PET CEREMONIES

Our precious and much loved pets have an inbuilt knowing of how to fully manouvre their way deeply into our hearts and are more often than not regarded as members of the family.  As someone who has a deep connection with animals, my thoughts are with you if you are soon to say goodbye to or have recently had to say farewell to a much loved pet.

I know that grief experienced by those who have lost a pet can be significant and sometimes overwhelming, particularly if the pet has been the sole source of company for its owner or a fur kid to a couple. As a firm believer that all life is significant, my feeling is that there is a need to formally acknowledge the loss of a pet, whether that be by way of a mini funeral or a memorial service. It provides closure and assists with the grieving process.

This is particularly beneficial if there are children who have loved the pet so that they gain an understanding of the impermanence of life and have the opportunity to grieve in their unique way with the support of those who love them.  

I would be honoured to assist you with creating a meaningful mini funeral service to honour your pet if your pet has an imminent death due to illness and will be buried at home and with a memorial service (including scattering of ashes) if your pet is being/has been cremated.  

A farewell for your pet will give you a special time to reflect on the memories -  the character, the laughs (and more than likely the naughtiness), as well as to honour the incredible sense of sadness that accompanies the loss of a pet.  I am a lover of rituals and will work with you to find the best possible way to honour your pet's life. Your pet will be Farewelled with Love!

If the death of your loved pet is imminent, please make contact with me via phone. For a memorial service when there is more flexibility with timing, please send me through a message via the Contact page.

Here's a little story of an early childhood experience with the death of a bird.......

Always a lover of animals and birds, as a 4 year old I cared for a baby bird overnight that had fallen out of its nest. By morning, it had died. I was distraught and my Mum encouraged me to make it a little coffin which I did out of a cardboard box that had formerly housed a set of salt and pepper shakers. We then buried it in the backyard. I didn't deal with it well and a few hours later dug up the coffin as I was scared of what would happen to the bird, below the earth's surface, all alone, particularly at night time. I had received no explanation on death, just a physical process of dealing with it.  It is always a strong reminder for me that children need the invitation to talk about death, whether it be the death of pets, animals or their loved people.