A pet loss in the family

My mom has always been a huge cat person and I guess that's where I got my love of animals. She's taken in strays pretty much all my life and given them good homes or found other good homes for them. Just recently, she unexpectedly lost her cat "Bill" and as you can imagine, it's been very difficult for her. Bill was brought into the vet on a Friday after he kept my folks up all night howling, apparently in pain from something. Come to find out, he had a blocked urinary tract. They did surgery and cleared things up but they wanted to keep him until Monday so they could monitor his progress. The vet checked in on him late Saturday night and he said everything appeared okay. On Sunday morning, when he went back in, he found Bill dead in his cage. He told my mom that he had a heart attack and does not know why he passed away when he looked okay the night before. My mom was devastated. Oh, and she found this out on Easter morning of all days.
It's been a few weeks and while my mom is doing better, she's still pretty upset. Her and my dad asked me to make one of my pet caskets for Bill as I've done with a few other pets they have had. Bill was a great cat and I was more than happy to do it for my mom. I've been building these pet caskets for over four years now and it's always so much harder when it’s a family pet.
If you're reading this post and you too have recently lost a pet, know that’s okay to grieve, that's its okay to be mad, that it's okay to cry and that others understand the pain you're going through.

Don't feel like you're all alone in losing a pet

Hi!
We very often speak to folks that feel no one else understands what they are going through when they lose a pet. That other people would think they are overreacting or being silly when they express remorse. Caring pet owners like myself and most folks that would read this blog can well understand how difficult it is to lose a pet. Don't feel alone, you're not. Not by a long stretch. Pets are dearly loved parts of the family and deserve being treated with respect, tolerance and love. When we lose a pet, it hurts - sometimes it hurts a real lot. When it feels like its too much to bear and it effects our well being or those around us, then it may be a good to search out a professional to speak with. I truly believe there's nothing wrong with doing this. I am not a therapist or psychologist but only speak from experience. Sometimes reaching out to support groups can help. We have some articles from professional councilors and links to several support hotlines at http://www.petsweloved.com/bereavment.asp. I hope this information can be of help.
Thanks,
Steve Mondazzi
http://www.petsweloved.com/

Offering a more affordable wood pet casket

Hi,
Being in the pet memorials business for over 4 years now, I’ve tried to offer the best quality products at an affordable price. For my wood pet caskets that I hand make myself, I’ve offered 3 lines of styles and price ranges to provide a fairly wide range of choices for our pet owner customers. My entry-level casket is called the “Pumkin” and starts at $145.00 with our large premium Sammy pet caskets costing $295.00. I’ve been considering designing and offering a lower priced casket in the $50 to $75 range for folks that would like a basic, but attractive pet casket. It would be an unfinished design with a single lining type offered. We developed our existing pet caskets to provide customers choices of styles, finishes and linings so they could tailor it specifically to what they thought best suited their pet. Based on the testimonials we have received, we will continue to offer products this way but feel that maybe some folks would like a simpler, more affordable option. As this type of business is so small as compared to other pet products, it’s often difficult to gauge the needs of pet owners when a pet has passed away. We would love your thoughts and comments on this topic. Please feel free to drop us a line at feedback@petsweloved.com.

Thank you,
Steve Mondazzi
http://www.petsweloved.com/
877-679-3770

Options when choosing a pet burial

Hello again,
Thanks for coming to my pet blog. Today's topic is about options for pet burial. If you are considering burial once your pet has passed on, this information may help in that decision. There may be more options then you realize when choosing burial.

Decide where you would like to set your pet down when they pass. The typical choices would be either in a pet cemetery or on your personal property.
If choosing a pet cemetery, speak to several in your area if possible before deciding. Pricing and services can vary greatly so be sure to ask what’s included in the burial costs. Ask for a breakout of costs between the plot, casket and annual maintenance fee, if it applies. Some pet cemeteries will charge an annual “perpetual care” type fee to maintain the grounds. For the few that I am familiar with, they seem to do a nice job and could be worth the expense if that’s really what you would like to do.

If choosing a home burial, make sure it’s okay to bury your pet on your property. In my experience, most cities and towns don’t enforce restrictions imposed on burying a pet on your property but if you’re concerned, please contact your town/city hall to check. At a minimum, most limitations include a minimum setback from water sources like wells, streams, rivers, etc to prevent any contamination. This is very important and should be taken into consideration when selecting a location.

Decide how you would like to bury your pet.
If you have decided on using a pet cemetery, they will offer pet casket options of products they carry. They are typically made from a polyurethane/plastic type of material so they will not degrade over time once placed into the ground. These pet caskets are water and air tight but not usually all that attractive. Pet cemeteries will typically not allow a wooden pet casket to be used since it will break down over time and the plot will need more maintenance once it does. I believe there are vaults available but at a higher cost to the pet owner.
If you prefer to bury your pet at home, then you have a much greater range of options:

-You could simply wrap the animal in a favorite blanket and bury them directly. This is the most cost effective method but would not provide any protection for the animal. If chosen, be sure to bury the animal deep enough to prevent intrusion from area wildlife. Go at least 24-30” deep to prevent this. Wild animals have an incredible sense of smell so you want to be sure your pet is protected.

-You could make a simple wooden pet casket. A lot of folks do it this way and it works just fine. If you don’t have tools or are inclined to do this, you may want to look into purchasing a pet casket.

