{"id":51,"date":"2016-03-08T06:54:41","date_gmt":"2016-03-08T06:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/?p=51"},"modified":"2016-03-13T21:37:50","modified_gmt":"2016-03-13T21:37:50","slug":"pet-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/pet-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"our<\/p>\n

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Losing a beloved pet is a devastating experience. Here you will find resources to support you during these difficult days.<\/p>\n

This is a good time to gather friends and family for a ceremony to honour the life of your pet.<\/p>\n

A ceremony is appropriate at any time.\u00a0 You can plan a memorial or celebration of your pet\u2019s life immediately following the death of your pet or years later.<\/p>\n

For private memorials<\/p>\n

Gather items from your home that belonged to your pet (food bowl, collar, leash, etc\u2026). Also include photos.\u00a0 You can create a small altar that may or may not include your pet\u2019s ashes.<\/p>\n

Make a collage of photos of your pet.<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/p>\n

A ceremony for remembering a beloved dog:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

At the time you would normally walk your dog, go out carrying their leash and go for your habitual walk. Stop at all of your pet\u2019s favourite places to sniff or play.<\/p>\n

You can use the walk time in silent meditation while you ponder about all of the gifts your pet gave you.\u00a0 Perhaps going over memories of when you first met your dog and all of the joyful times you had together. Part of the joy of having a pet are the memories with which they fill our hearts.\u00a0 You will always be able to reminisce about your beloved pet to get you through the challenging times ahead.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you will meet neighbours walking their dogs.\u00a0 This is an opportunity to tell people that your dog has died. If you don\u2019t feel up to it designate one of your companions to tell those you meet walking what has happened.<\/p>\n

When you return home you may ask if anyone would like to share their memories of your beloved pet. Then thank those who walked with you.<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/p>\n

A Pet Memorial<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Preparation:<\/p>\n

Gather those whom you wish to join you in remembering your beloved pet.<\/p>\n

On a small table create a display of items that belonged to your pet or that remind you of your pet. Do include photos and a candle.<\/p>\n

Ceremony:<\/p>\n

After your friends have gathered, light the candle on the table with your pet\u2019s memorabilia.<\/p>\n

\u201cI light this candle in honour of our beloved pet _______ (name) who we hold in our hearts this day.\u201d<\/p>\n

May the flame remind us of the warmth and love that was given and received by _______ (pet).\u00a0 May this light help guide our pet to a place of peace.\u00a0 May this flame give us strength as we remember _______ (pet) today.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We are gathered today to honour the life of _____________ (pet\u2019s name), special friend of _____________ (care giver of pet). They have been special companions for many years.<\/p>\n

Until we are lucky enough to have a pet enter our lives we perhaps don\u2019t understand the depth of feeling that we can have towards and animal. We were all fortunate that we knew and loved ______. (pet)<\/p>\n

Today is a sad day.\u00a0 Life will simply not be the same without the presence of ________. However we are also gathered to celebrate our memories of ______.\u00a0 Let us take a few minutes to share our memories of ________. The memory you share could be something you particularly appreciated about ______ or something you learned from them. Perhaps a special time you spend with _______.<\/p>\n

(Allow time here for people to speak.)<\/p>\n

In death we are reminded of the circle of life. Intellectually and emotionally it is hard to come to terms with death and loss. _____ has finished their walk with us but we will always hold our memories of ______ in our hearts.<\/p>\n

Let us take a few minutes to bless (or acknowledge) ____\u2019s belongings:<\/p>\n

(Pick up other belongings \u2013 recall _______ with joy with which ________ used the items. Saying \u2026 ) \u00a0\u00a0________\u2019s (Pet) enthusiasm cheered up everyone we met. Or remember how much ____ enjoyed their food (if blessing food bowl). Recall how much ______ loved to play. (If acknowledging pet\u2019s toys)<\/p>\n

As we think about cherished _____ (pet) let us remember that their spirit has gone over the rainbow bridge either to be in nature or heaven. (Choose the place depending on your beliefs).<\/p>\n

Reading or poetry<\/p>\n

(You can share a poem you have written about your pet or choose one of these\u2026)<\/p>\n

All Things Bright and Beautiful<\/strong><\/p>\n

All things bright and beautiful,
\nAll creatures great and small,
\nAll things wise and wonderful,
\nThe Lord God made them all.<\/p>\n

Each little flower that opens,
\nEach little bird that sings,
\nHe made their glowing colors,
\nHe made their tiny wings.<\/p>\n

He gave us eyes to see them,
\nAnd lips that we might tell,
\nHow great is God Almighty,
\nWho has made all things well.
\n-Cecil Frances Alexander<\/p>\n

