Life Situations: Pet Loss
Do you remember the day that you brought your pet home for the first time? Its innocent eyes were wide with wonder as it inspected its new surroundings. A bond quickly formed between the two of you and you’ve enjoyed a loving relationship through the years. Now, your pet is older, its time on earth may be nearing the end and you’ll have some important decisions to make. Where do you turn? If your pet is experiencing difficulties or discomfort, make an appointment with your veterinarian or animal clinic as soon as possible. They will be familiar with your pet’s medical history and will be the most knowledgeable source of appropriate treatments. A word of caution: With today’s fast-paced life, many people now take their pets to the local pet superstores for their routine shots. These stores, which are usually located in busy shopping areas, welcome pets to visit with their owners who are shopping for food and supplies. Typically, once a month, a veterinarian from a local clinic or animal shelter provides shots and very brief exams in the store. These convenient services are usually offered at discount rates. While knowledgeable, these pet care professionals may not be familiar with your pet’s medical history. What if euthanasia is recommended?
If your pet’s veterinarian recommends putting your pet down, you are facing a very emotionally-packed decision. When Charley, a 12-year old Shetland Sheepdog was suffering from swelling on his spine, the veterinarian gave his family very little hope for recovery. Although the prognosis was not very good, steroids were one course of action that could be tried. The family’s two sons were devastated because Charley was a member of the family before they were even born. They never knew life without him. The owners authorized the steroid treatment and left their sable and white Sheltie with the veterinarian. The next morning when they called to find out his condition, they were told that there wasn’t any change. Filled with hope, they called every two hours only to hear the same update. The following day, when they called, the veterinarian asked if they wanted her to proceed with the treatment or to authorize her to put Charley down, they said, “Let’s give it another day.” “Let’s give it another day” turned into another three days. Finally the veterinarian called the family and explained that the steroids were not going to work and that the most humane treatment of Charley at this point would be putting the dog to sleep. That’s when the family expressed their final act of love for Charley and permitted the veterinarian to euthanize their beloved pet. The Euthanasia Process When you take your pet to the veterinarian’s office or animal clinic to be put down, you will most likely be greeted with compassion and concern. Often the family and its pet are taken into an exam room where they will be given the
privacy to say their goodbyes. When the family is ready, the veterinarian will return to the room to begin the process. The pet owner will be given the option of remaining with his or her pet or leaving. This is truly a very personal decision. Each person’s coping level is different. For some people, the decision to remain with their pet provides peace of mind and comfort, while for others it can be very distressing. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the injection of drugs is the most rapid and reliable method of performing euthanasia because it can be performed without causing fear or distress in the animal. A dosage of barbiturates is commonly used because they depress the pet’s central nervous first by causing loss of consciousness that leads to deep anesthesia. This state quickly progresses to depression of the respiratory center and then cardiac arrest. Handling the Remains Before the euthanasia process begins, the veterinarian will ask the family how they want the pet’s remains handled. There are three choices: The veterinarian can dispose of the body through a group cremation The family can take the body home for burial in their yard or a pet cemetery The veterinarian can cremate the body separately and return the remains to the family for memorialization.
Each of the three methods has advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to the pet owner to decide which form of disposition is right for his or her individual situation. Group Cremation – The group cremation is the most economical form of disposition and, for some, less emotional. Once the pet is put down, the process is complete. There are no additional decisions to face. However, for many pet owners this option leaves a feeling of emptiness. Is this really how they want to end the relationship they had with their pet? Additionally, grief is a natural part of any loss. By not memorializing their pet, it can hinder the grieving process for some individuals. Burial at Home – In the 1980s television program ALF, the alien life form allowed his ant form to sit on a sunny window ledge causing death to all of the black ants who toiled in the sand. Witnessing the furry characters devastation, the family he lived with suggested that they have a funeral in the back yard for all of the ants. They buried each ant and marked its grave with a popsicle stick. Does this happen only on tv and in the movies? No way! Everyday, there’s a pet owner burying his or her beloved hamster, dog, cat, parrot, ferret or turtle in their yard. Burial at home can also be economical, but there are a few considerations. First some communities do not permit pet burial in the residents’ yards. Local or County ordinances determine whether or not a pet can be buried at home. These laws are set up mainly due to the health hazards caused by other
animals trying to dig them up. It is important to check with your city, borough or township regarding their regulations before burying a pet on private property. Next, what if you move? Your pet’s remains will forever be buried at your former residence. Burial at a Pet Cemetery – According to the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories, of the thousands of pets that die each day, less than 200 are buried in pet cemeteries. There are more than 600 active pet cemeteries in the United States. Recognizing the need pet owners have for proper burial of their pets, an increasing number of human cemeteries are developing a portion of their grounds for pet burials. Pet cemeteries can provide everything pet owners need to properly bury their pets including: Plots, caskets, markers, vases, and flowers. Services are typically individually tailored to the families’ needs. However, each pet cemetery has its own rules and regulations. When Debbie’s cat Winston died at the age of 18, she knew she wanted him buried at a pet cemetery near her Midwest home. When she visited the local pet cemetery, she was distressed to learn that the only size marker allowed measured 44” x 14” and she could have only one emblem of a cat on the tribute. That would never do for Winston as she wrote a poem that she wanted included on the marker along with a snapshot of the feline when it was a mere kitten. The cat was buried at the cemetery and after months of phone calls back and forth, the cemetery relaxed its rules and allowed Debbie to purchase a 32” x 36”
marker that included the verse Debbie wrote along with a color photo of the pet on a ceramic oval that was attached to the marker. Debbie was thrilled. Pet cemeteries offer a variety of different memorial products for ground burial. The latest engraving and etching technology allows granite monuments and flush markers to include highly detailed images of the pets. Bronze memorials can include sculpted portraits of the animals. And, ceramic photos can be included on any type of memorial. Pet cemeteries are not just for burial of the pets. Most pet cemeteries allow for the animals’ cremated remains to be interred in outdoor columbarium units or niches. Burial in a pet cemetery may be more expensive than the other types of disposition, but the advantages may outweigh the costs. The three main benefits include: There will be a permanent tribute celebrating the life of your pet You will always have a place to visit Most pet cemeteries provide after-care services that help families through the grieving process. Individual Cremation – In terms of your veterinary bill, the individual cremation is the most expensive form of disposition; however it gives you the most memorialization options. When a family selects an individual cremation, there are still more decisions to be made including: What type of vessel will hold the cremated remains and where will it be kept?
Urns are available in practically every material imaginable such as wood, bronze, marble, glass and brass. They can be manufactured in virtually any size, style or finish. Some urns are designed with spaces for personalization in the form of emblems or ceramic pictures. The urn can be taken home or placed in a niche at a pet cemetery. Some families prefer to scatter their pets’ remains at a favorite location such as in a park, near a body of water or in the mountains. Before scattering, it is important to find out the local ordinances in the community where you plan to scatter the remains. Summary The loss of a pet can be devastating; however there are many places you can turn for help and support. Start with your pet’s veterinarian. He or she can direct you to places for detailed information. Talk with your local cemetery or memorial park. If they do not have a special section of their property for pet interments, they should be able to direct you to a pet cemetery in your area.