National Pet Memorial Day ~ Memorialize a Companion Animal
A Different Grief: Helping You and Your Children with Pet Loss
by Marty Tousley, CNS-BC, FT
The lessons in this 24 lesson course are designed both to help you and your family understand and cope with the grief of losing a beloved family member—
your pet. Lessons explain how children of different ages may react to the loss of a beloved family pet, and how they differ from adults in expressing grief. Find useful suggestions to help you talk with children about the sensitive topics of death and euthanasia. Each lesson is delivered to your email inbox on the start date and at the frequency of your choosing. Lessons contain suggested resources such as, online articles, web tools, discussion forum, books and meaningful ways to memorialize your faithful friend.
National Pet Memorial Day
Sunday, September 13, 2009
By Marty Tousley, Grief Counselor
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Is it appropriate for people to memorialize a cherished companion animal?
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Some may think that conducting rituals, funerals or memorial services for dead animals – and setting aside special days to remember them – is a frivolous waste of time and money, and those who engage in such practices must be eccentric and strange.
But the fact is that elaborate funeral arrangements and lasting memorials have been used to honor beloved departed pets for thousands of years. Whether for animals or humans, death ceremonies and rituals help meet our needs to support one another in grief, acknowledge the important role our loved ones played in our lives, honor the memory of our departed companions, and bring meaning to our loss.
The
International Association of Pet Cemeteries
has designated the second Sunday of September as National Pet Memorial Day. As you think about paying tribute to your animal companion on that special day (or a day of your choosing), feel free to summon up your memories – they'll comfort you and help you keep your animal's love and presence in your heart. You can think of what was special about your pet, and reminisce with family members or others who knew your friend. Look over old snapshots. Talk about the funny or silly (or annoying!) habits your pet had. Such reflections will help you plan your own unique ceremony of remembrance, and will help you express and work through your grief as well. You can make a special place in your home, yard or workplace that acknowledges and honors your companion's life – a place where you can go (or be) and remember your lost friend. Don't be afraid to be creative. The
death of your pet
is a natural event and an occasion for the honest expression of your feelings and your values.
National Pet Memorial Day
You can honor your pet's memory in whatever way you find meaningful, and I hope you'll use this space to share with all of us some of the creative and individual ways you plan to celebrate
National Pet Memorial Day this year.
To learn how two very special men (one a beloved movie actor, the other, my own father) chose to remember their beloved dogs, see my article,
Memorializing a Cherished Pet.
Copyright © 2009 Marty Tousley, CNS-BC,
FT,
DCC.
All rights reserved.
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