-You could purchase one of the plastic pet caskets. They are relatively affordable but not all that attractive. If you ever intend to move your pet to another property someday, this would be a good option. Some have decorative liners that help with the appearance. There are really only a few manufacturers of these but you will find many websites selling the same products so shop around for the best price before buying.

If you prefer the look and feel of a wooden pet casket, then be sure to ask some specific questions when contacting these companies. Similar to the plastic pet casket manufactures, there aren’t a lot of companies that do this but they are not as widely available as the plastic ones. Be sure to ask:

• Are they available in a variety of sizes and finishes?
• Is there a lining inside the casket? And if so, do I have a choice of what it is? Many customers are comforted to know that there is a soft, elegant final resting place for their pet.
• Are the caskets made here or are they purchased overseas? Be careful of imported wood products. Some are fine but many are made with inferior wood and quick construction and there’s no opportunity for a custom size if needed.
• Can the pet casket be returned if not used? If it’s not an immediate need and you’re not pleased with the look and construction of the pet casket, it should be returnable for a full refund.
• How long does a standard pet casket take to be ready? Many of my customers have an immediate need for a pet casket so having a variety in stock is important for any supplier.
  
  I hope this overview has helped in your decision on how to care for your pet after they have passed. If you have any other question, feel free to contacts us at www.petsweloved.com

Options when a beloved pet is lost

Hi,
My customers often ask me about options in burying their pets. It doesn’t seem like Veterinarians like discussing this topic so the pet owners are often confused about what to do. Typically when a pet passes away, there are 4 general options.

Cremation – a pet owner can choose either a group or an individual cremation. Most people will choose the individual, which will be more expensive, as they want to ensure the ashes are not mixed with those of another pet. Even in a group cremation, the crematory will do what it can to keep the animals ashes separate during the process but may not be able to guarantee it. Don’t hesitate to ask if that’s possible.

Country Burial - This may be called different things in different areas of the country but it’s basically when deceased pets are buried in a mass grave at an approved site. The Veterinarian will usually assist in taking the pet and working with the site owners to pickup the animal. This is a fairly economical option but may not sit well with most folks.

Burial at a Pet Cemetery – Most pet cemeteries I know do a nice job of setting the animal down and maintaining the plot so family and visit. The cemetery will provide burial options including plot size, location and the type of caskets available. A good pet cemetery should take the time to go over all this information and not rush you through the process. Be aware that this is often the most expensive option. Fees for the plot and casket could range from several hundred to several thousand dollars and many pet cemeteries charge annual maintenance fees. You can visit the IAOPCC website (International Association Of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories) for a list of cemeteries in your area that are part of this organization at http://www.iaopc.com/

Home Burial – Probably the most common and least expensive option. Pet owners often choose to keep their pets on their property. Many pets are simply set down wrapped in a favorite blanket or in a home made or purchased pet casket. Be aware that local cities and towns may have regulation against such burial so you may want to check with them first before choosing this option. There are many options in burying at home, providing the greatest level of flexibility in how it’s done. This includes purchasing a wood or plastic pet casket, having a grave marker made, planting a memorial garden, etc. It may be a better option when there are small children in the house as well. They can be more involved in the preparation, ceremony and care of the site. This can often help in the grieving process. There are many options for pet caskets. At http://www.petsweloved.com/, we can help with many of these products.

Don’t hesitate to ask your veterinary to explain the current options when a pet has passed away. They have spent years caring for you pets and they should be just as much help when they pass.

Welcome to my Blog

This is all new to me but it seemed like a great way to talk about my experience with pet loss and to provide information and advice to folks going through this difficult experience. I started Pets We Loved over 4 years ago after my family lost several beloved pets of our own. My wife and I couldn't find products that we thought would pay a fitting tribute to our pets so we decided to start our own business doing just that for folks.

We lost our cat Dusty in 2002 to kidney disease. Dusty was my wife's cat and she loved her very much. When Dusty passed away, my wife asked me to build her a casket so we could keep her on our property. I did and we had a nice ceremony for her. Then, a few months later, my mom's cat "Pumkin" passed on. He was a whopping 22 years old and was my mom's "other" child. Well, she asked me to make another casket for Pumkin so I did. Then, about 8 months later, our other cat "Sammy" passed away from cancer at the age of 15. I again made another pet casket for her to keep her on our property. By then, the caskets had become much more ornate and well made, with a padded satin lining and brass hardware. After that, my family convinced me to start a business offering these type of products.

After4 years I am still amazed at the folks I speak with every day. The love the they feel for their pets is amazing and the grief they go through when a pet is lost is always devastating. Pet loss is a broad subject, covered by many web sites and many counselors. Unless you're a pet lover, it's hard to understand how difficult it can be in losing a beloved pet. It can be as difficult to lose a pet as it is a family member for many people. Some may think we're a bit crazy to love our pets that much but if you're reading this blog, I'm betting you know what I'm taking about. Well, I'll do my best to write often, giving advice and sources for coping with the loss of a pet and information about what services are actually available. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I never new there were services like this available, if I only knew about you 6 months ago..". And if anyone tells you that you're crazy for loving your pets as much as you do, rest assured you are not alone.
Thanks,
Steve - Pets We Loved