Archives for: October 2010, 05

10/05/10

Permalink 09:22:09 am, Categories: Pets , Tags: pet memorials

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/pet-memorials-celebrate-the-life-and-death-of-our-beloved-pets-p-1176.html

Most of us have probably determined the age of our pets in "human" years, correct? When it comes to dogs no one formulation for a dog to human age conversion is scientifically agreed upon, and in fact the seven years to one human year is a myth. Age may differ from breed to breed, and essentially the average life span of the North American or European dog is around 12.8 years of age. For the past century there has been a rise in life span to most of our animal friends, from cats and dogs to rabbits, birds or even horses, thanks to improved veterinary care and more nutritious foods. Unfortunately, as our pet grows older they get closer to dying.

According to Fred Rogers, the famous author of "When a Pet Dies", the hardest part of losing a pet is dealing with the death. This is so relevant to children who matured with their pets. He implies discussing memories about the pet by holding pet memorials.

Here are some incredible facts, An African Gray parrot can reach the maximum age of 50 years, while a year in each horse's age is equivalent to three human years thus a 26 year old horse is as old as 78 year old human. The average lifetime of rabbits is suggested to be ten years. If changed into human years, a rabbit that is currently ten years old is similar to human who is already 75 years old. There is an easy way to do the computation yourself for your own pets at www.onlineconversion.com/dogyears.

It is in each one of us the wish that our pets can live longer than what is anticipated. The life expectancy of any specific dog or cat is determined by the stresses in its everyday life consisting of what it eats and physical and psychological stresses. The reason why larger dogs live shorter than scaled-down dogs is the fact that the huge bodies of these dogs undergo more stress than the bodies of smaller dogs. Medium dogs reportedly live to be between 11 to 14, while very huge breeds survive only 8 to 12 years. Smaller dogs can live up to 22 years. More compact breeds such take pleasure in a life expectancy of about 14.8 years of age, and yet many live to be 18 or older while a larger breed such as a Labrador Retriever might live typically 12.6 years. Normally, there will usually be an exception, of Labradors living longer than expected.

Most canines reach full growth and sexually maturation at about the age of one, although some dogs might still need to fill out, just like a teen. A two year old dog is equivalent to about another three to eight years in terms of physical and mental readiness. Each year following that is equal to four to five human years.

Cats, or felines go through puberty during a period of about 18 to 24 months, rather than 21 years as it is for people. One human year is equal to 16 cat years and the pursuing calendar year is now equivalent to 5 to 7 feline years. Then you can add about four cat years for each calendar year of the cat's life – a four to one proportion. So a ten year old feline would 40 in cat years.

It is so important to take good care of any animal, as they get older, making it comfortable as it approaches death. For instance, you will know his days are numbered if other pets begin to ignore or snap at the senior dog, when or when it halts eating, becomes incontinent or breathing becomes difficult.

When a pet passes away, a parent should permit their children to bid their pets good bye. As a family, choose an urn for cremation, or a coffin and a plot marker for burial. If you want to write and share your pet tales or buy pet urns and pet memorials, you can always search for that on the web.

Family members can also help the memories live on permanently in your heart by purchasing pet memorials at www.petmemorialsfromtheheart.com -- for commemorative art from Denice Lewis' Loving Hearts pet memorial collection. The piece usually begins as an authentic painting by Denice Lewis. Next a limited edition of 100 gallery-wrapped, museum quality gicleee prints are produced. Lewis will allow you to talk about your pet while incorporating your pet's remains on the last layer of the Loving Heart pet memorial art piece.

Permalink 09:11:34 am, Categories: Pets , Tags: pet memorial

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/pet-memorial-p-1175.html

Maybe you have thought of the way you would memorialize your beloved pet that just died? What type of pet memorial will be fitting, do honor to the lifetime of our pet while helping us moving forward?

For a few people, something simple is enough--perhaps a simple backyard burial. But for others, this is not quite enough to help them say goodbye; after all, that pet was part of the family. For some individuals, cremation can be a good option and you may place their ashes in an urn after. However, when the urn is kept, it might simply be the reminder of the pet's death, bringing additional sorrow.

