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How Much Does It Cost to Cremate a Dog?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:11:28 GMT

How Much Does It Cost to Cremate a Dog?

Size and Breed Don’t Matter When It Comes to Saying Goodbye

Losing a cherished companion is already emotionally devastating. Surprise expenses only add to your worries. That’s why Best Friends believes in the importance of transparency during this difficult time. We can’t make the pain of loss go away, but we can do everything in our power to make it easier to bear – and part of that means upfront pricing and simple-to-understand cremation packages.

Do Larger Pets Cost More to Cremate?

You may wonder if the size of your dog affects the cost of cremation. Many other companies charge based on weight, leaving you uncertain about the final bill and potentially adding more stress to your grieving process. What if you don’t know exactly how much your pet weighs? What if you’re surprised by additional fees when you arrive? We believe that you shouldn’t have to deal with such uncertainty while coping with the loss of your beloved companion.

Do dogs cost more to cremate than cats? From the pet crematorium’s standpoint, there is a small difference in the time it takes to cremate a larger animal than a smaller one. What makes a much larger difference is whether the animal is alone in the cremation chamber or not.

That’s why we’ve based our pricing on the type of cremation chosen, focusing on group or private options rather than the size or breed of your furry friend. We understand that every pet holds a special place in your heart, regardless of their physical size. Our goal is to honor their memory without burdening you with unnecessary financial worries.

How Much Does Pet Cremation Cost in Albuquerque?

Best Friends offers three flat-rate pet cremation packages. The price difference comes from the addition of memorial objects and certain value-added services, like home pickup. Cost is not affected by size or weight up to our limit of 200 pounds.

So whether you are cremating a dog, cat, pocket pet, or even a beloved fish, our packages are the same:

Group Cremation:

In the Group Cremation package, multiple pets are present in the cremation chamber. While the ashes are not returned to you, your pet’s memory will be honored through a keepsake fur clipping or paw print, allowing you to hold onto a tangible reminder of your time together. Their ashes will be respectfully scattered at our dedicated pet ossuary.

Private Cremation:

With the Private Cremation package, your pet is the only one in the cremation chamber. You will receive their ashes in your choice of standard urn, with or without basic engraving. You will also receive a fur clipping and ink or sand paw print.

Tribute Cremation:

The Tribute Cremation package offers a comprehensive and deeply personalized experience. It includes the convenience of home pickup, a private viewing to say your final goodbyes, and the delivery of a memorial item. This package also provides you with the option to select a standard urn with various engraving options, as well as a choice of cremation jewelry pendant, allowing you to keep your beloved pet close to your heart.

Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations is here to make saying goodbye to your pet as peaceful as possible. If there’s anything we can do to help you through this difficult time, we want to know. Reach out at 505-345-5615 for more information about our cremation packages, or stop by to visit us at our Albuquerque location at 1001 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite E .

How to Make a Pet Memorial Garden

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:07:38 GMT

How to Make a Pet Memorial Garden

Creating a Beautiful and Peaceful Final Resting Place

When someone you love passes away, having a permanent place to return to can help ease the feelings of grief and loss. This is as true of our pets as our human family members. A gravesite can be decorated as a beautiful physical memorial of their precious memory.

Some people choose to bury their pets or scatter their ashes in dedicated pet cemeteries that they can visit. Others prefer to create a personal memorial at home in the yard or garden. Here are a few tips and ideas for creating a lasting tribute to your beloved companion.

A Memory Garden Can Be Big or Small

If you own your own property, you might have ample space to dedicate to a private pet cemetery. County and municipal laws apply to where and how animal bodies can be buried, but cremation gives you greater flexibility. You could scatter your pet’s ashes in a flower bed or in the shadow of a tree. You could also plant a new rose bush or tree as a living marker at the scattering site.

But a garden plot isn’t your only option for memorializing your pet. If you’re an apartment-dweller, or if you want an option that’s more portable, you could also create a miniature garden in a pot or planter. You can mix cremation ashes in with the soil, or place them in a layer below the soil.

If you do choose to incorporate your pet’s cremated remains into your garden bed or planter, be mindful that they might affect the chemical makeup of your soil. You’ll want to take steps to neutralize the pH and dilute the salt found naturally in cremation ashes. There are commercial soils made for mixing with cremated remains, or you can choose a biodegradable urn designed for this purpose.

Creative Memorial Marker Ideas

In addition to planting a tree or flowers in your pet’s memory, you may also want to mark their final resting place with a personalized memorial marker. There are many commercial options that can be personalized for this purpose, but a homemade marker can be especially meaningful to you. Here are a few creative ideas to consider:

Have your pet’s likeness sculpted. Cremated remains can be held inside the sculpture or mixed in with a medium like cement.
Carve or paint your pet’s name and a special message onto a memorial stone. You could use a paving stone or have a grave marker specially made from slate or limestone.
If you have your pet’s pawprint, you can have it cast in concrete or clay to create a more personalized grave marker. You could also have their nose print engraved into metal or stone.
Wooden grave markers, including sculptures, crosses, and plaques, can be beautiful and blend in with natural surroundings.
For a miniature pet memorial garden, you can also personalize the pot or container that holds the flowers. You could glue their collar around the rim or decoupage photos in a collage around the outside of the planter. You could tuck a small memorial stone or figurine in even the smallest pot to create a completely personalized tiny garden.

The exact design of your memorial garden is less important than how it makes you feel. The ritual of planning and creating a dedicated space for your pet can help you to focus and process your emotions. If you create a space that helps you to connect with their memory, you’ve taken a step closer to healing from the pain of grief.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremation is here to make saying goodbye as peaceful as possible. Call us at 505-345-5615 to schedule service or learn about the memorial jewelry, urns, and keepsakes we offer that can help you to memorialize your pet after they’re gone.

Why Does Losing a Pet Hurt So Much?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:04:22 GMT

Why Does Losing a Pet Hurt So Much?

Understanding the Pain of Grief

Heartache isn’t just a poetic turn of phrase. The emotions of grief can be felt in your body: the tightness in your chest, the throb in your head, the heaviness in your limbs. Losing a beloved animal companion can be a mental, emotional, and physical ordeal, just the same as losing any other family member.

Pet owners often face pressure to hide or downplay their grief when a pet dies. After all, it was just a pet, right? The fact is that pets are so much more than that. They are constant companions, a source of unconditional love, and a comforting presence.

Now that they’re gone, your life has changed, and things can never go back to the way they were. You’ll never make new memories together. You’ll never run your fingers through their fur or plant kisses on their whiskery face.

Of course it hurts! You’ve lost someone irreplaceable, and it’s only natural for your heart to ache with the pain of that loss. And in some cases, there are additional factors that can make the loss of a pet hurt even more.

Love with Nowhere to Go

Grief is part of the admission cost for love. When you’ve spent a pet’s lifetime caring for their every need, you pour your heart into them. They’re dependent on you. They count on you. They reward that care with boundless affection and complete trust. Until, one day, they’re no longer with you.

All that love you gave them doesn’t just disappear because they’ve died. You still feel it and need to express it. This is why mourning, as an outward expression of grief, is so important.

When you memorialize a pet by making art, telling stories, wearing memorial jewelry, scattering their ashes, and so forth, you are directing your love into a new expression of care. This can, ultimately, help you to heal and someday even open your heart to caring for another pet.

Disrupted Routines and Habits

You probably have shaped much of your life and daily routine around your companion’s needs. How do you know it’s time to wake up if she’s not pawing at the door asking for a walk? How do you remember to take your morning medication if he isn’t meowing for his breakfast? Your grocery order doesn’t contain bags of kitty litter and cans of wet food anymore. You call ahead to the hotel to ask if it’s pet-friendly before remembering they won’t come with you on this vacation.

Every change to your lifestyle represents a loss, and each reminder can feel like a fresh heartbreak. When your routines change abruptly, you’re left feeling untethered, with no idea what to do next or how to proceed.

It can take time to change your habits and find a new sense of meaning and purpose. You have to be gentle with yourself during this time, and allow yourself to feel and acknowledge each painful loss as it comes. That’s the only way to work through those feelings and heal.

Feelings of Guilt and Remorse

As your pet’s caretaker, you may be forced to make difficult decisions as you face the end of their life. You might need to decide when it’s time to say goodbye, and that decision is never easy. Perhaps you worry you chose to euthanize them too early, and you could still have had good days together. Or you worry you waited too long, and that they might have suffered.

Sudden loss can leave you reeling with guilt, too. You might play the events over and over in your mind, trying to think of what else you could have done to prevent it or how you could have done better.

Guilt can complicate grief and make it last longer. It piles more negative emotions on top of an already emotional time, and it can hold you back from accepting a loss and beginning to heal. If you’re struggling with these feelings, it’s important that you find someone to talk to who you can help you make peace with your decisions and move on with mourning your pet. A grief counselor, pet loss hotline, or even a trusted friend can give you an outlet for these feelings and help you to work through them.

If you’re facing the loss of a pet, Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations is here for you. We exist to make saying goodbye as peaceful as possible, from performing cremation to helping you memorialize your pet. Visit our Albuquerque location at 1001 Menaul Blvd NE or call 505-345-5615 to speak with a member of our team.

Is It Better to Bury or Cremate Your Pet?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:00:49 GMT

Is It Better to Bury or Cremate Your Pet?

What to Consider Before Making a Decision

The decision of what to do with a beloved pet’s body is a deeply personal one. It’s also not always easy to make in the moment.

When you’re faced with a loss that happens at home, or your vet asks about your preference at the clinic, your mind might go blank. Should you cremate your pet? Should you bury them? If you cremate them, do you want the ashes back? Will you scatter those ashes, bury them, keep them on the mantel or do something else with them? These decisions can leave you feeling blind-sided, and you might not know the best way to proceed.

As a pet cremation service, we can’t tell you what’s the right choice for your fur-family. But we can tell you some reasons why many people find that pet cremation is the better choice than burial for their circumstances:

You Don’t Need a Burial Plot

If you own your own property and the laws in your neighborhood allow it, you can bury your pet in your backyard. For renters and others without access to land, burial requires a plot in a pet cemetery. You need to pay for burial and may be responsible for grave upkeep fees, the same as you would for a human family member. In that case, cremation may be the cheaper option, and it provides greater flexibility.

You Can Take Your Time Choosing a Final Resting Place

Should your beloved pet be laid to rest in your garden? At your childhood home? A park where you played frisbee all the time? The mountain trail where you hiked together? If you choose pet cremation, the answer can be, “All of the above.”

Cremation allows you to lay your pet’s ashes to rest at a location meaningful to you. It also affords you time to keep their ashes nearby while you decide what to do, or even hold onto them permanently. You can always change your mind later, and you’re not locked into a permanent decision the way you would with a burial.

You Can Keep a Part of Them Close

If you are likely to move in the future, you may be distressed at the idea of leaving your beloved companion’s remains behind. If you choose cremation, you can keep all or a portion of the ashes with you and bring them to your next home. You can even choose a piece of pet memorial jewelry or another keepsake for holding their ashes and keeping them close.

