only a dog or a cat. In fact, owner of Shugart’s Deceased Pet Care in
Atlanta, Donna Shugart-Bethune, said it was almost like an underground
operation because people wouldn’t want their neighbors to know and asked her
father to come in an unmarked car.
Now many options exist, from balloons to
memorial services. And as many from various backgrounds - men, women, wealthy and
working class are choosing to say good bye the way they would to their humans.
Choosing a facility is not an easy task,
however Pet Loss Professionals Alliance, offers guidance on the questions to
ask as well as organizations that follow a certain level of professional
conduct and services.
Saying good-bye is a personal choice – do
it in whatever way you believe would honor your relationship with your furry family.
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