Many people select a more elaborate sort of ceremony as a means of processing the grief and memorializing their pets-something akin to a funeral or memorial service. In some instances, the pet's cremains or ashes are dispersed to the wind, sometimes in a favorite play area or a sentimental place. This sort of pet memorial tribute really can benefit certain kinds of people, who'd be okay with the memory of such a ceremony. However, for some folks, memorials like these aren't enough for it when it's over, a memory is but one thing that's left and they'll still suffer from the grief.

There are a few people, however, who find more creative approaches to honor their pets, finding a sense of healing in the process. A way to make this possible is including a few of the pet's remains within the art piece. This art creates a sort of center point where any pet couldn't be gone forever to a pet owner and speaks more of life and inspiration rather that of death. For some, this is therapy for their condition. Sometimes the artwork could be a piece o fur or a few of the ashes encased in a locket or an item of jewelry that can be worn. Sometimes the artwork can be a display box of sentimental items-a clipping of fur, a favourite toy, a picture, etc.

One artist finds a far more creative option to memorialize a pet-by including the cremated remains in a painting. For this purpose, this artist brought this concept possible as she created the Loving Hearts Tribute Series as a way to process her grief of losing her pet. From original heart-themed paintings,a fixed number of museum quality giclee prints are created for each. With the pet's ashes for the contents, the artist uses these to hand-finish the piece of art. In this way, the remains actually become part of an original piece of art, something that would work for display, and something that speaks of life and love instead of death. This creative collection of pet memorial honors the love and joy that pet brought in life, and it can be very healing for the owner as well.

Permalink 08:58:17 am, Categories: Pets , Tags: pet memorial gifts

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/pet-memorial-gifts-p-1174.html

If you've ever had a friend who has been close to a pet, and who had a tough time getting over the loss when that pet died, you know that deciding on a proper condolence can be a challenge. It could feel odd because although it is a pet who died, not a person, it can still feel to the owner just like a member of the family was lost. A simple memorial could look like an understatement, while something more elaborate might be excessive. What pet memorial gifts can truly express your sympathy for your own friend, serving as being an agent of comfort and healing than a simple reminder of one's pet's death?

The following are few of the typical ideas for pet memorial gifts:

1. A sympathy card. This is an excellent choice for somebody who doesn't do well with pomp and ceremony, but it may well not express your true feelings for your friend. Cards can feel trite, and are easily lost or forgotten.

2.Flowers. One other way of showing your sympathy to your own friend is sending flowers as though you're honoring a member of family who just passed away; keep in mind the after these flowers die, so does the memorial. It might not be good to send or give something that'll weary or something that reminds your friend the death that might cause more grief to him/her.

3.A donation that has a worthy cause or charity in honor of the pet. For instance, in the event like an animal shelter rescued a pet initially, making a donation to the shelter that your friend got his/her friend can be quite a good option. Also, if the pet died of a disease, a donation intended to research for a cure will probably be appropriate. This will be a good gift for your friend if they're the right sort of person, but may not help much with all the current grief if your friend is the kind who requires a visual connection.

If you prefer to get more creative about pet memorial gifts, however, there is another option-one that can be the connection point for your friend, do honor to the pet, and help bring healing at one time. Such things cremation urns and grave markers merely point out the loss, however, an item of art could speak life and inspiration. So why wouldn't you include a portion of the pet's remains in a masterpiece of design?

One artist is doing this by creating a series of original heart-themed paintings, called the Loving Hearts Tribute Series. One hundred limited-edition giclee prints are made from each original piece; then that selected piece is hand-finished by the artist with a final coat containing the ashes of the pet. In a manner of speaking, the remains of the pet will become a part of the art tribute to its life and love; keep on bringing joy after its life. Artwork could be among the most creative pet memorial gifts that can be found and could offer your friend an indication while serving as a centerpiece in the process of recovery.