Cremation Can Be Much Simpler

When you bury your pet, you need to worry about the logistics of burial. You need to be sure the grave is the correct depth, that you’ve chosen an appropriate container for their body, that there are no electrical or gas lines you could hit, and so forth.

If you’re buying a gravesite at a pet cemetery, you’ll need to make arrangements with the cemetery for the burial plot and casket, and you’ll need to find an available pet cemetery near you that has room. The cemetery may charge more depending on the size of your pet, so you’ll need to account for that in your planning.

When you choose cremation at Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremation, you simply have to choose which cremation package you prefer. We work with flat-rate prices, so you won’t have any surprises when the time comes. We understand that the loss of a pet can be devastating, and we want you to know you’re not alone at this time. If you decide that pet cremation is the right choice for your needs, call us at 505-345-5615 to make arrangements.

Why Do Pets Hide When They’re Sick?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:56:57 GMT

Why Do Pets Hide When They’re Sick?

And How to Know Whether It’s Time to Say Goodbye

It can be nerve-wracking when your fur-baby is seriously ill or feeling the effects of old age. Because they cannot speak to us directly, it’s hard to know for certain how our animal companions are feeling or what’s going through their minds. That uncertainty can lead you to asking yourself a lot of difficult questions.

How do you know that it’s time to say goodbye? Is it normal for your pet to start acting differently toward the end? How can you tell if this is the end, or if it’s just a rough day? What should you be doing to support them?

These aren’t simple questions to answer. But by knowing a little bit about how animals perceive the world, and by working closely with your veterinarian, you can come closer to finding some peace when confronting your companion’s mortality.

Some Pets Seek Solitude at the End of Their Lives…

Have you ever heard someone talking about an old cat or dog wandering off to “find somewhere to die?” It’s true that, sometimes, animals will seek out a hiding place when they’re seriously ill or injured. However, it’s not universal, and their desire for alone time does not necessarily mean that they are dying.

As animals, dogs and cats have carried over some instincts from their untamed ancestors. In the wild, illness and injury can make an animal more vulnerable. The instinct to hide is often one of self-preservation. If your pet is sick, their desire to hide under the bed or behind the couch may simply mean that they aren’t feeling well.

Sometimes, that instinct is engaged when a pet’s body is slowing down and approaching death. But it can also be triggered by pain, fever, and other treatable signs. If you notice your pet seeking solitude or acting more aloof than usual, your best course of action is to contact your veterinarian.

…But Others Prefer Comfort and Company

Because our fur-kids love and trust us, they often turn to us for comfort when they’re feeling sick. Don’t be offended if your pet grows more distant when she’s under the weather, but don’t be alarmed if she gets unusually clingy or needy, either.

Some pets are very stoic. Others are extremely expressive. And some can experience personality changes as they age due to cognitive decline, pain, and other factors. For the most part, it’s best to let your pet be the guide when deciding how to act.

If they want more cuddles and attention, by all means shower them with love and affection. If they’re feeling more irritable and standoffish, you might want to find a different way of providing attention, like offering treats or talking to them in a soothing voice.

Making End-of-Life Planning Decisions for Your Pet

If your pet has been diagnosed with a serious illness or a chronic condition, you’ll need to work closely with your veterinarian to make a plan for identifying disease progression and deciding when it’s time to intervene and consider euthanasia. Your vet knows your pet’s medical history, and you know your pet’s personality and day-to-day life better than anyone. Together, you can identify some signs that your companion’s quality of life may be declining.

Some things you may look out for include:

• Changes in behavior, like sudden clinginess or stoicism

• Hiding or sleeping in unusual places

• More frequent accidents indoors

• Loss of interest in favorite foods and activities

• Pain or loss of mobility

• More “bad” days than good ones

By deciding early on what to look out for, you can save yourself the uncertainty of wondering whether it’s time to put your pet to sleep, and the anguish of worrying that you waited too long.

At Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations, we exist to provide Albuquerque pet parents with as many resources as we can to help make saying goodbye as peaceful as possible. We can help you find an at-home euthanasia service, provide grief resources, and of course can handle every aspect of your pet’s cremation. Call 505-345-5615 with questions and to learn how we can help you in this difficult time.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Adopting a Senior Pet?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:53:04 GMT

What Are the Pros and Cons of Adopting a Senior Pet?

Things to Consider Before Bringing Home a New Furry Friend

When you’re looking to grow your family, a new puppy or kitten is often the first thing that comes to mind. But adopting a senior pet can be very rewarding. Whether you’re looking to add a second companion or are opening your heart to another pet after a loss, consider inviting a senior pet to live out their golden years in your home.

Of course, adding any furry family member is a big decision. Before you commit to adopting an older dog or cat, you’ll want to consider the pros and cons of the decision. You’ll also want to plan ahead for their special needs.

The Benefits of Senior Pet Adoption

Older pets make wonderful companions for many reasons:

• They are more likely to be housebroken or litter box trained.

• They may already know basic obedience commands.

• They tend to be more mellow and less rambunctious.

• They are less prone to destructive chewing and clawing.

One of the best parts of adopting an older animal is that their personality is already established, so you know what to expect. A senior pet may already be acclimated to other animals or have a proven record of getting along with children. You’re not taking a gamble on how they’ll grow up.

There’s also a special feeling that comes with knowing you’re giving an animal a second chance. Many beloved pets end up in shelters when their former parents go through tragic circumstances, like home loss or a death in the family. Being able to give a senior dog or cat another loving home is rewarding.

Animal shelters often run discounts on older pets, including a popular “seniors for seniors” program that matches pets to retirement-age adopters. Since older pets tend to be more mellow, they are often a great match for elderly pet parents who don’t have the energy to train a mischievous pup. And many pets who would be called “seniors” still have many long years of life and love to share.

Some Things to Consider Before Adopting a Senior Pet

Although there are many wonderful benefits to adopting an older pet, there are a few potential concerns to look out for. You’ll need to consider your lifestyle and plan for some accommodations for their needs.

Senior pets are still trainable, but they may be more set in their ways. It will be difficult to change behaviors they have had for years. For example, if a senior cat is not dog-friendly, you may not want to adopt her with the hope that she’ll learn to love your dogs.

Many older animals also have health and mobility issues that arise naturally from aging. Some common age-related issues you’ll want to think about include:

• Hearing and vision loss

• Arthritis and joint problems

• Heart, kidney, and liver disease

• Diabetes and other metabolic issues

• Incontinence or more frequent accidents indoors

Not every elderly pet will develop these problems, but they are common enough that you should be prepared to manage them.

Planning for Your Pet’s End-of-Life Care

An unavoidable truth of pet parenting is that, some day, you will need to say goodbye. When you adopt a senior pet, that farewell may come sooner than you’d like. Your new companion may have many more years of life ahead of them, but it’s still wise to think about what you’ll do when their age catches up to them.

As your pet enters their twilight years, they may require medical interventions for pain control, mobility, dental care, and other needs. Older pets also require more extensive annual blood work and testing, especially before dental cleanings and surgeries. Before adopting a senior pet, you should be prepared to spend a bit more money at the vet than you would for a younger animal.

Best Friends is Here for You When the Time Comes

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations is here to make saying goodbye as peaceful as possible. When the time comes, we’ll be there to help. We partner with Albuquerque veterinarians and can help you find someone to perform an at-home euthanasia.

We can also help you with every aspect of your pet’s cremation, from arranging transport to planning a memorial service. Call us at 505-345-5615 for more information or to make arrangements.

What is Anticipatory Grief?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:48:08 GMT

What is Anticipatory Grief?

Managing the Emotions That Accompany Long Goodbyes

Part of being a pet parent is knowing you will say goodbye too soon. No lifetime ever feels long enough when it comes to a beloved animal companion. Seeing your fur baby grow old and slow down can be painful. Watching them advance through the stages of a terminal disease, knowing you will have to make a choice sooner or later about when to let them go, can be one of the most agonizing parts of pet parenting.

If your dog or cat has been diagnosed with cancer, kidney disease, or another degenerative condition, or if they’re just slowing down with age, you may find yourself caught in a storm of emotions, including sadness, anger, shock, and even resentment.

This experience of grieving before death is called anticipatory grief, and it’s very common and totally natural. You don’t need to hide from these feelings. But understanding what you’re experiencing, and why, can help you manage these emotions and find a path forward to healing.

Grieving a Pet Loss that Hasn’t Happened Yet

When you know that a loss is inevitable, you brace yourself for it. But you can also be gripped by uncertainty. What if the outcome could still change? When will the loss occur? What will it be like after they’re gone? This combination of anxiety and grief is called anticipatory grief, and it can be just as painful, if not more so, as the grief that comes after a loss.

Changes in your pet’s health and behavior can also cause you to grieve for the way things used to be. Caring for an ailing pet is a lifestyle change that disrupts your routine. You may need to feed a special diet, administer medication, limit the duration of morning walks, or clean up after accidents inside the house. Your pet may be moody or less interested in playtime and cuddles. It might be hard to find a qualified pet sitter, making it hard to travel.

It’s completely normal to feel stress or even resentment during this time. Struggling with these changes to your lifestyle doesn’t mean you’ve stopped loving your pet, or that you’re a bad pet parent. It just means that you’re dealing with difficult circumstances, and you need some time and compassion to adjust to this new reality.

Tips for Preparing for the Death of a Pet

There really is no shortcut through grief, whether after a loss or in the period leading up to one. Your heart will heal on its own timeline, and trying to bury your emotions will only cause them to intensify and linger. However, there are some things you can do to make your life a bit easier during the anticipatory period as your pet ages or their condition advances:

1. Enjoy the quality time you have together.

Things may not be the way they used to be, but you can still have good times with your pet as they grow older. Maybe they aren’t as playful as they once were, but they’re happy to curl up next to you on the couch. This could be a great time to take pictures or let them try a special new treat, if your vet says it’s okay.

Resist the urge to distance yourself emotionally from them to avoid pain. Instead, embrace whatever time you have left. Taking the time to build small, happy memories in the last stretch of your pet’s life can help you remember the good times after they’re gone.

2. Take care of yourself.

You’re going through a stressful ordeal right now. Especially if you’re having to deal with complex care needs or struggling with the pressure of making a euthanasia decision. Your emotions are valid, and you deserve compassion and self-care.

Do things that alleviate stress or improve your mood when you can. Be gentle with yourself and get the support you need, whether that’s talking to a friend or reaching out to a grief counselor.

3. Plan for the future.

Part of anticipatory grief is feeling preoccupied with the next steps. You may be anxious about what happens next. The loss of control that comes from uncertain timelines can add to the stress of an impending pet loss.

One way to ease this discomfort is to focus on things that are within your sphere of control. You can work with your veterinarian to set clear guidelines for making a euthanasia decision. You can research your pet’s condition and familiarize yourself with the timeline and symptoms so that you’re prepared. And you can make end-of-life planning decisions ahead of time so you don’t have to rush at the time of goodbye.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations provides pet cremation services and memorials in Albuquerque. We partner with local veterinarians to make your pet’s end-of-life transition simpler and more peaceful, whether you use an in-person clinic or schedule at-home euthanasia services.

