HONORING OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS LIVES WITH LOVE

“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.” ~Winnie the Pooh

     I believe anyone who has ever loved a pet has felt this way! If only their life span was as long as ours. This short story resonated with me explaining why our fur friend’s lives are in fact so short.  It is from a young boy in a story I read recently. He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life—like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t need to stay as long.”

     In my book “Furry Philosophy and Memoirs  Set in Stone” one thing I mention is that,  “Making memory stone, glass art, that can include the ashes or fur, fused inside, of our beloved pets and family allows me to hear the best true stories of their lives. I am privileged to hear these amazing, heartfelt stories that help strengthen my belief that our pets are ALWAYS with us. I hear, time after time, accounts of unexplained magical happenings that confirm, when they pass, our fur friends stay close by, as angels by our side!”  That is my favorite part of what I do, is hearing those stories! Although feeling the sadness that people feel right after losing a pet can break my heart. Sadly I also hear a lot of “I wish I had done this before my pet died ….”

     We do not ever want to think about losing our best friends, our true, pure, unconditional love. On the other hand we can’t burry our heads in the sand and not know that it is a fact. That being said, I want to share some of the, “I wish I had done this or done that’s” from others who have lost, including myself, so that you don’t have to say,” I wish I had …”

     One of the most common, “I wish I had’s” I personally have experienced and want to share to help others who have multiple pet’s in the household. When my dear Kashmir went to the rainbow bridge, I took her to the vet to be euthanized and cremated. My other dog Cheyenne, just saw her leave in the car and never return. Cheyenne searched for Kashmir for months and kept going to check her favorite spots, it was heartbreaking. On the other hand when Cheyenne made her journey to the rainbow bridge, my wonderful vet came to my house and Odin was able to see and smell Cheyenne’s body. Animals understand death. If they can see and smell their friend’s body they understand. Odin was very sad and grieved, but he did not search and wonder and the process was immensely easier for him than it was for Cheyenne. If you can’t have your vet come to you, I suggest taking your other pets to the vet with you and bring them in after the pet passes or bring the body home before you cremate or bury. This will help your pets understand and not think their brother or sister just disappeared. I do believe grieving is so much easier than ‘wondering.’

      The other wish I hear so much is that people wish they had preserved more memories physical and written. I  hear things, such as, “I wish I had taken a photo of my pet’s eyes, bottom of foot to preserve foot print, saved a lock of fur or written down more memories with photos while my pet was alive.” I suggest honoring life NOW before you are in a life or death decision and too distraught to remember little details. I make myself pendants with Odin’s fur to honor his life now and always take a little of him wherever I go.

     It is not fun to think about our friends no longer being by our side. NOTHING IN THE WORLD is better than having them snuggled next to you full of unconditional love. I think we don’t have to think about them dying, we just have to remember to CELEBRATE their life NOW, every day. We should preserve those memories and little mementos, so one day we don’t have to say, “I wish I would have.”

Here are some photos from my book "Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone" showing special animals and the pieces of art I  made to honor them. 

You can see more at www.memorystonesbyjodi.com