Permalink 08:45:57 am, Categories: Pets , Tags: bird memorials

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/bird-memorials-p-1173.html

Whoever has owned a bird can probably verify the reality that a bird is as special to its owner as a cat or a dog-so when that bird becomes deceased, it may bring the same amount of grief as losing someone you care about. As of similar memorial as death of a person, many people think a pet couldn't be worth having one. Though there are many who thinks it's the same, people say a pet's death needs to be processed in much the same. This is the reason why some pet owners tend to give honor to their feathered friends with bird memorials. For these people, it is a means of bidding goodbye, coping the pain, and moving forward.

Out of the different methods how you can memorialize a pet bird, it all still falls on the owner's decision. For many, a simple burial works okay; for other people, cremation can be an option, with the ashes either put in an urn or scattered. For other owners still, the most wonderful thing could very well be some type of a visual focal point like a form of jewelry by incorporating feathers on it or probably just placing those in a locket.

But for many people, none of those bird memorials truly process their feelings. The grief remains. For these individuals, something a bit more creative may be needed.

One artist created a thought while processing her very own grief over the losing of a pet. She got the notion that integrating the pet's remains in a work of inspirational art might be helpful-and in fact it made her feel better. She considered that others could feel similarly, and thus she created a set of limited-edition heart themed prints on canvas, using the final coat of cremated remains, fur or feathers of the lost pet personally hand-finished- the Loving Hearts Tribute Series. And in fact, these specialized paintings have helped others process the grief.

An inspirational remembrance of life, love and joy is exactly what this artwork is about and not simply a public display nor a reminder of death and loss. The method works as well for birds the way it does for cats or dogs; whenever a bird passes away, the master can incorporate either the ashes or feathers in one of these brilliant works of art, creating what might be probably the most meaningful of bird memorials. Therefore, for people who find themselves fine or otherwise fine with simple burials or perhaps want something more - the best solution help someone bid goodbye to their dear feathered friend could be the Loving Hearts Tribute Series.

Permalink 08:33:01 am, Categories: Pets , Tags: cat memorials

Link: http://www.billboardmama.com/cat-memorials-p-1172.html

Some people view cats as aloof and independent, but for those of us who've owned one, we know they could be in the same way loving and affectionate as dogs. The bond between a cat with its owner can be in a way that losing that feline friend can be as painful as the death of someone close. At a love one's death, we are reminded of how a gift of life is worth-particularly the life of a pet-and somehow, some of us may wish to give honor to show our appreciation for that happiness your pet cat brought you. Ideas of cat memorials are defined below:

*A pet graveside ceremony. This may include anything that brings meaning to those who're saying good-bye-there won't be any rules. For some, this kind of memorial can be enough, but for others, it would not justify the loss and the gratitude they feel.

* Pet cremation. With a simple ceremony, put it in an urn or scatter in a special place; you can do any of these using a cat's cremains. For a few, this brings more meaning than simple burial yet for many, this is just a reminder of what's lost.

*A Customized Jewelry. One might not consider jewelry among the variety of cat memorials, but some people choose to put a portion of fur or ashes in a locket, or even to incorporate a portion of the ash in a piece of glass jewelry. For many, this can be a focus of healing, allowing them to carry a visual memory of their special friend; however for others, again, it would increase grief.

*A box of memories. This box is as simple as a small chest filled up with sentimental reminders, or might be created for display containing the pet's favorite toy or perhaps a clipping of fur. Some might find this helpful, but others may feel it is just extending the grieving process.

Another creative way of give memorials for your pet cat is including its remains in some of artwork. This is the reason the right type of artwork can bring joy and inspiration reminding us of life while some other visual focal points point out death. Quite literally, one artist has had this for real through creating a series of limited-edition heart-themed prints personally made to convey tribute for your pets. The cat's ashes or fur is exactly what the artist needs to final coat the hand-finished print making each element a true original. The print is discreet and suitable for public display because of its museum-quality giclee print. For many people, this kind of action may be the best choice among the options for cat memorials, since it can serve as an expression of gratitude for that life of that special friend-helping heal the grief along the way.

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