If you’re facing the loss of a furry family member and need help planning for what happens next, we’re here for you. We can walk you through your options and will keep your preferences on file for up to six months so everything is ready when the time comes. Call 505-345-5615 to begin making arrangements.

Famous Pet Cemeteries Around the World

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:34:37 GMT

Famous Pet Cemeteries Around the World

Where Pets Are Memorialized Like People

Pets are family. And when they pass away, we memorialize them for the same reason we do our human family members.

Whether their ashes are kept on the mantle, scattered in the garden, or buried in a pet cemetery, laying your pet’s remains to rest is a tribute to them and the lasting bond you share. A permanent memorial or resting place gives you something to visit after they’re gone, and it’s a visible expression of the love and care you feel for them.

Many human cemeteries have space where animals can be buried, and some humans choose to be buried with the ashes of their beloved pets. There are also dedicated pet cemeteries, from small private ossuaries attached to crematoriums to large and elaborate parks with memorial statues. Below are a few of the many famous pet cemeteries around the world that honor the beautiful bond between humans and their four-legged companions.

Berenike Pet Cemetery in Egypt

One of the world’s oldest pet cemeteries is in Berenike, Egypt. Discovered in 2011, it’s estimated to be nearly two thousand years old. It is the permanent resting place of 536 cats, 32 dogs, and several monkeys.

Each animal was buried with care, wrapped in fabric shrouds and buried with mementos like decorated collars and even ancient cat toys. It’s a beautiful reminder that even in ancient times, humans still treated their animal companions like family.

Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in New York

America’s first pet cemetery, Hartsdale Pet Cemetery was built in 1896 when a veterinarian began allowing clients to bury their pets in his apple orchard. Since then, more than 100,000 pets have been laid to rest there, from dogs and cats to birds, gerbils, turtles, and even a lion.

Hartsdale is the only pet cemetery to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are welcome to stroll its lush gardens and see the tributes to beloved pets or plan a pet funeral of their own.

Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in California

Established by a veterinarian in 1928, Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park in Calabasas, California, is where many celebrities have chosen to bury their pets. Alfred Hitchcock, Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, and Rudolf Valentino are just a few famous people whose pets are memorialized in the park.

Some of the animals buried here are celebrities in their own right, like Tawny, the MGM lion. Despite its glamorous residents, all Ventura County pet owners are welcome to lay their pets to rest here and have them memorialized forever.

National War Dog Cemetery in Guam

The National War Dog Cemetery is on a U.S. naval base in Guam’s Apra Harbor. It was established in 1944 to honor the 25 military dogs who lost their lives in service of the Second Battle of Guam.

These heroic canines delivered medical supplies, sniffed out enemy forces, and served as guards for the human forces, helping to save hundreds of lives during the battle. A monument erected in their honor in 1994 became the first official war dog monument in the United States.

Hyde Park Cemetery in England

Hyde Park was never planned as a cemetery, but it became a popular place for Victorian Londoners to lay their pets to rest in the 1880s. The first pet to be buried there was Cherry, a Maltese terrier, who belonged to a friend of the park’s caretaker.

Soon the trend caught on, and 300 pets were buried there before the cemetery closed to new residents. For a fee, visitors can still arrange a private visit to the cemetery to pay respects to the animals memorialized there.

Jindaiji Pet Cemetery in Japan

Jindaiji Pet Cemetery in Chofu City is located in one of the oldest temples near Tokyo, dating back to the 7th century. Pet memorials are a newer feature, introduced within the last fifty years. Still, it says a lot about how much regard the people of Japan have for their pets that they would memorialize them inside a centuries-old holy place.

Inside the temple are corridors of floor-to-ceiling shelves adorned with urns, photographs, flowers, and even offerings of canned pet food for the afterlife. There are also more traditional grave sites outside on the temple grounds.

Laying Your Companion to Rest

Pet cemeteries are a beautiful testament to the power of the human-animal bond. But you don’t need an elaborate memorial to memorialize your pet. Whether you bury their ashes in a grave, scatter them in nature, or keep them close with memorial jewelry or a personalized urn, what’s important is that you honor your pet’s life in a way that feels right to you.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations helps Albuquerque pet parents with every aspect of pet memorialization, from handling the cremation to helping you choose an urn and memorial keepsakes. Call us at 505-345-5615 to learn more, or begin planning your pet’s cremation online.

Five Things to Do with a Pet Paw Print

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:27:43 GMT

Five Things to Do with a Pet Paw Print

Creative Memorial Keepsakes Can Help with Managing Grief

The bonds we make with those we love don’t go away when they die. This is just as true of our pets as any other loved one. Their spirit may be gone, but we feel just as strongly connected to them as when they were by our side.

This is one reason that memorial keepsake items can be helpful for managing grief. Healing from a loss takes time, and there will never be a substitute for your unique furry family member. But physical reminders of your pet can help to ease some of the pain of grief by keeping a link to their memory alive.

Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations offers a variety of pet memorial options for this purpose, from customized urns to memorial jewelry. We also offer ink and sand pawprints with some of our cremation packages.

How Pawprints Can Be Made

An animal’s paw print is just as unique as a person’s fingerprint. It’s their literal mark on the world, and looking at it can be a reminder of the precious memories you’ve shared and the impact they had on your life.

Your vet’s office may volunteer to make a print for you when your pet is euthanized or passes at the clinic. If not, Best Friends can make one for you before we perform the cremation. We offer your choice of an ink print, which is laminated for protection and ready to be framed if you wish, or a sand print, which comes in a decorative box frame.

We can also create a digital paw or nose print that can be engraved on the jewelry, wooden plaques, and bamboo urns that we offer.

If you’d like, you can incorporate the print into a design or craft of your own making as well.

Creative Ways to Use a Paw Print

1– Framed in a Shadow Box

Your pet’s paw print could be framed on its own or as part of a collage of memorial keepsakes. Their collar or tag, a swatch of fur, a favorite toy, and a photograph are all wonderful accompaniments for a print. You can choose colors for the frame that will match your home decor and hang it on the wall or place it on a shelf or mantel alongside your companion’s ashes.

2 – Tattooed on Your Body

Pet paw print tattoos can be a beautiful and permanent reminder of the bond you share. You could place an outline of the paw over your heart. Did your kitty always perch on your knee? Was your parakeet always climbing your shoulder? You can have their prints tattooed there in their honor. You can make the design as simple or complex as you prefer.

3 – Made Into Jewelry

There are many services and companies who will etch a copy of your pet’s paw print into metal so you can wear it as a ring, necklace, bracelet, or other item of memorial jewelry. Cast resin pendants made from a mold of your pet’s paw are another option. Some designs allow you to add your pet’s name, an etching of your own thumb print, or other customizations. We can engrave your pet’s paw or nose print into memorial jewelry that we sell.

4 – Sewn or Printed Onto a Fabric

You could have your pet’s paw print reproduced onto a pillow or blanket to snuggle up with, or even stitched into a plushie. The design can be actual size or enlarged as big as you wish. It can be printed onto fabric, embroidered, or stitched on as a patch. There are near limitless possibilities.

5 – Made Into a Memorial Marker

If your pet’s ashes are buried in the garden, you might wish to leave a memorial stone or other marker bearing their paw print as part of the epitaph. You can also use a personalized memorial marker as a permanent tribute after scattering their ashes. There are also companies that can turn the print into a pocket stone that you can carry with you wherever you go.

Finding Comfort in Memorialization

Many people find the process of making something creative helps with processing the emotions of grief after a loss. Even if you’re not crafty, the process of picking out a place to display the print and choosing a nice frame, or ordering something custom-made, can serve a similar purpose in giving an outlet for your grief.

At Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations, we offer your choice of an ink or sand pawprint with all Tribute and Private cremations . The imprint is taken while your pet is being prepared for cremation so that you will always have a part of them to keep with you.

We can also help with other types of pet memorials, from customized urns to cremation jewelry for their ashes. For more information, or to arrange a pet’s cremation and memorial services, we are here for you at 505-345-5615 .

A Pet is Never “Just” a Pet

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:21:34 GMT

A Pet is Never “Just” a Pet

Pet Grief Can Be Complicated, and That’s Okay

“It’s just a pet.”

There are few things crueler to say to someone grieving the loss of a furry family member. Yet people are often quick to dismiss the pain associated with pet death. Sometimes when we are coping with the loss, we can even internalize that dismissiveness and feel self-conscious or ashamed of our feelings. This only compounds the pain, adding more negative emotions to an already difficult time.

Pets serve a vital role in our lives. They are precious to us. Pets are part of the family.

In some ways, they can be even closer to us than many of the people in our lives. It’s only natural that their loss would affect us deeply.

You Are Grieving a Loyal Companion

Our pets rely on us. We are responsible for every aspect of their care. In return, they supply unconditional love and companionship. The love of a pet is uncomplicated and nonjudgmental.

Some people have especially strong bonds with their pets. The family dog or cat is often the first companion and playmate a child has, and their loss might be a child’s first experience with death. Senior citizens living alone may rely on their beloved pets for company in what might otherwise be a lonely home. Other people turn to their fur babies for emotional support that may be lacking in other areas of life.

Pets often see us through tumultuous times, from divorce and break-ups to moving to a new home, losing touch with old friends, the death of family members, and more. When a pet passes away, you may end up grieving their loss alongside many other losses and milestones that accrued during their life.

This is a natural part of the grieving process, and not a sign of weakness in any way. Quite the contrary. It’s a sign of how much love you have for your pet and the special bond you share.

You’re Also Grieving a Change in Your Lifestyle

Aside from the emotional bond, the loss of a pet can disrupt your life in practical ways that can be disorienting and upsetting. Caring for a fur baby means building your daily routine around their needs. Mealtimes, walks, litter box cleaning, daily snuggle time on the couch – you may be missing all of these and other routines that give structure to your day.

This is one reason that getting another pet can help ease the pain of loss. But getting a new pet isn’t a decision to enter lightly, and you may feel intense grief over your disrupted routine while you adjust.

Whether you choose to get another pet right away or not, you deserve to treat yourself with kindness and acknowledge the difficulty of this transition. A change in routine after losing a pet is disruptive. It’s natural that you may respond by feeling irritable, short-tempered, confused, sad, overwhelmed, or even cycle through these and other emotions. What’s important to remember is that the intensity of these feelings will lessen with time, and you will reach a point where the positive memories outweigh the painful ones.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations is dedicated to helping Albuquerque pet parents say goodbye in the most peaceful way possible. From partnering with mobile vets who provide at-home euthanasia services, to providing multiple cremation packages and memorial services for pets, we are here for you to help in any way we can in your time of loss. Give us a call at 505-345-5615 to arrange pet cremation or learn more about our services.

What Is the Rainbow Bridge?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:17:27 GMT

What Is the Rainbow Bridge?

