When that final day comes. Do you...
Discussion
Its interesting reading this. I live in a very dog-froendly part of the city and a surprisingly large numers of people have ashes. On my street in various homes are the ashes of tow shar Peis,six wolfhounds,five bull mastiffs,and a couple of Great Denes.
I am beginning to think I am a freak for havingnno ahses of my dogs
I am beginning to think I am a freak for havingnno ahses of my dogs
Ours always will come back home and are each buried in their favourite place in the garden, or in a place in the garden that I think they would have liked (Slippy was a house rabbit who hated the outside, so he's under the red rose by the bird feeder, so he can have the dropped peanuts, which he loved to eat).
We had our first dog put down at home and we buried him under an oak tree. Most of our cats unfortunately were returned to us dead after being run over and were buried along side the dog. One we had put down at the vets and I had him cremated and got the ashes back and buried him in the garden.
Our last dog we lost during an anesthetic and he was cremated individually and returned to us to be buried under a Maple tree. He has since been joined by 2 rabbits and 2 guinea pigs.
Our last dog we lost during an anesthetic and he was cremated individually and returned to us to be buried under a Maple tree. He has since been joined by 2 rabbits and 2 guinea pigs.
Edited by grass widow on Saturday 22 September 00:17
Zelda Pinwheel said:
RDMcG said:
Since I have no interest in being memorialized or buried when I die myself,I take a similar view for pets.Cremate me and scatter the ashed.
I grieve when the bad day comes,I hold the dog while it is euthanized and spend a few minutes before leaving. However,I do not collect the ashes or bury it at home. Mind you,burying a Great Dane would not be a trivial exercise.
this, definitely, and SimpoTwo's comments. We've lost 3 cats so far and none of them came home with us from the vet. I actually couldn't bear the thought of their bodies buried in the garden, must be a childhood thing as none of the family cats ever came home either. Cremation yes, but we don't want the ashes back. I don't need the mortal remains to remind me, that's what photos and memories are for.I grieve when the bad day comes,I hold the dog while it is euthanized and spend a few minutes before leaving. However,I do not collect the ashes or bury it at home. Mind you,burying a Great Dane would not be a trivial exercise.
A body is just a body. When I'm gone, just put my remains out with the rubbish! Remember me as the living person, and not a cold gravestone in a graveyard.
I always have the deed done at home so the dog is relaxed and unstressed and in familiar surroundings with those it loves and trusts. I then bury them myself in the garden which gives me some sort of closure. I've had to do this three times where I live now and it doesn't get any easier. I can't imagine just leaving them at the vet. The dog has been a loyal companion for years so at the very least you owe them a decent departure.
Albert Bridge said:
I had my beautiful girl individually cremated at CPC in Cambridge. I went to the actual cremation and was given time with her body before she went through... I then waited a few hours and was able to take her ashes home with me. They are beside my bed and whenever I go away they come with me.
With the greatest respect, you need acceptance and closure to come to terms with grief and loss. It sound to me you have reached either of these.JumboBeef said:
With the greatest respect, you need acceptance and closure to come to terms with grief and loss. It sound to me you have reached either of these.
I am guessing here that you meant to write that I HAVEN'T reached either of those.You are probably right but this is how I am dealing with things and it works for me.
We've lost two dogs so far, both had individual cremations (can't stand the thought of group cremations). We buried Hattie's ashes in the garden 8 years ago, but earlier this year we had to move house and couldn't bare the thought of leaving her behind, so we dug down with the intention of taking the plant and surrounding earth we had put over her ashes. Shocked to say we actually found some of her ashes, and not ashamed to say I scooped up every piece I could see carefully with my bare hands. She's now in a plant pot in the garden. Bryn's ashes are still in the little wooden box they were sent home in. We lost him three years ago now and it's still comforting to know he is around in a sense.
Various guinea pigs, hamsters, fish etc were buried in the garden over the years.
I respect everyone grieves differently but surprised that some people don't ever bring their pets home. For me, the time between losing them and getting them back where they belong at home is agonising. In a heartbreaking way, it's a relief when you get the phone call to say the ashes are ready to be collected. Also, I find a major part of accepting what has happened is receiving them back as ashes, albeit hard to get your head around at first.
Various guinea pigs, hamsters, fish etc were buried in the garden over the years.
I respect everyone grieves differently but surprised that some people don't ever bring their pets home. For me, the time between losing them and getting them back where they belong at home is agonising. In a heartbreaking way, it's a relief when you get the phone call to say the ashes are ready to be collected. Also, I find a major part of accepting what has happened is receiving them back as ashes, albeit hard to get your head around at first.
Albert Bridge said:
JumboBeef said:
With the greatest respect, you need acceptance and closure to come to terms with grief and loss. It sound to me you have reached either of these.
I am guessing here that you meant to write that I HAVEN'T reached either of those.You are probably right but this is how I am dealing with things and it works for me.
The only way to heal is to work through your grief, otherwise you will be forever grieving and that isn't healthy. I have been there, the last time was only 6 months ago.
All the best.
When we lost Zeus, who really lived up to his name as a God; it was sudden, he was 5 years old.
He was very well trained, he would walk with me, never taking his eyes of me, unless he was given the "play" signal, he would swim with me, came to work with me and I loved him more than I can put in to words.
I've only seen my husband cry twice, his fathers death and when we lost Zeus.
The night he died, I stayed with his body, wrapped him up in my favourite snuggle and next day we took him to be cremated.
I know I've said all that before but it sometimes helps just to type.
RIP Zeus and we are looking after your little girl Kira xxx
He was very well trained, he would walk with me, never taking his eyes of me, unless he was given the "play" signal, he would swim with me, came to work with me and I loved him more than I can put in to words.
I've only seen my husband cry twice, his fathers death and when we lost Zeus.
The night he died, I stayed with his body, wrapped him up in my favourite snuggle and next day we took him to be cremated.
I know I've said all that before but it sometimes helps just to type.
RIP Zeus and we are looking after your little girl Kira xxx
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