Pet Memorial Peternity Blog

A Holiday Wonderland Pet Cemetery

2009-12-29T13:32:32-08:00

The beautiful, ornate expression of the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons that happens every year in the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in Calabasas, CA is yet another affirmation of the love and appreciation that we have for our pets.

A number of celebrity residents have been laid to rest in the 81-year-old cemetery including Hopalong Cassidy's horse Topper, Petey the dog from "Our Gang," Humphrey Bogart's dog Boots and Charlie Chaplin's cat Scout.

Healing Poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2009-12-16T07:13:50-08:00

Out of the bosom of the Air
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
Even as the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels.

This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Tragic Industry of Nurse Mare Foals

2009-12-08T23:16:19-08:00

I want to bring awareness to "another" tragic practice that is occurring in the horse racing world. The abuse of nurse mare foals.

Nurse mare foals are unfortunate foals born to mares that are bred solely for milk production. Nurse mare farmers use mares of varying breeds but often times the larger breeds, such as drafts, to breed nurse mare foals.

After foaling, the breeders lease the mares out to a farm, usually a farm involved with the horse racing industry. The mares are taken from their biological offspring anywhere between 1 day and 1 week of age. These new mothers then become mothers for more "expensive" foals. Their biological foals are left to die, are killed or are slaughtered due to the level care they require and the costs associated to raise the orphan foals..

Often while the mare is being leased out, the "expensive foals" farm is required to get the mare back in foal. This explains the mixed breeds of these foals and why they're unable to be registered. The farmers will just breed back to whatever is available, even the teaser stallions, it doesn't matter. This creates a vicious, but convenient, cycle for the nurse mare farmers, who make a profit on leasing the mare, and then get the mare bred back for free. This in turn brings in the same money the next year.

Ever heard of pony leather or pony skin? The doomed foals are skinned and their hides are used for high-end leather products. Another profitable perk. It sickens me.

What can you do? Adopt one of these foals, or give time or money to help support horse rescue groups who are working hard to save these foals and rescue them from being slaughtered. Often times these foals make calmer, more relaxed, and bombproof horses. The bond they share with people is usually very strong and unsurpassed. They've lived so much in their short little lives by the time that regular foals are being weaned.

Saving Horses Inc., Dream Equine Therapy Center, and Mountain View Rescue are all doing a great job of making a difference for these foals.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

"Boats" - An Ode to a Water Loving Lab

2009-12-05T03:39:00-08:00

I think this is one of the most unique settings that we've ever seen for a pet headstone. Boats was 16 when he passed recently, but he lived with in the Virgin Islands and spent most of his life aboard his owner's boat.

He was VERY well loved and is terribly missed.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Dogs Do Well by Helping Kids Learn to Read

2009-12-02T00:06:04-08:00

For a dose of inspiration, I love to do posts about the amazing things that animals do. The list of amazing things that dogs can do keeps growing. Recent studies have found that therapy dogs can be instrumental in helping children to learn how to read. D

Dogs are great listeners who don’t react negatively if kids stumble over words or struggle to read a page. The presence of a calm therapy dog can help a child who is afraid of reading out loud. Children may be encouraged or inspired to read to a dog because the dog listens with no judgment, and the kids feel like they're bonding with the dog instead of simply learning to do something they've been struggling with.

Owners of therapy dogs report that their animals instinctively know to be calm around certain groups of people, such as children or the elderly. Therapy dogs have also been paired with children with disabilities and the elderly or ill, serving a variety of useful purposes. Dogs have been shown to have a calming effect, help people to live longer, and provide people with a sense of security and companionship.

The OCSPCA (Orange County, CA SPCA) has a great program called the Canine Literacy Project which was designed to reduce childrens’ anxieties of reading out loud. Special training classes and certification exist to train therapy dogs of all shapes and sizes. Unlike seeing eye dogs, there are no specific breed requirements for being a therapy dog. Any dog that has the necessary temperament, character and ability to pass the tests can become a therapy dog.