Talking About the Afterlife and Our Pets

If you’ve spent much time around pet parents online, you may already be familiar with the idea of the Rainbow Bridge. Perhaps you’ve seen someone say, “Muffin crossed the bridge today,” or seen someone express sympathy as, “Play hard at the bridge, Buddy.” Or you might have seen a motif of rainbows and bridges on cards and memorial items and wondered about it. What is the Rainbow Bridge, and what does it have to do with pet loss?

Just This Side of Heaven…

In the early 1990s, a prose poem titled “Rainbow Bridge” became popular on online bulletin boards, where it was frequently posted and re-posted. It describes a mythical location in the afterlife where pets who pass away wait for their humans to join them so they can enter Heaven together.

The authorship of the original poem is debated. Paul C. Dahm, a grief counselor, published a book titled The Rainbow Bridge in 1997, which references the poem and the idea of the Rainbow Bridge. But the idea had been circulating for years before that. Many people credit Edna Clyne-Reky, a Scottish author, as its originator.

As the story goes, she wrote the poem for her son in the 1970s, and he later posted it online without attribution. Several other people have also claimed original authorship, including William Britton, author of Legend of Rainbow Bridge, and Wallace Sife, founder of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement.

The exact origins of “Rainbow Bridge” are less important than the impact it has had on pet parents. Different versions of the poem, including tone in verse written by Steve and Diane Bodofsky, appear across the internet and in vet’s offices worldwide. And the language and imagery of the Rainbow Bridge have become a common shorthand for the experience of grief and pet death.

Does Talking About the Rainbow Bridge Help with Grief?

In some ways, the Rainbow Bridge provides a helpful shared language for talking about a topic that can otherwise feel painful, awkward, and taboo. The mental image of a beautiful meadow where pets are restored to healthy bodies can be very comforting. Motifs of lush grass and bright rainbows can be appealing subjects for memorials.

At the same time, the idea is not for everyone. Just as not everyone has the same views on a human afterlife, not all pet parents will take comfort in the myth of the Rainbow Bridge. Some might embrace it as a metaphor, but others may feel it conflicts with their personal beliefs. There is no wrong way to feel.

The Risk of Euphemism

Whether you believe in a literal afterlife for pets or not, acknowledging the reality of losing a pet is important. This is especially important for young children who may not truly grasp what death means. Children who believe their beloved pet has passed on to another physical place may think that their pet could come back and might feel angry or guilty when that doesn’t happen. When explaining the loss of a pet to a child, you’ll want to use simple and direct language and avoid euphemisms.

For older kids and adults, it’s up to your judgment whether speculating about a real or metaphorical afterlife is helpful or harmful to the grieving process.

For many, it is helpful to feel an ongoing relationship or bond with the pet who has passed away, and thoughts about the afterlife can support that bond. This is also why pet cremation jewelry is so popular. It allows pet parents to keep their companion close after they’re gone.

Other people find a greater sense of closure and peace in scattering ashes and saying goodbye for the last time, allowing a companion to become a memory. These people may find greater peace in creating a memory book or photo album, or in investing their love and energy into a new pet or charitable cause. All of these methods are valid ways of coping with the pain of loss.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations is here to support Albuquerque pet parents through the loss of their furry family members in any way we can. From cremation services to memorial jewelry for pet ashes, we can help you lay your fur baby to rest in a way that will make saying goodbye a little more peaceful. Call us at 505-345-5615 with questions.

How Does At-Home Pet Euthanasia Work?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:12:45 GMT

How Does At-Home Pet Euthanasia Work?

Making Your Pet’s Final Moments More Peaceful

The tragedy of pet ownership is knowing that your furry friend’s lifespan will never be long enough. Though their lives are short, our pets pack a tremendous amount of love and wonderful memories into the time we share. And when they approach the end of their lives, we as pet parents can return that love with a beautiful final gift.

Euthanasia, which literally means “good death,” is an opportunity to control the circumstances of a pet’s passing to make it as peaceful and pain-free as possible. Pets do not understand mortality the same way people do. They cannot comprehend the future or fear death. They live in the moment. And when they are gripped by the inevitable decline of old age, or deteriorating under the strain of chronic or terminal illness, we can give them the gift of a peaceful relief from that suffering.

How Home Euthanasia Can Help Make Goodbye a Little Easier

Traditionally, a pet parent would need to make an appointment at their veterinarian’s office and bring their fur baby to the clinic for euthanasia. Recently, however, mobile vet clinics have made at-home euthanasia an option. This allows a pet to be put to sleep in a comfortable and familiar environment.

Many pet parents find this option easier and more peaceful than saying goodbye at a clinic. Some pets get anxious while traveling, and entering a clinic filled with unfamiliar sights and smells can confuse or frighten them. Pet parents may also appreciate having more time to spend with their companion’s body to say goodbye. Crying in front of strangers at the vet clinic can feel awkward or embarrassing, and having more privacy at home makes the procedure feel more intimate and relaxed.

What to Expect with Home Euthanasia

At-home euthanasia appointments must be scheduled in advance, and appointments can be limited, which means you’ll need to plan for them. You can discuss a euthanasia timeline with your vet to decide when to put your companion to sleep. In general, there will be a window of time where a pet’s quality of life has begun to decline, and there are more bad days than good. Once that period is reached, it’s time to schedule the appointment.

The process of euthanasia is essentially the same whether the procedure is performed at home or the vet’s office. In either case, the veterinarian will first sedate your pet, allowing them to relax and slowly drift into a peaceful sleep. While they are sedated, the vet will place a catheter in your pet’s vein and inject a drug that will painlessly stop their heart.

If the procedure happens at your home, the veterinarian may arrive alone or with an assistant. Most pet parents choose to have their pet lie down on a favorite bed or blanket, which they can then be carried or wrapped in to be taken to the crematorium.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations has partnered with several Albuquerque veterinarians who provide at-home euthanasia services. Whether you choose to have your beloved pet put to sleep at home or at the vet clinic, we can help with putting them to final rest. Our veterinary partners will arrange transportation to the crematorium, or you can bring your pet to us directly. If you have any questions or want to arrange pet cremation , call us at 505-345-5615 .

End-of-Life Planning for Pocket Pets

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:08:36 GMT

End-of-Life Planning for Pocket Pets

What You Should Know Before Your Exotic Pet Grows Old

Small exotics, also called “pocket pets,” may have small bodies, but the love and joy they bring to a pet parent’s life can be huge. Rodents like rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and other small pets like rabbits and ferrets, can be wonderful companions.

From their diet and exercise needs to habitat and enrichment, you’ve likely spent many hours researching the best way to care for your exotic pet. But have you thought ahead to what will happen when it’s time to say goodbye?

Here are a few unique end-of-life planning questions and concerns you’ll want to consider well before your pocket pet reaches their senior years.

Know the Expected Lifespan of Your Small Pet

Some exotic pets, like parrots and turtles, have such long lifespans that they can outlive their owners. Other small pets have very short natural lifespans. Rats and mice tend to live 2–3 years on average. Most small pet species fall between those extremes, with some pocket pets like rabbits and chinchillas living up to 15 years or more.

Before you get any pet, it’s important to do your research to understand the length of the commitment you’ve agreed to. Knowing your pet’s anticipated lifespan will also help you keep an eye out for signs of aging and common end-of-life diseases, so you can make the kind of senior lifestyle accommodations they need to stay comfortable.

Plan for the Most Common Vet Expenses

Old age and health issues go hand in hand. As pets age, their bodies become more vulnerable to metabolic diseases and issues like cancer as well as the general slowing-down that comes with age. With long-lived pets, you may not encounter any serious medical issues until many years into your pet’s life. Shorter-lived pets are more likely to require more intensive veterinary care within a year or two of adoption.

In general, as a pet owner you’ll want to know in advance what health issues are most common, which are most severe, and what serious conditions you should keep an eye on as your companion grows older. You’ll also want to know if there are any special processes involved in your small pet’s end-of-life care and euthanasia. This is where having a veterinarian with experience in exotics is especially valuable, and why you want one who’s recommended by people who care for the type of pet you have.

Once you have a vet you like, you can ask them about the issues you’re most likely to encounter, and how much you can expect to pay for treatment, so you can set money aside accordingly.

Make a Plan for Pet Cremation

People are sometimes surprised to know that there is no minimum size requirement for pet cremation. Even a tiny mouse or hamster can be cremated if you wish, and you have the same options for memorial items as you would for a larger pet.

Because many pocket pets are social and must be kept in groups, you may sometimes face the heartbreaking scenario of several pets growing old and reaching the end of their lives in quick succession. Losing multiple pets in a row can be one of the most heartbreaking things about pocket pets, and that grief is never easy to bear. The financial cost of cremating several pets within weeks or months can make it even tougher.

At Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations, we offer multiple cremation packages to suit the needs of Albuquerque pet parents. Our up-front pricing makes it simple to plan ahead and set money aside, and you can reach out to us to make arrangements for your special circumstance.

We can accept prepayment up to six months in advance, and we may be able to arrange a special group cremation if you have several small pets to cremate at once. Call 505-345-5615 to discuss your specific needs, and we’ll do what we can to make saying goodbye a little simpler

4 Pet Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:04:44 GMT

4 Pet Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

Festivities Can Be Stressful for Furry Family Members

For humans, holidays can be a time for celebration and reconnecting with family. But for our furry family members, holidays are a time of disrupted schedules, strangers at the door, and enticing but forbidden treats. As a pet parent, you can minimize your fur baby’s stress and keep them safe throughout the holiday season by planning ahead. Below are some common concerns and tips for keeping your pet safe throughout the season.

1 – Keep Their Routines as Consistent as Possible

Animals don’t have the same concept of time that we do. They don’t have calendars and don’t understand the concept of holidays. When parties and get-togethers suddenly disrupt their schedules, they don’t understand that it’s a special occasion. They only know that what they’re used to has changed.

You can help your pet feel more secure by keeping their mealtimes consistent and sticking to your usual schedule for walks or playtimes. When guests are over, provide your pet with a quiet room or other space they can hide away from loud noises and strangers. Gate off high-traffic areas, and keep an eye on doors as pets can easily slip outside when guests enter or exit the home.

If you’ll be traveling, you may wish to consider leaving your pet at home with an at-home pet sitter or using a trusted boarding kennel. Air travel in particular can be uncomfortable and even dangerous for pets, especially if you can’t bring them in the cabin with you. Call ahead to the airline to ask about their pet policies, or plan other arrangements well in advance of travel.

2 – Avoid Sharing Any Dangerous Foods and Treats

It’s no surprise that pets love begging for special treats during the holidays. But many popular festive foods can make dogs and cats sick. Some people foods that are toxic to pets include:

Chocolate
Alcohol
Grapes and raisins
Onions and garlic
Foods sweetened with xylitol, like drink powders and some peanut butters
Raw yeast doughs

Cooked bones are brittle and can break, creating a choking hazard. You’ll also want to avoid feeding pets turkey skin, gravy, or drippings, as these high-fat foods can cause diarrhea or a serious condition called pancreatitis.

It’s best to avoid sharing people food with your four-legged friends. Instead, opt for pet treats designed with their dietary needs in mind, or choose durable non-food chew toys to keep them occupied. Cover your trash cans or remove trash from the kitchen right away to prevent any accidental ingestion of forbidden foods.

