We take pride in offering memorials that are crafted by hand from natural materials. We have found a craftsman who uses fashions pet caskets out of real oak and pine, using dovetail construction. Most of the pet caskets you see online are made from plastic and other synthetics. A few even resemble take-out containers - hardly a suitable resting place for a cherished pet.
According to Beth Cook, a licensed social worker, "whether your pet has four legs or two wings, meows or whinnies, you know that your companion has been steadfast and loyal to you. If you are contemplating the decision of having to end his suffering or have
lost her to a sudden or slow death, you know the world may not be very
patient with or understanding of your grief."
Beth Cook offers pet loss counseling in the Chicago area to families who have lost pets. Her site includes a pet loss bibliography.
Free book on explaining pet loss to children: We have a few complimentary copies of A Special Place for Charlee left. After those are gone, you may order one for a nominal shipping fee.
We aren't leaving cat owners out when it comes to memorials that match a pet's personality. We have just begun to offer cat memory boxes inspired by the masterworks of the 20th Century. These wood boxes, which work equally well as memory boxes or urns, feature art tiles based on the works on Chagall, Rousseau, and Van Gogh.
When her beloved Labrador Retriever died, an artist set about crafting by hand an urn that was truly representative of her dog's life. The urn she created shows a yellow Lab in a park, surrounded by bouncing tennis balls. On the inside, she hung a photograph of her dog, along with the dog tags. The urn rests on three posts, instead of four, as a reminder that something is missing from her life.
Over time, she began crafting urns to help other pet owners memorialize their cats and dogs. We are proud to offer these handmade pet urns to our customers. Each of these pet urns has as much personality as any dog, and they all created by hand in the United States. In addition to our collection of her urns for dogs, we offer the opportunity to create a fully custom urn. We will work with you to create a memorial that reflects the character of your four-legged companion.
View our collection of these handcrafted pet memorials>
P.S. Save $10 today by entering the code peturn0807 during the checkout process.
Some pet welfare websites and blogs you might want to read:
The Pet Work Blog
A variety of resources covering everything from canine cancer to gourmet pet treats.
PAWS Chicago
Illinois organization dedicated to animal welfare. Hosts adoption events and runs a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Chicago.
Great Green Pets
Trying to live a greener lifestyle? Get your pets into the act.
You can find more organizations on our resources page.
About.com has advice on taking care of a deceased pet cat's remains. Cremation is a common and convenient method, but burial - at home or in a pet cemetery - remains a popular way to memorialize a cat. There are also unorthodox options, including taxidermy and freeze drying.
Read the full article: http://cats.about.com/od/lossandgrieving/a/handlingremains.htm
Last Sunday, the New York Times reported on the trend of greater spending on pet memorials. More people are thinking of their pets as family members, treating them to gourmet steaks, frozen treats, and luxury bedding. The trend extends to memorial planning. A growing number of pet owners is spending prodigious amounts on cemetery plots and mausoleums that rival those built to honor humans.
Article (registration may be required):
Building a Stairway to Paradise, for Your Beloved Pet
We continue to add to our greener selections, this time with two new biodegradable pet caskets. They are both made from mulberry bark, which is harvested in a manner that allows the tree to remain alive. One features a floral design with real flower petals embedded in the handmade paper. The other uses the natural texture of the bark to give the casket a wood grain look. Both will degrade naturally over time in soil. An optional inner liner, made of hemp, is availble. These new biodegradable pet caskets are a fitting and natural way to say goodbye to any pet.
In response to requests from the families we serve, we added a line of premium pet caskets. We are pleased to announce that we will soon carry a line of fully biodegradable pet caskets. These new pet caskets will allow families that are seeking greener options to honor their pets in a traditional way.
Also coming soon: A new site for sharing stories about your pets. Special Pet Stories will be a place to share the funny and heartwarming stories about your 4-legged family members.