\"horse\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Separate Lifetimes<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We who choose to surround ourselves
\nwith lives even more temporary than our
\nown, live within a fragile circle;
\neasily and often breached.
\nUnable to accept its awful gaps,
\nwe would still live no other way.
\nWe cherish memory as the only
\ncertain immortality, never fully
\nunderstanding the necessary plan….
\n-Irving Townsend<\/p>\n

\"pet-grave-markers-wp-012-photo.2\"<\/p>\n

Until one has loved an animal,
\na part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
\n-Anatole France<\/p>\n

What we have once enjoyed
\nwe can never lose;
\nAll that we love deeply,
\nbecomes a part of us.
\n-Helen Keller<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/p>\n

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
\nFrom men and women to fill our day;
\nBut when we are certain of sorrow in store
\nWhy do we always arrange for more?
\nBrothers and sisters I bid you beware
\nOf giving your heart to a dog to tear.
\n-Rudyard Kipling<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"pet<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Poem for the Grieving…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
\nI am not there, I do not sleep.
\nI am a thousand winds that blow,
\nI am the diamond glints on snow.
\nI am the sunlight on ripened grain,
\nI am the gentle autumn’s rain.
\nWhen you awaken in the morning’s hush,
\nI am the swift uplifting rush
\nof quiet birds in circled flight.
\nI am the stars that shine at night.
\nDo not stand at my grave and cry,
\nI am not there, I did not die…
\n-Author Unknown<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/p>\n

It came to me that every time I lose a dog
\nthey take a little piece of my heart with them,
\nand every new dog who comes into my life gifts
\nme with a piece of their heart. If I live long
\nenough, all of the components of my heart will
\nbe dog and I will become as generous and as
\nloving as they are.
\n– Anonymous<\/p>\n

The Rainbow Bridge – (Inspired by a Norse legend)<\/p>\n

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
\nIs a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
\nWhere the friends of man and woman do run,
\nWhen their time on earth is over and done.
\nFor here, between this world and the next,
\nIs a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
\nOn this golden land, they wait and they play,
\nTill the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
\nNo more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
\nFor here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
\nTheir limbs are restored, their health renewed,
\nTheir bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
\nThey romp through the grass, without even a care,
\nUntil one day they start, and sniff at the air.
\nAll ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
\nThen all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
\nFor just at that instant, their eyes have met;
\nTogether again, both person and pet.
\nSo they run to each other, these friends from long past,
\nThe time of their parting is over at last.
\nThe sadness they felt while they were apart,
\nHas turned into joy once more in each heart.
\nThey embrace with a love that will last forever,
\nAnd then, side-by-side, they cross over\u2026 together.<\/p>\n

-Steve and Diane Bodofsky<\/em><\/p>\n

\"photo-1437915219556-8c287594737a\"
\n\u201cNot the least hard thing to bear when they go from us,
\nthese quiet friends, is that they carry away with them so
\nmany years of our own lives.\u201d
\n\u2013 John Galsworthy<\/p>\n

\u201cThe risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief.
\nBut the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared
\nthe pain of never risking love.\u201d
\n\u2013 Hilary Stanton Zunin<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/p>\n

“You can shed tears that he is gone,
\nor you can smile because he has lived.
\nYou can close your eyes and pray that he\u2019ll come back,
\nor you can open your eyes and see all he\u2019s left.
\nYour heart can be empty because you can\u2019t see him,
\nor you can be full of the love you shared.
\nYou can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
\nor you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
\nYou can remember him and only that he\u2019s gone,
\nor you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
\nYou can cry and close your mind,
\nbe empty and turn your back,
\nOr you can do what he\u2019d want:
\nsmile, open your eyes, love and go on.”
\n-David Harkins<\/p>\n

Prayer for Animals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals,
\nespecially for animals who are suffering;
\nfor animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated;
\nfor all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against bars;
\nfor any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry;
\nfor all that must be put death.
\nWe entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
\nand for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion
\nand gentle hands and kindly words.
\nMake us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
\nand so to share the blessings of the merciful.<\/p>\n

– Albert Schweitzer<\/p>\n

\"pet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Losing a beloved pet is a devastating experience. Here you will find resources to support you during these difficult days. This is a good time to gather friends and family for a ceremony to honour the life of your … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acknowledging-deaths","category-services-for-pets"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":7,"label":"Acknowledging Deaths"},{"value":10,"label":"Services for Pets"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/our-beloved-pet.jpg",400,235,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Dick Jackson","author_link":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/author\/djackson\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":7,"name":"Acknowledging Deaths","slug":"acknowledging-deaths","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":7,"category_count":5,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Acknowledging Deaths","category_nicename":"acknowledging-deaths","category_parent":0},{"term_id":10,"name":"Services for Pets","slug":"services-for-pets","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":10,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":10,"category_count":2,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Services for Pets","category_nicename":"services-for-pets","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":262,"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions\/262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.unitariancongregation.org\/ceremonies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}