3 – Watch Out for Dangerous Decorations

Some pets show no interest in holiday decorations. Others can’t resist flashing lights, sparkly tinsel, tasty-smelling candles, poisonous festive plants, and other common pieces of décor. It’s best to hedge on the side of safety and take steps to protect your Christmas tree, menorah, or other holiday decorations from curious critters.

Placing decorations and gifts on a high table or mantel may be sufficient to keep dogs from getting into them. Baby gates or partitions can also be helpful. Pet deterrent spray or citrus essential oil can also help to keep pets away from areas you don’t want them playing near or chewing.

To be on the safe side, you should plan to wrap all power cords – cardboard tubes from wrapping are great for this – and opt for non-breakable ornaments. Avoid leaving candles burning unattended, and consider avoiding poisonous plants like poinsettias and lilies entirely.

4 – Plan for Emergencies

During the holiday season, your usual veterinarian may be unavailable, or the clinic hours might be limited. Check their holiday hours and make plans well in advance to ensure your pet’s immunizations are up-to-date and any prescriptions they take are filled before the clinic closes. Find the nearest emergency vet’s office and save their contact information in your phone. Be sure to write that information down for your pet sitter, too.

Five Common Pet Cremation Questions…

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 02:00:30 GMT

Five Common Pet Cremation Questions…

You’ve Been Afraid to Ask

One of the hardest parts of pet ownership is knowing that, more than likely, you will outlive your furry companions. This means that you may need to lay many pets to rest in a lifetime. But that doesn’t make every fur parent an expert in pet cremation process, and it’s natural to have questions about what to expect when the time comes.

You may feel nervous or awkward about asking some things, but rest assured that any question you have is almost certainly something we’ve heard before, and it’s not strange or morbid to wonder about the process.

Here are a few questions people often wonder about when dealing with the loss of a pet, but don’t always know how to ask.

What Happens if I Don’t Get My Pet Cremated?

The state of New Mexico requires that animal remains be disposed of by burial or cremation, or, in some cases, placed in a landfill. As a pet parent, you have the option of burying your companion if you have access to land for that purpose. However, burial is not always an option, especially if you live in an apartment or rent your home.

If your pet passes away at the vet’s office, the veterinarian will ask you whether they should release your pet’s body back to you or if you’d like them to arrange the cremation. Many vets work with Best Friends and will make arrangements with us for you, or you can contact us directly if you’d prefer.

However, you may wonder what happens to pets whose owners don’t pay for cremation at the vet’s office. That answer depends on the veterinarian. Unclaimed remains are often stored until a group cremation can be performed. The cremated remains might then be scattered or stored. But there are no regulations demanding that pet remains be handled this way, and it’s up to the veterinarian’s discretion to decide what to do. In other words, the only way to know for sure what happens to your pet’s body is to arrange for a private or individual cremation with a service like Best Friends.

What if I Can’t Pick Up My Pet’s Ashes Right Away?

Your pet’s ashes will be available for pick-up within a week in most cases. We’ll be able to provide a more specific estimate when you call us for arrangements. Once the cremated remains are ready, we will contact you to let you know.

But you might wonder, what happens if you’re unable to pick up the ashes right away? Perhaps your work schedule makes the timing difficult, or you get sick and must stay home for a while. If that happens, there’s no need to worry about your companion.

We will hold their remains safely for one year at our facility. If a pet parent does not collect their pet’s remains after a year, we will respectfully scatter them in our pet ossuary.

If you’re concerned about your ability to pick up your pet’s ashes due to scheduling conflicts, transportation, or any other reason, let us know, and we can arrange delivery to your home at an additional cost.

How Do I Know the Ashes I Get Back Are My Pet’s?

At Best Friends, we offer two forms of cremation: group cremation, where multiple bodies are present in the cremation chamber and the commingled ashes are scattered, and private cremation, where only one body is present in the cremation chamber at a time and the ashes are returned to you. If you wish, you may be present for a private viewing before your pet’s cremation. This allows you to say goodbye in person at the facility before the cremation takes place. This helps some people feel more secure.

We take the utmost care to ensure every pet’s remains are handled with dignity. We also keep a steel ID tag with the pet’s remains at every stage of the process to ensure that the ashes can always be identified correctly.

Do I Need a Casket for My Pet’s Cremation?

Some people mistakenly believe that cremated remains contain wood ash or that a body must be placed in a casket to be cremated. In reality, cremation occurs at such a high temperature that all organic material, including wood, would be incinerated. What you receive when you get your pet’s ashes is finely ground bone, which is mainly made up of minerals like calcium. It is the remains of your pet’s bones, and only their bones, that make up cremation ashes.

This means that there is no need for your pet to be cremated in a casket or container. Their body will be placed in the cremation chamber directly. If you wish to deliver your pet to us in a box or basket, you may do so, but you can also bring them to us in their pet carrier or whatever other container is most convenient for you.

After cremation, the ashes will be placed in a cremation urn. We offer a variety of styles, from cardboard scattering tubes designed for short-term storage to ceramic urns, wooden urns, and wearable jewelry that can hold a small amount of cremation remains. You may also provide your own urn or container for ashes to be stored in.

Who Do I Talk to if I Still Have Questions?

You should never feel embarrassed or afraid to ask the pet cremation provider for clarification on anything you don’t understand. We are here to serve you, and it’s important to us that you feel comfortable with your decision to have your companion cremated. Best Friends is always happy to answer questions. Call 505-345-5615 or stop by to visit at 1001 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite E .

Tips for Getting Through the First Days of Grief After a Pet Dies

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:13:48 GMT

Tips for Getting Through the First Days of Grief After a Pet Dies

Moving Forward When the Pain Feels Overwhelming

Someday, this grief will ease, and your memories of them will become bittersweet. But in the first days after the death of a beloved companion, the pain can feel almost unbearable. It hurts just to think about them, but you can’t stop playing back their last days. Every room in your house is filled with reminders. You don’t even have their ashes back yet.

A pet funeral ceremony will help bring you some closure in the upcoming days. But until then, here are a few things you can do to help cope with the loss during that first week.

Acknowledge Your Feelings Without Judgment

Your emotions in this time may be overwhelming. You might struggle with anger, sadness, or guilt. Or, you might feel numb and empty, like you’re moving through a haze. Grief can also cause physical symptoms like headaches, loss of appetite, or insomnia. None of these feelings and experiences are wrong. Don’t worry about how you “should” feel or try to force yourself to feel any particular way. Just accept your emotions and let yourself express them.

Your mind and body are going through an ordeal. You will adjust and heal eventually, but right now it’s as if you’ve just broken a bone. You know how important it is to rest and recover after an injury or illness. Grief from the death of a pet is the same.

If possible, take some time off work. Cancel or reschedule any non-essential commitments. Cut yourself some slack about the housework. Allow yourself to practice self-care: eat something, drink some water, try to sleep, go outside for some fresh air, and cry as much as you need to.

Tell Their Story as Often as You Need

In the days following a loss, especially a traumatic one, you may find yourself playing the event back in your mind over and over. Even if the loss was anticipated, you might feel the urge to talk about your pet a lot. This is a normal and healthy response. For many people, talking about something painful is a way to express that pain and process emotions. It’s part of how you adjust from the reality where your pet was alive to the reality where they’ve become a memory.

If you don’t have a sympathetic friend or family member to share these memories with, you can call a grief counseling hotline that specializes in pets or join a pet loss support group. You might also find some relief in journaling. Writing out the full story of what happened can help get it out of your head. You can talk or write about positive memories, too. Telling favorite stories about your furry friend can remind you of the good times and help to immortalize their memory.

Plan a Memorial

It can help to spend some time thinking about what you’d like to do with your pet’s ashes and how you’d like to memorialize them in the future. There’s no rush to decide, and you shouldn’t feel any pressure at this stage. But thinking through your options and deciding what’s meaningful to you and your pet’s memory can be a comfort.

Do you want to display their ashes? Keep them in a memorial pendant? Scatter them somewhere significant? Perhaps you want to spend some time compiling photographs into an album or slideshow, or write a story about your time together. Creative outlets for grief can provide comfort. But if you don’t have enough energy or willpower to think about it right now, the memorial can wait until the initial wave of grief has subsided. You have all the time you need to work through your feelings.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations will do what we can to have your pet’s ashes returned to you as quickly as possible, and we offer multiple options for memorializing your companion. We know how hard this can be, and we’re here to help in any way we can. Call 505-345-5615 to speak with one of our caring staff.

10 Tips for Making Your Home “Senior Pet Friendly”

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:09:31 GMT

10 Tips for Making Your Home “Senior Pet Friendly”

Lifestyle Accommodations for Aging Pets

Growing old is part of being alive, and aging happens to all of us – even our furry friends. As your companion ages, you’ll begin to notice changes to their body. Older dogs and cats start to slow down, and many experience weight fluctuations, loss of hearing or vision, arthritis, and even cognitive decline.

But senior pets can still have happy, satisfying lives filled with love and comfort. Here are ten tips for modifying your home and lifestyle to accommodate the needs of your furry companion so that you can make the most of their twilight years together:

1. Switch to senior pet food. As pets age, their metabolism slows. Senior pet food is formulated to have a lower fat and calorie content without affecting its nutritional quality, which will help your pet maintain a healthy weight. Some senior pets may have special dietary needs to help manage diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, or other conditions. Ask your veterinarian about an appropriate diet for your pet.

2. Tend to their grooming needs. Older pets may sometimes struggle to keep themselves clean. A major issue is dental health. Senior pets benefit from frequent tooth brushing and dental treats or toys. Keep their nails trimmed and brush pets frequently to prevent the dry, flaky skin and shedding that often comes with age.

3. Eliminate unnecessary jumping and climbing. Consider confining your pet to one level of your home. Install a pet-friendly ramp where necessary. Provide lower perches for cats to sit on, and add ramps to your kitty’s favorite sleeping spots. Also consider providing your cat with horizontal scratching surfaces rather than vertical ones.

4. Adjust the height of food and water. Add a no-slip mat around the food and water dishes and use adjustable racks or even cardboard boxes to make dishes more accessible. Consider getting a pet fountain; the sound of running water can make it easier for a blind pet to find their water, and many pets find drinking from a fountain more palatable. Cats in particular might benefit from having multiple water dishes available throughout their living area.

5. Provide soft places to sleep. Consider switching from a blanket to a memory foam or orthopedic pet bed that offers more joint support. Put a comfortable sleeping spot in every room your pet spends a lot of time in. Senior pets sleep more than younger animals, and they’ll appreciate having a cozy spot close to you wherever you are in the house.

6. Don’t move furniture unnecessarily. Blind pets and those with dementia may struggle to find their way around the house if you rearrange the furniture. Do not move food bowls, litter boxes, pet beds, or other essential parts of their lives unless necessary. If you do rearrange, guide your pet around the reorganized space and use treats to help them remember where things are.

