Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 31, 1993 TAG: 9311030054
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KAREN L. DAVIS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Finding out the diagnosis and making the decision to have her put down was bad enough," Martin said. "Working out the logistics of what to do with her body was almost as traumatic. The vet didn't have a cardboard coffin big enough to put her in, and we wouldn't (couldn't) put her in a trash bag."
Finally, after shopping unsuccessfully for a footlocker to use as a coffin, Martin broke up a luggage set she'd owned for years and buried the dog in a suitcase.
Most pet owners are unprepared for the death of their companion animals, but knowing what burial options are available can help lessen the ordeal, particularly for apartment dwellers and owners of large pets, who may find their choices limited and their needs immediate.
Veterinarians can explain the choices available in your area. Some may arrange for pickup and disposal at a landfill or communal burial site. Some even keep a limited stock of different sizes of wooden or cardboard boxes for pet coffins.
The Roanoke city Department of Public Works will pick up dead animals for disposal if they are put in a bag or box and placed at the curb. Call 981-2225 to arrange a special pickup.
Homeowners usually opt to bury their pets in the back yard, if local laws permit. In Roanoke city and Roanoke County, no ordinances prohibit property owners from doing so.
Typically, people place the pet's remains in a handmade wooden casket, a cardboard carton, a shoebox, a briefcase or a plastic bag for backyard burial.
Merle Muller, owner of Pet Haven Memorial Garden on Shadwell Drive in Hollins, said some people want to give their pet as decent a burial as a human relative would receive, so they request expensive baby caskets.
"A lot of people ask about an airtight, watertight casket for their pet," said Muller, who, in 20 years of operating a pet cemetery has ordered and stocked various products, including headstones, markers and handmade wooden boxes in several sizes.
In response to this demand, Guardian Products Inc. recently began marketing a Pet CasKette. Made of durable, lightweight polyethylene, the new product "consists of two dome-shaped halves that, when sealed together with a special tape, guarantees against any leakage of air or liquids," said Gary Davis, vice president of Guardian Products in Sarasota, Fla.
The Pet CasKette's "butyl-lock sealing system" provides a permanent seal that cannot easily be reopened except by using a chain saw, Davis said.
The high-strength plastic material makes the Pet CasKette sturdy and affordable. It comes in three sizes and costs from $49.95 to $99.95, depending on size. Medium fits dogs up to a German shepherd's size. The largest size fits a Great Dane, Davis said. For ordering information, call (800) 778-PETS.
Muller said she plans to check into the feasibility of stocking the new product at Pet Haven Memorial Garden, which has about 2,000 pets buried on its four acres. Burial plots cost from $100 to $165, depending on size. Pet Haven's number is 362-5386.
Lin Frisbee operates a pet cemetery at Ardreem Farm in Bedford near Smith Mountain Lake. About 35 dogs and cats are buried on the grounds. Frisbee said the 3-year-old cemetery has a trust fund for perpetual maintenance. Although she doesn't handle cremations, Frisbee stocks urns, markers, headstones and pet caskets and offers engraving services. The cost of opening and closing a grave is $160, which includes a one-time maintenance fee. The phone number is 297-5067.
Franklin Animal Hospital in Rocky Mount offers cremation services for pets and containers for the ashes. The phone number is 483-1272.
To many people, a funeral for the family pet might seem a bit eccentric, even bizarre. And when a pet dies, our society does not offer the grieving pet owner much sympathy. There are no social rituals to formalize the grief process.
Psychologists recognize that people who view their pet as an integral part of their lives need the support of family and friends - but rarely get it - when they lose that companion animal.
Grieving over the death of a beloved pet is natural, and may progress through the same stages that occur with any other major loss. Yet, few people know how to comfort someone experiencing the loss of a pet. Most people don't know what to say, so they often mistakenly opt to ignore or minimize a pet owner's grief.
Even if you don't fully understand the loss, it is proper to kindly acknowledge someone's grief and show you care for the person by simply saying, "I'm sorry for the loss of your pet."
For the bereaved pet owner, one way to soften the impact of the loss is to make a donation in the pet's memory to a worthy animal-related cause. And when the time feels right, giving a new pet a good home is a healthy way to honor the past pet's memory and fill the need for a companion animal in the household.
by CNB