Mourning Your Best Friend

Every morning 7:00 a.m., I let Oliver in from being outside on his nightly prowl. His constant meowing and rubbing against my legs speeds the process of feeding him a can of wet food, freshening his water and topping off the dry food...his heavenly purr lets me know he's content.

Lucky Bear and Tully both lay on the linoleum floor behind me and patiently wait while I empty one scoop of dry food in each metal bowl and split a big can of wet food, mixing it up with the dry. As soon as I turn around, they jump right up, excited to inhale their food.

I now have twenty minutes to enjoy my bowl of shredded wheat and sign-on to Writing.com, my second home. Once I'm finished checking my e-mail and bidding "Good Morning" to my fellow members, I sign-off and the dogs know it is their cue to follow me upstairs to wake my two girls for school. The excitement is too much for the old english sheep dogs, their butts shaking back and forth. I let the dogs jump on the beds and lick the angelic face of each girl.

Morning is such a joyous time in our house, my animals make it extra special, and they love the routine. Routine is the key word, animals thrive on it, they can depend on it...love and trust grows from it. I can't imagine it any different, but I know there will come a day when I will have to say good-bye to my furry friends.

I have experienced the death of four cats and each one left me with great sadness. As time has passed my has heart healed and their memory will forever stay with me. I would much rather mourn the death of a pet, than deny myself the unconditional love, loyalty and companionship they give me.

Many people do not understand the love for an animal, and will say something like "What's wrong with you, it was just a pet!" Your feelings, are YOUR feelings, so take the time to grieve. Don't let anyone tell you how long you are suppose to grieve...only you know when your heart has had enough time to heal.

Everyone deals with death in their own way and some have a more difficult time with it than others. Memorialize your pet in whatever way you feel comfortable. Your tribute to your pet will help you with closure.

What can you do to ease the grieving process? The following list and links will give you some options:

HONOR YOUR PET'S MEMORY

Pray for your pet's passing
Write a story or poem about your pet -- remember the things your pet did that made you
    laugh or smile
Write your feelings in a journal
Have a memorial by yourself or with your family and friends
Bury your pet in a special place
Cremate your pet and find a special place to spread the ashes or keep the ashes in an urn
Create a scrapbook, photo album or collage of your pet
Frame a photo of your pet and hang it on the wall
Save something that belonged to your pet, like a collar, hair clipping
Plant a tree for your pet
Volunteer your time to an animal charity
Volunteer to help bring feral cats to a shelter for shots or donate winter shelter (check your
    local shelter or vet for info. -- see feral links below)
Adopt a feral cat
A new pet could never replace the death of your pet, but in time it may be a solution to
    help bring you some happiness
Make a donation to a charity in your pet's honor
You may want to seek the help of a counselor or a pet loss support group, which are often
    sponsored by local Humane Societies and/or veterinarians. You can find a wonderful
    support group here, on PetLovers.com.


SUPPORT GROUPS:

http://www.bestfriendservices.com/resources
http://www.pet-loss.net/
http://www.lightning-strike.com/main.htm
http://www.petloss.com/
http://www.petvets.com/petloss/


FERAL CATS:

http://www.caws.org/feral.html
http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/wintershelter.htm
http://www.furr-angels.com/feral_cats_adopting.htm
http://www.21cats.org/
http://www.cfainc.org/articles/feral-cats.html


CREMATION:

http://www.bestfriendservices.com/resources
http://www.petboxes.com/
http://www.foreverpets.com/
http://www.urn-pet.com/
http://www.evrmemories.com/


FREEZE-DRY PRESERVATION:

http://www.pet-animalpreservation.com/whyhow.htm
http://showcase.netins.net/web/helling/at/petp.htm
http://www.goodshepherdpet.com/
http://www.pennswoods.net/~calagan/index.htm
http://showcase.netins.net/web/helling/at/center.htm


PLAQUES, NAMEPLATES & GARDEN ROCKS:

http://www.plaquesandmore.com/
http://www.4everinmyheart.com/
http://www.oldworldstones.com/OrderNow.htm
http://www.efdesignstudio.com/petmemorials.htm
http://www.plaquemaker.com/Memorial_Plaques.html



PHOTO FRAMES & PORTRAITS:

http://www.photopetgifts.com/pet_links.html
http://www.petsandportraits.co.uk/
http://www.picturedpetz.com/photo_brag_books.htm
http://www.petsinpastel.com/main.htm
http://www.woofwoofmeow.com/3_D_frames.html


SCRAPBOOK IDEAS & ACCESSORIES:

http://www.scrapbook.com/
http://www.gooddogexpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=...
http://www.scrapbooking-information.com/
http://www.gotfamiliesonline.com/scrapbook/scrapbook-paper/layout-pet-scrapbook....
http://www.scrapbooksites.com/links.asp?cat=70




"If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth."

~Chief Seattle of the Suwamish Tribe, letter to President Franklin Pierce



"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."

~From a headstone in Ireland




Important: Please consult your own vet, pet professional or check your local shelter for information before using any advice.

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