7. Make accommodations for incontinence. Older pets may have weaker bladders and require more bathroom breaks. Consider increasing the number of litterboxes, using pee pads, and using diapers or belly bands to help manage incontinence. Plan for more potty breaks throughout the day.

8. Keep up with playtime. Just because older pets have slowed down doesn’t mean they won’t appreciate lots of opportunities for physical and mental stimulation. Playtime helps them maintain a healthy weight, improves mood, and is fun for both of you. Plan for more frequent play breaks of shorter duration, so you don’t stress your pet’s more fragile aging body. Never let a blind or deaf pet roam off-leash in an unsecured area.

9. Plan for more vet visits. Annual vet care is essential for your fur baby’s wellbeing. Senior pets may need more frequent veterinary care. If your pet has a chronic condition like diabetes or kidney disease, plan to visit the vet’s office more frequently. Work with your veterinarian to find a consistent schedule that will fit into your lifestyle while meeting your pet’s needs. Also discuss timelines with your veterinarian and learn about signs of decreased quality of life so you can come up with a plan for saying goodbye to your pet when the time comes.

10. Consider what happens after they’re gone. It’s never pleasant to think about life without your dearest companion. But it’s a good idea to plan for the end of their life now, while you still have time together and your head is clear of grief. Having a pet cremation company chosen in advance and knowing how much money to save for the event can relieve a lot of stress from you when it comes time to lay your companion to rest.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations is an Albuquerque pet cremation service . We know how hard it can be to say goodbye to your furry family member, and we’re here to support you however we can in this time. We offer three flat-rate cremation packages in addition and can accept prepayment for arrangements up to six months in advance. Call us at 505-345-5615 to learn more.

Is Pet Cremation the Same as Human Cremation?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:05:57 GMT

Is Pet Cremation the Same as Human Cremation?

Knowing your pet will be treated like family can put your mind at ease.

When a pet dies, it’s natural to feel immense grief. It’s also natural to have questions and anxieties about the loss of a pet and what to expect from the cremation process. What happens when your pet arrives at the crematorium? Will they be treated with the same care as a person? What can you expect when it’s time to pick up the ashes?

Worrying over what will happen to your beloved companion’s body only adds to the pain of grief. Understanding the steps involved in cremation can soothe some of this anxiety. So can knowing that your fur baby’s body will be cared for with the same level of compassion as a human family member.

Pet Cremation is Very Similar to Human Cremation

In many ways, the process of cremating a pet is exactly the same as cremating a human. In both cases, the body will be placed in a cremation chamber, also called a retort, which is heated to a temperature between 1400 to 1800 Fahrenheit. No flames are present in the chamber itself, and your pet’s body will not come into contact with fire. Instead, the intense heat of the furnace will cause the water and organic material to vaporize.

What remains, in the case of both humans and animals, are fragments of bone that are further broken down in a device called a cremulator. The cremulator creates cremated remains (called “ashes” or “cremains”) with a texture similar to sand.

If you’ll be bringing them home, the cremated remains will be first placed in a plastic bag or liner to protect against moisture and spillage. The bag will then be placed in the urn of your choice, or in a temporary container if you haven’t yet decided on an urn.

How Pet Cremation Differs from Human Cremation

Although the pet cremation process is almost identical to human cremation, there are a few significant differences between the two:

Pets are generally not embalmed. In humans, it’s customary – although not required – to preserve the body for viewing even when a cremation will follow. Both humans and animals are kept in cold storage to prevent decay until the cremation time.
Because most animals are significantly smaller than people, it’s common for multiple pets to be cremated at one time, with dividers in place to keep their remains separated. The law demands that humans be cremated individually. When you get your pet cremated, you can choose whether you wish for them to be alone in the cremation chamber.
Depending on the animal’s size and breed, the texture of the ashes may be different. Very small animals like rodents and reptiles have tiny bones that might not break down completely. Larger animals like dogs and cats will have cremains with a more consistent texture.

The volume of cremated remains will vary significantly between species. A good rule of thumb for estimating the amount of ashes to expect is 1 pound of body weight = 1 cubic inch of cremains. A variety of keepsake urn options are available to accommodate pets of any size.

Best Friends Treats Pets Like Family, Always

It’s common for pet parents to worry that their beloved companions will receive second-rate treatment. But at Best Friends, we know that an animal is never “just” an animal. We are a pet funeral home with a responsibility to Albuquerque’s furry residents, and we take that job very seriously.

We offer a choice between individual and group cremation, so you’re empowered to decide which option makes the most sense for you. The remains of group-cremated pets are handled with care and respectfully scattered in our dedicated pet ossuary.

If you choose private cremation, you know that your pet is the only one present in the retort at a time, and their ashes will be returned to you. We also offer private viewings so that you and your family can see your pet one last time and say goodbye.

If you have any questions about our services, you can reach us by phone at 505-345-5615 or stop by our location at 1001 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite E .

Viewing Your Pet Before Cremation Can Help You Heal

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:01:32 GMT

Viewing Your Pet Before Cremation Can Help You Heal

Saying goodbye in person brings closure.

One of the first steps in healing from grief is acknowledging that the loss is real. When a furry family member dies, we may understand on a conscious, rational level that they have passed on. But it can take a while for the rest of our brain to accept that truth.

Part of you might continue looking for your pet. You may imagine the jingle of their collar or sound of their footsteps, or think you see them in the corner of your eye. You might wake up in the morning and reach a hand down to their sleeping spot, only to remember they’re gone.

This experience is a normal and very common part of the grieving process for pet owners. But it can last longer when the death is sudden, traumatic, unexpected, or when you cannot properly say goodbye. Having an opportunity to see and touch their body, to experience the physical reality of the loss, can provide closure and ultimately guide you toward healing.

Saying Goodbye at the Vet’s Office

When a pet passes away at home, you have an opportunity to tend to their body and prepare them for burial or contact the pet crematorium. You can spend a little time saying goodbye in private before taking the next step. When you bring your companion to the vet’s office for euthanasia, the experience might be a bit different.

Each vet’s office will have its own rules and policies regarding euthanasia. Some veterinarians designate a private space for a family to spend time with their pet before and after the procedure, separate from exam rooms. The vet techs may prepare your companion’s body afterward by wrapping them or placing them in a body bag. There may be a separate door to exit the clinic, so you don’t have to carry your pet’s body through the lobby.

If you have never had a euthanasia appointment with a particular vet’s office in the past, the veterinarian will likely schedule a consultation with you prior to performing euthanasia. In addition to discussing your pet’s health, this visit gives you an opportunity to ask questions and prepare for the procedure as well. Will you be allowed to hold your pet while the injection is administered? Can you arrange payment in advance? How much time will be scheduled for the appointment? How will the body be prepared for transport home or to the crematorium?

Asking these types of questions can mentally prepare you and also help you decide whether a particular vet’s office is a good fit for what you need. If the vet does not require a consultation, you can ask these questions of the receptionist who schedules your appointment over the phone.

A Private Farewell Before Cremation

At Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations, we understand the value of a proper goodbye. That’s why we offer a private viewing period as part of our Tribute Cremation package.

Before your companion is cremated, you will have an opportunity to spend some time with their body in a quiet, private room at our crematorium. Your family can accompany you if you wish to say goodbye together. During this time, you can see and touch your companion’s body, stroke their fur, thank them for being such a good friend, and allow your brain to come to terms with the reality and finality of the loss.

Although this viewing is optional, we’ve found that it can be beneficial for some pet parents, especially those who did not have an opportunity to say a proper goodbye before due to the circumstances of the death. We believe it’s important to create space for these moments and let pet parents decide whether they need that time to help with the process of healing from grief.

If you need Albuquerque pet cremation services or are just curious about what we offer and how we can help you peacefully part with your pet, call 505-345-5615 to speak with a member of our caring staff.

Does Pet Insurance Cover the Cost of Cremation?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:57:43 GMT

Does Pet Insurance Cover the Cost of Cremation?

How to Prepare for Your Pet’s Final Expenses

We all want our pets to live long, happy, healthy lives and will do whatever it takes to make that possible. But even the best pet parents can sometimes be caught off-guard by unexpected emergencies. Emergency vet care can create a financial burden. The cost of end-of-life care and pet funeral arrangements can add to that stress.

No one wants to think about the day when their beloved companion is no longer by their side. Planning for that scenario can be painful. But it’s better to think about these things in advance whenever possible. You never want to be in the position of worrying about money when your furbaby is sick or when you’re grieving their loss.

For a long time, a pet-lover’s only options for covering unexpected vet bills and funeral expenses were to dip into savings or use a credit card. Now, insurance companies have started to realize that pets are family, and they’re offering pet care protection plans. But are these plans truly helpful? And when the time comes to say goodbye, can pet insurance help with the cost of cremation?

How Pet Insurance Works

Pet insurance policies are generally designed to help pet owners with the high cost of unexpected pet emergencies. More recently, pet insurance plans have also started to cover more routine care and to include accident and illness coverage. Like human insurance, these pet policies might have a copay and annual deductible in addition to the monthly premiums. Unlike human insurance, pet insurance almost always works through reimbursement rather than any sort of direct billing plan with the veterinarian.

This means that when an emergency occurs, you’ll need to pay for your pet’s expenses up-front, then submit a claim for reimbursement to the pet insurance provider. Pet parents would need an emergency fund available to cover these up-front expenses or have access to credit for that purpose.

When it comes to end-of-life care, some pet insurance policies will cover euthanasia if a vet deems it necessary, and a handful of pet policies may provide reimbursement for cremation under certain circumstances. However, this is not common, and you might not have any flexibility in what cremation provider you work with under this plan. Before purchasing a policy, be sure to read the fine print to understand exactly what is covered and what the limitations are.

Many pet parents choose to set aside some money each month into a care fund instead of paying for insurance premiums. Others choose to purchase pet insurance to help reimburse the cost of medical expenses but keep some money in savings for things that are not covered. Only you can decide what makes sense for your financial situation and your furbaby’s needs.

Alternatives to Pet Life Insurance

No companies are currently offering pet burial or cremation insurance, and pet life insurance is limited mostly to show dogs and animal celebrities who earn an income. However, with the growing popularity of pet insurance, companies might start to offer death benefits someday. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to make a plan for your pet’s end-of-life care and arrange to set money aside for that purpose.

Knowing that you have money available to cover the worst-case-scenario can relieve you of tremendous stress when the time comes. Having a savings fund set aside allows you to be more fully present in the moment so you can say goodbye and focus on your grief, rather than struggling with the feelings of worry and guilt that can accompany financial stress.

Best Friends offers upfront, flat-rate pricing to make it easier to plan ahead. You can decide in advance what type of cremation package would best suit your needs and make a plan to set money aside in a special fund to cover that expense. We can also make arrangements for prepayment up to six months in advance if your companion is terminally ill. Call us at 505-345-5615 to learn more about this option or to discuss our available Albuquerque pet cremation services.

How Pet Memorial Keepsakes Help with Grief

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:53:51 GMT

How Pet Memorial Keepsakes Help with Grief

Keepsakes offer a tangible connection to your departed pet.