Training a therapy dog can also be one of the greatest bonds a dog can form with their owner. Therapy dogs and their owners have to completely trust each other as they go into new and different environments. The owner and human do helpful and healing work together, strengthening the bond between them even more then the standard bond between a dog and their owner.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Suggestions for Coping with Pet Loss & Pet Grieving

2009-11-30T07:40:47-08:00

It has been said that experience is not what happens to you, but rather what you do with what happens to you. So it is with grief. Now that this death has happened to you, you must decide what you can do with your grief. Coping with grief is not a passive process; it involves many courses of action. For example, you can begin with these:

Know that you're not losing your mind; you are grieving.
Believe that you will return to your normal level of functioning.
Give yourself permission to operate at half speed right now.
Be patient with yourself; grief takes time.
Read some accounts by other grievers, to assure you that your reactions are normal.
Slow down if your thoughts are racing and you feel as if you're running from one task to the next.
Keep in mind that it will all get done, and not everything must be done today. Make a list, then prioritize it.
Put off whatever big decisions you can, until you can think clearly and until you can adjust to a new and different life.
Deal with one concern at a time.

Excerpted from Finding Your Way through Grief: A Guide for the First Year, by Marty Tousley
*Marty Tousley is a hospice bereavement counselor who specializes in pet loss & writes about various aspects of grief.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Pet Loss Expert Tips for Getting Through the Holidays

2009-11-27T10:35:05-08:00

The holidays can be a very difficult time for reliving losses and reflecting back on our beloved pets who are no longer with us. The holidays stir up old happy memories which can be very hard to face.

Here are some pet loss tips that I've shared with others in the past that have proven to be very helpful.

Be sure to spend the holiday with loved ones with you whom you can be yourself. It's best not to be alone but it's also important to be able to cry or sit quietly if necessary.
Choose the book that's helped you through your pet grieving process most and write a dedication in the inside cover to your pet. Donate the book to your library.
Instead of pushing aside the painful emotions you may be feeling stuck in, try allowing yourself to acknowledge the way you feel. Minimize your difficult feelings and their power over you by expressing them. Write a letter from the heart to your pet, telling him all the things you miss about him and how grateful you are for all the memories and friendship that he so generously gave. You can even post your pet memorial on the internet if you'd like to.
During your holiday meal, place a special candle on your table and light it in memory of your pet. She will be with you in spirit and will still be included in your holiday celebration.
Volunteer at an animal rescue or shelter. It always lifts our spirits when we're grieving to take the focus off of ourselves and give to others who are in need.

May your holiday season be filled with love, joy and moments of silence where you can again find peace in your heart.

Lovingly,

Colleen

Ode to Man's Best Friend

2009-11-15T08:44:33-08:00

With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."

~Gene Hill

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

2009-11-05T13:09:53-08:00

We're right in the middle of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, November 1–7. Use this week to celebrate everyone who cares for shelter animals and who also work to make a difference in the number of pets who are adopted from shelters.

In 1996 the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) launched this week of appreciation to create a time for us to honor the 4,000 animal shelters across the United States who rescue and shelter an estimated 6 to 8 million homeless animals annually.

63 percent of American households include pets, but only 10% of dogs and 18% of cats are adopted from animal shelters.

There is no better time than now to get acquainted with one of your local shelters. Visit a shelter and talk to them about how you can support homeless animals in your community. You can volunteer your time, become a spay/neuter advocate, or open your heart to give a shelter pet a forever home.

For more ideas on how to celebrate and help, visit The Humane Society or AnimalSheltering.org.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen

Luxury Doggie Dinnerware - A Dickie and a Wine Glass?

2009-10-22T10:57:45-07:00

Does your dog eat at the dinner table with you? Well, if so, these items are MUST-HAVES.

Designed by Alice Wang this dinner set - collared shirt dickie, dinner plate and glass are perfect for your spoiled pooch!

Please note that Alice does not promote giving your dogs wine at the dinner table, but she does promote spoiling them rotten!

She also designed this clever leash. Hand-in-hand.

In love & respect for all creatures,

Colleen