Junior Amanda Degard awoke one day this summer to her mother's explanation that her Rottweiler, Bandit, had died.
"We had him sleep in the basement ... My mother and I went to the basement, and he was in fact dead," she said.
Because the veterinarian's office had the body after the autopsy, Degard's family had no memorial service for Bandit, although she remembers happy memories with her dog, she said.
"When we first got him from the shelter, I was sort of scared of him because he was a Rottweiler. But I soon found out that he was the kindest Rottweiler I have ever met," she said.
Unlike the backyard funerals of our childhood, veterinarian offices and pet bereavement services and crematoriums are an alternative way to memorialize favorite four-legged family members and friends.
Personalized pet memorial statues, paw print impressions and garden services are just a few available options for those who wish to preserve their pet's memory, said Kent Reinhard, co-owner of Pet Rest, Inc., in Montpelier.
"Our biggest service is to be someone who cares. At that point [after a pet's death] actions are louder than words," he said.
Pet Rest begins work with families immediately after the loss and covers all bereavement procedures, including counseling sessions.
Pet Rest doesn't offer burials in coffins because there are not enough requests for them, Reinhard said. However, there is a mausoleum, and cremation services are provided, he said.
Pets can be cremated individually and returned to veterinarians in a complimentary container or with a group of other pets and buried in a serene garden setting, he said.
Each garden is identified with an annual marker, enabling owners to easily locate the site in which their pet rests.
Pet Rest works mainly with veterinarian offices to make sure services run smoothly, but individuals can always call on their own after a pet has died, Reinhard said.
"We had to find a place that would come and transport [Bandit] to our vet, because my stepfather wanted an autopsy done to see why he died," Degard said. "After the autopsy, our doctor determined that there was a hole in Bandit's intestines. It looked like it was a bullet wound, but there was no exit wound."
Although the cremation process may be a simple service, it is sometimes difficult for families to know when to let go of their favorite animal - physically and emotionally.
"People have a lot of trust with their vet. At times of loss pet owners are highly emotional, so having someone they can trust helping them with the process is a big relief," Reinhard said.
At Boyce Animal Hospital in Muncie, Pet Rest picks up euthanized animals and delivers urns about once a week for families to take home, office manager Florence Salvadore said.
Like other veterinarian offices in the Muncie area, Boyce Animal Hospital educates the owner with prognosis and offers grief brochures to make the process a little easier to handle, Salvadore said.
"We try to be compassionate when a pet is literally on its last leg - not eating, poor kidney function, shallow breathing. But ultimately it is a decision the owner has to make," she said.
Sophomore Samantha Knaack's German Shepherd, Tippy, died six years ago, and even though she's not mourning, she thinks about her dog often.
As a result of Tippy's death, her family has discovered an important realization, she said.
"Since we lost Tippy, my family has adopted five dogs and two more cats," she said. "We realized that there were so many animals that needed loving homes, and we had so much love to give. My family's love for animals opened up after Tippy's death."
Resources to contact
MUNCIE VET OFFICES:Boyce Animal Hospital 1505 W. Riggin Road288-1877
Animal Medical Center6501 W. Kilgore Ave.289-2471
Care Animal Hospital3601 N. Nebo Road284-3000
Maplewood Animal Hospital1811 N. Granville Ave.284-3393
MEMORIALS:Pet Rest, Inc.11640 S. 200 E-90Montpelier(317) 631-8228petrestinc.com
F.B. Fogg418 E. Main St.Muncie289-7464fbfogg.com
Union Cemetery Association16301 N. State Road 3NEaton396-3177
SUPPORT:Pet Loss Grief SupportGroup of Indiana(317) 898-1051The group meets from 2 to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month atthe East 38th Street Library at 5420 E. 38th St. Indianapolis
Care Pet Loss Helpline(877) 394-CARE
PET ADOPTION:Muncie Animal Shelter2401 S. Gharkey St.747-4851Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 to 11 a.m., noon to 4 p.m.
Animal Rescue Fund1209 W. Riggin RoadMuncie282-2733Undergoing construction, not accepting new animalsAdoption Hours: Saturdays noon to 2 p.m. or during the week by appointment
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