Keepsakes serve as a physical reminder of your pet’s memory. You know that they’re gone, but their existence has not been erased from the world. They lived, they mattered, and they will not be forgotten. By keeping their memory alive, you honor the special role they played in your life while allowing your heart to heal. One day, the sharp pain of grief will lessen, but the fond memories will remain.

Keepsake Options to Memorialize Your Pet

The specific item you choose as a keepsake is less important than how it makes you feel. Anything that recalls happy memories can help you heal. Some people are comforted by holding onto their pet’s belongings, such as:

Their collar and tags
A favorite squeaky toy
Food or water dishes
A favorite bed or blanket

If you choose to hold onto any of your pet’s belongings as a keepsake, be sure to communicate with any other household members about your intentions so that nothing gets thrown away by accident.

Another option is to memorialize your pet’s likeness in some way, such as:

A framed photograph or photo collage
A painted or drawn portrait
A custom-made plushie resembling the pet

You might also want to keep your pet’s ashes nearby. You can choose to keep all of them or just a portion if you wish to scatter the rest. An urn is one way to store these remains. Memorial jewelry is another option. These pendants can hold a small quantity of ashes and come in various styles and designs. There are even plushies with compartments inside for storing ashes, so you can cuddle a likeness of your pet while keeping a part of them close.

How to Keep or Display Your Memorial Items

When your grief is fresh, you’ll likely want to keep the memorial items close, where you can look at or hold them often. Later, you may want to display them in a place of honor or keep them stored away safely. Here are a few ideas:

Create a memory box filled with items that remind you of your pet
Fill up a photo album or memory book
Make a shadow box to put several items on display
Turn part of their collar into a bracelet or key chain
Incorporate their collar or tags into a suncatcher or windchime
Have their photo printed onto a pillow or blanket
Turn a shelf into a permanent shrine with an urn, photograph, collar, or other items
Plant a miniature memorial garden of succulents in their bowl

Some people find hands-on creative projects to be very soothing and cathartic during times of grief. Others may find this too overwhelming and want to keep things simple. Either way is fine. What matters is that the item helps you remember the bond you and your furry friend shared.

If you’re looking for pet memorial keepsakes in the Albuquerque area, Best Friends offers a variety of choices, including photo urns and pendants that hold cremation ashes. Even if your pet wasn’t cremated with us, we are happy to provide these memorial items and can help with placing ashes in jewelry or transferring them into a new urn. If you use our cremation service, we can also take a fur clipping and ink or sand pawprint before cremation so you’ll have a one-of-a-kind memento of your companion.

You can stop by our new location at 1001 Menaul Blvd NE or browse our service packages online to see our available options.

Why Can’t Dogs and Cats Live as Long as Humans?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:35:06 GMT

Why Can’t Dogs and Cats Live as Long as Humans?

How to Measure Your Pet’s Age in People Terms

In a perfect world, our animal companions would live forever – or at least as long as us. Unfortunately, being a pet parent often means saying goodbye a lot sooner than you’d like. Most of us will share our lifetimes with multiple pets, watching them grow up, grow old, and eventually depart. But why does it have to be that way? What makes dogs and cats live shorter lives than their human friends?

Many factors influence lifespan in the animal kingdom. Size, metabolic rate, growth hormones, oxidative stress, and evolutionary pressures all play a role. Scientists are still working out the details of why some animals live longer than others. One thing we do know: Animals that grow faster, age faster. So, in general terms, people live longer than dogs because puppies grow up faster than babies.

How to Calculate Age in Dog Years

Prevailing wisdom used to be that one year is equal to seven “dog years.” That’s not entirely accurate, though, because a one-year-old dog is significantly more grown-up than a seven-year-old person.

A more accurate formula for estimating a dog’s age is:

A 1-year-old dog is equivalent to a 15-year-old human
A 2-year-old dog is equivalent to a 24-year-old human
After that, each year is equal to about five “dog years”

By this estimation, a 10-year-old dog is 64 years old in human terms.

Even this estimate is very rough, though, and doesn’t account for the differences between breeds. Small breeds like Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles routinely live well into their teens. Giant breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs reach their golden years around 7-8 years old. A 10-year-old Great Pyrenees is much older than a Dachshund the same age. If you’re trying to gauge your pet’s age, you’ll want to take their breed into consideration. For mixed breeds or dogs of unknown heritage, you can estimate based on size.

What About Cats?

Cats tend to have similar lifespans to small dogs. This means the average cat’s lifespan is longer than the average dog’s. Bearing that in mind, the formula mentioned above will still work pretty well for measuring “cat years.”

The world record-holder for longest-lived feline belongs to Crème Puff, a domestic shorthair who lived to a ripe old age of 38 years. Most indoor cats live between 12 to 18 years. Feral cats and those that spend a lot of time outside have dramatically shorter lifespans.

How to Help Your Pet Live Longer

Aging is inevitable, but there are a few things you can do that will help your pet to live a longer, healthier life:

Keep them at a healthy weight. Limit treats and between-meal snacks, and feed them high-quality food.
Provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Active pets are healthier and happier.
Spay or neuter them. This reduces or eliminates the risk of many reproductive health problems and can also lower their stress levels.
Give good dental care. Tooth decay can put a lot of stress on an animal’s body. Arrange for routine dental cleanings at your vet’s office, and brush your pet’s teeth at home if you’re able.
Schedule regular check-ups. Don’t wait until something is wrong to take your pet to the vet. Staying up-to-date on shots and having bloodwork done as necessary will help maintain your pet’s health.

You can talk with your veterinarian about more recommendations for your specific pet’s needs. They’ll have the best idea of your pet’s overall level of health and can help you identify signs of aging and slowing down.

Of course, one day, it will be time to say goodbye. When that time comes, Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations will be here to help – and offer a shoulder to cry on, any time.

Whether you have general pet cremation questions or are planning for an imminent loss, you can call us at 505-345-5615 to speak to a member of our staff, or you can reach out online to chat in whatever way is most comfortable for you.

How Do You Know It's Time to Say Goodbye to Your Pet?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:29:42 GMT

How Do You Know It's Time to Say Goodbye to Your Pet?

Signs That It’s Time to Put Your Pet to Sleep

Relieving our furry companions of suffering is a gift. But how do you know when it’s time to let them go?

As pet parents, we are responsible for the well-being and happiness of our furry companions. This means giving them the best care during their lives. But it also means preventing them from suffering unnecessarily when those lives are approaching the end.

Unlike people, animals don’t have a concept of mortality. They don’t know how long they’ll live or even really understand the idea of “tomorrow.” They live in the moment. When the quality of those moments declines and there is nothing to do to improve them, euthanasia is a precious gift.

How Long Should You Wait to Put Your Pet to Sleep?

If your companion is suffering from a terminal illness, chronic disease, or just the inevitable decline of age, you may be wondering whether it’s time to put them to sleep.

Before making any decisions about your pet’s care, the first step is to consult your veterinarian. Your vet can give a clearer picture of what’s going on with your pet’s health and how much quality time you might have together. You can also ask for some signs of pain to watch out for so that you can keep a better gauge on your pet’s day-to-day quality of life.

When assessing the quality of life, many veterinarians utilize the HHHHHMM Scale.

Hurt: Are they in pain? Can that pain be managed?
Hunger: Are they eating enough on their own? Do they show interest in food?
Hydration: Are they drinking on their own? Are they showing signs of dehydration?
Hygiene: Can they keep themselves clean? Are they soiling themselves or neglecting their grooming?
Happiness: Do they show joy and interest in the world around them? Do they enjoy favorite activities? Do they seem depressed or seek out isolation?
Mobility: Can they move around on their own? Is it possible to provide mobility assistance?
More Good Days Than Bad: Do they only occasionally have severe symptoms, or do they seem to struggle every day?

When thinking about this assessment, it’s important to be realistic with yourself about your personal limitations. Some conditions can be managed with intensive ongoing care, but providing that care may not be financially feasible or even physically possible for you. Ultimately, you are the only one who can decide where to draw the line. Be honest and up-front about your needs when you talk to your veterinarian so you can create your pet’s care plan together.

Planning in Advance

It’s a good idea to decide as early as possible where you will draw the line. Think about your pet’s personality and day-to-day habits, then choose a few benchmarks to measure their quality of life against. When Mittens is no longer interested in her favorite treats or Bowser stops caring about his squeaky toys, that might be a sign that their time is approaching.

Discuss this with your vet and decide in advance how you will have the euthanasia performed. Will you bring your fur baby to the office, or can the vet come to you? How much will it cost? Have the money set aside so you don’t have to stress about it when the time comes.

Planning for your pet’s burial or cremation in advance is a good idea as well. Preplanning allows you to budget for their final expenses. It also allows you to make decisions while you’re clear-headed rather than in the depths of grief on euthanasia day. Best Friends can help you preplan up to six months in advance, and we work with veterinarians throughout Albuquerque to arrange pick-up and delivery when the time comes.

We know how hard it is to say goodbye. We’re here for you while you work through these difficult decisions. Call us at 505-345-5615 to discuss our pet cremation and memorial options, or stop by our new location at 1001 Menaul Blvd. NE, Suite E, Albuquerque, NM 87107, United States to chat in person.

What to Do When Your Pet Will Outlive You

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:21:43 GMT

What to Do When Your Pet Will Outlive You

Deciding on a Care Plan for Your Parrot, Tortoise or Other Long-Living Exotic

Being a responsible pet parent means thinking about the future of your pet’s life. Sometimes that means deciding in advance about end-of-life care for your pet. But sometimes that means planning for a future where your pet outlives you. This is a question faced by many elderly pet parents and those with terminal illnesses, but it’s also a practical consideration for anyone choosing the companionship of an animal that could live a very long time.

Getting a pet is always a long-term commitment, but some pets stretch this beyond regular expectations. Large parrots can live to be 70 years old, and even smaller birds are likely to live well into their 20s. Some tortoises live more than a century, and even popular turtle varieties like red-eared sliders can reach age 50. Koi fish can reach 100 years or more, and many other fish varieties can live for decades with proper care.

If you’re planning to adopt one of these long-lived exotics or already have one in your care, planning ahead for the future is essential.

A Pet Trust for End-of-Life Planning

One of the best ways to ensure your pets are appropriately cared for after you pass away is to set money aside in a special trust for their care. In a trust, you designate funds and specify how they must be allocated and what standard of care is to be provided. There is a trust beneficiary, who will be named as your pet’s caretaker, as well as a trustee, who ensures that the terms of the trust are followed. This allows you some peace of mind as it puts a legal process in place to ensure your instructions are followed after you’re gone.

Pet trusts can be put in place for any animal and can be made as detailed or broad as necessary for your specific needs. An attorney with experience in estate planning can help you to sort out these details.

Special Considerations for Exotic Pets

It’s often easier to find a willing and competent caretaker for a dog or cat than for a more exotic pet. Large enclosures, specific temperature requirements, unique diets – not everyone is equipped to handle the needs of a large bird or reptile. You may not have friends or family up to the task, and you don’t want to worry about what kind of care your pet will receive if something happens to you. Making considerations in advance and having a care plan established will give you peace of mind.

When looking for a caretaker, it’s often best to ask around within the hobbyist community for your type of pet in your area. You can ask your veterinarian for tips on who to contact or run a search for local rescue organizations specializing in your specific pet. If your pet originally came from a breeder or rescue, you might also want to reach out to them for guidance. They might be willing to take your animal back in an emergency or point you toward long-term planning resources.

If you decide to work with a rescue organization, it’s a good idea to choose one that’s been around for a while and is firmly established. This helps ensure that it will still be in business years from now when their services may be needed.

A Lifetime of Love

Your companions are with you for a lifetime – and loving them means planning for every future outcome. Having a plan in place for their care without you is important, but so is having a plan for saying goodbye if they pass away first. That’s where Best Friends comes in.

Our Albuquerque pet cremation and memorial services are available for pets of any size and shape, from dogs and cats to birds and reptiles. We offer pre-planning assistance and can help you think ahead to the future, but we’re also on-call for when you need us right away. If you have recently lost your pet, or are anticipating their passing soon, call us at 505-345-5615 and our team will help guide you through it.

Don't Flush Fish!

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:17:37 GMT

Don't Flush Fish!

Options for Burial and Cremation of Small Exotic Pets

Fish are the third most popular pet in America after dogs and cats. Reptiles and small mammals or “pocket pets” like mice, rats, and hamsters are also found in many homes. Though these small exotics are often left out of the conversation about pet ownership, no creature is too small to have a big place in your heart.

If you are the pet parent of a small rodent or exotic, you may not know what options are available to you when they die or how to best handle the remains of your companion. Here are a few things to consider when planning end-of-life care for your fish, reptile, hamster or other pocket pet.

Funerals for Pocket Pets

A goldfish or hamster is often a child’s first pet, and its passing may be a child’s first encounter with death. Parents may wish to spend some time with their child to plan a memorial service as a way to help them through their first experience with grief.

Adults grieve the loss of their small pets, too. Caring for an aquarium is a labor of love, and you’ve spent time tending to the needs of these creatures and living alongside them. You know better than anyone how much personality can fit into a small package and how much affection a little animal can provide. Honoring your pet’s memory with a tribute ritual is a way to acknowledge the important role they played in your life. It’s also an act that helps you recognize your loss and begin to heal.

Burial or Cremation?

Although the media has popularized the idea of flushing fish, this is not a good option for disposing of their little bodies. It’s not exactly a dignified farewell for the creature you’ve cared about for a lifetime. It also poses a threat to both the plumbing system and the water supply. Many sewage systems lead to nearby streams and rivers, and not every disease that can affect a fish or aquatic animal will necessarily be filtered out at a treatment plant.

It is better to bury your little companion or arrange for cremation. If you’ll be choosing burial, you can bury the animal directly in the ground, or use a cloth shroud or biodegradable cardboard or wooden casket. Wrapping the body in a plastic bag and placing it in a freezer until burial or cremation allows you to take your time making final arrangements. Some pet owners make the choice to keep their pets preserved in a freezer until multiple companions can be cremated together at one time.

What to Expect with Small Pet Cremation

Because they are so small, people often assume that goldfish, geckos, mice and other tiny pets cannot be cremated. In fact, there is no animal too small for cremation! However, bear in mind that most of what you receive after cremation is bone ash tumbled to a finer consistency. Small animals will produce a very small amount of ash, and some identifiable bone fragments may remain.

Since such a small portion of ash is created, a pet’s cremated remains are perfect for keeping them close by through cremation keepsakes such as lockets or pendants. Alternatively, you may wish to scatter or bury the ashes in your garden or even a potted plant that can be brought with you if you move to another place. On the other hand, you might prefer a group cremation, which would allow your pet to be cremated at the same time as several others. This option is less expensive, and the ashes will be respectfully scattered in a dedicated pet memorial space so you won’t have to worry about what to do with them yourself.

If you’re interested in learning more about our cremation services, you can reach out to discuss your options with a member of our staff at Best Friends Pet Cremations. Just call 505-345-5615 . We’re happy to answer your questions and work with you to find a way to keep the memory of your pocket pets close to your heart.

Preplanning Your Pet's Cremation or Burial

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:13:01 GMT

Preplanning Your Pet's Cremation or Burial

The Benefits of Making Final Arrangements Ahead of Time

In a perfect world, our pets would live forever, and we’d never need to think about pet cremation, burial or memorial services. Unfortunately, since immortality is out of reach, the time will come when every pet parent needs to face some tough decisions about their fur-baby’s final arrangements. This is upsetting to think about at any time, but it’s especially hard to consider when you’re already going through intense grief. That’s one reason why preplanning, or making final arrangements for your pet while they’re still healthy, can be such a blessing.

Preplanning funeral arrangements and a final resting place is common for humans. You may already have a plan written for yourself for your loved ones to carry out when your time comes. There’s no reason your furry family members shouldn’t have a similarly detailed plan for their final days. Taking the time to prepare now, while you’re clear-headed and calm, can help you make the choices that best align with your values and the needs of your family. If you know that a pet’s death will be coming soon, you can also make plans with a pet cremation service like Best Friends to arrange the details in advance so that such emotional decisions won’t have to be made on an already difficult day.

Focusing on Your Grief

Losing a pet is never easy. When the time comes, you may find yourself overwhelmed with sadness, especially if your loss was sudden or unexpected. If euthanasia was involved, you may have already had to make a difficult and emotionally fraught decision. Having to decide in the moment what you want to do with your companion’s body can add even more stress to the situation. While grieving and under pressure, you may make a decision you later regret or are unhappy about.

When you preplan for your pet’s final arrangements, you are free from the time constraints of deciding in the moment. You have the space to take a breath, grieve, and allow yourself to experience your loss without having to worry about whether you’re making the best decisions.

Choosing Pet Memorial Services in Advance

If your pet is getting older, it makes sense to think ahead to what will happen when they die. But it’s never too early to plan for that day. When you bring a new puppy or kitten into your life, part of being a good pet parent is looking ahead to see how your companion fits into your life over the next decade or two.

Some things to consider:

Do you want your pet’s remains to be kept near you? For some people, having a grave they can visit, or ashes safely stored at home, is a comfort. For others, the physical body is a vessel for a spirit that’s no longer present after death. Some people may even find the presence of remains stressful or unpleasant. Think about your feelings regarding this so you can decide if pet burial or cremation is right for you.

Do you own your own property? If you have a home with a large enough yard or garden, home burial is an option. If you choose cremation, you can bury or scatter the ashes at home or choose a different meaningful location. If you live in an apartment or will be moving soon, you might prefer to bring the ashes with you or have them scattered in a dedicated pet cemetery to be able to return to whenever you want.

Do you want to view your pet’s body after death? Some people find closure in seeing the deceased pet, showing the body to other pets, and giving a final goodbye or brushing before the pet is laid to rest. Others find this too painful and want to preserve positive memories of their pet’s life instead. There’s no wrong answer – but knowing in advance how you’d like the body to be handled and transported, and who you prefer to take care of handling the remains, will help you when the day comes.

It’s okay if your feelings change over time or if you make a different decision in the moment than you thought you might. What is important is that you take some time to think about what you’d like to do now, so you can ease the burden of deciding in the moment when the time comes.

Preparing for the Cost of Losing a Pet

Another important consideration when planning for your pet’s end-of-life care is cost. The cost of final arrangements for your pet will depend on exactly how you would like your furry friend to be memorialized and laid to rest. At Best Friends, we make it easy to plan ahead with our simply priced cremation and memorial options and online prepayment options. Many pet owners find great benefit in paying for cremation and memorial services in advance, so that they don’t have to think about it when they’ve just lost someone they love.

At Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations, we offer simple, convenient cremation packages with up-front pricing so you can plan accordingly. We’re also here to help you plan and pay for final arrangements and customized keepsake items for up to six months in advance.

As pet parents ourselves, we’ve experienced the pain of losing one of our own, as well as the comfort of knowing everything will be taken care of when we have to say goodbye. If you have any questions about pet cremation and memorial services in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area, or are seeking help with your grief, we are here. Call us at 505-345-5615 or drop us a note , or stop by in person to speak with a member of our staff.

The Cost of Pet Cremation

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:07:38 GMT

The Cost of Pet Cremation

What to expect and what goes into our pricing.

When you’re mourning the loss of a beloved animal companion or facing a pet’s terminal illness, the last thing you want is a surprise expense. Knowing the cost of pet cremation upfront allows you to plan accordingly. Understanding what goes into the cremation process and why the costs might vary from one service to the next can also help you ensure you’re getting exactly what you want and allow you to plan for your pet’s final rest.

How Much Does Pet Cremation Cost?

The cost of pet cremation varies tremendously depending on what service you choose.

The most affordable pet cremation services are usually those offered by a veterinarian’s office. Vets often have a contract in place with crematoriums that allow for a low-cost option for handling a larger volume of remains. In general, these are group cremations, where multiple animals are cremated together at one time. This cuts down on costs but means there is no way to determine which ashes belong to which animal. When you choose this option, the ashes are scattered in a pet cemetery, remembrance garden, or underground vault called an ossuary.

If you want to keep your pet’s ashes , you will need either a private or individual cremation. Individual cremation, also called “divided” or “partitioned” cremation, uses a divider to keep the bodies separated throughout the cremation process. However, because each animal’s remains are cremated at the same time, some commingling of ashes is inevitable. Due to this risk, Best Friends does not perform partitioned cremations.

A private cremation is the only way to ensure that the ashes returned to you are 100% those of your pet and no other animal’s. In a private cremation, the individual is the only one present in the chamber at the time of cremation, and the chamber is thoroughly cleaned between sessions. Because this is a more time-consuming and energy-intensive option, there are added costs associated with it. However, a private cremation provides greater peace of mind to many pet owners.

At Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations, we offer both group and private cremations. Group cremations cost $135, which includes cremation services, scattering in our private pet ossuary, and a keepsake fur clipping that you can remember your pet by. Our private cremations start at $295, which includes your choice of a standard urn with or without a personalized engraving, a fur clipping, and an ink or sand paw print. We also offer a tribute cremation for $650, which offers the same private cremation process, urn and keepsakes, but also includes the cost of home pickup and delivery of the ashes, a cremation jewelry pendant, and a private viewing prior to cremation.

What Affects the Cost of Pet Cremation?

Cremation takes time and resources. To render a body to ash, the cremation chamber must heat up to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit and maintain that temperature for quite a while. Depending on the size of an animal, cremation could take between 45 minutes to several hours. The remaining bone fragments are then tumbled to help break them into a more powder-like consistency that can be scattered or kept in an urn.

Because larger animals take longer to cremate, some crematoriums charge more based on a pet’s weight. Best Friends chooses instead to offer cremations for one fixed rate, so you always know what to expect. There are no hidden added fees or last-minute calculations. What does create differences between our own pet cremation packages are the options you choose: private or group cremation, keepsake and urn selections, transportation and delivery, and whether or not you’d like to be present for a final viewing to say your final goodbyes to your pet in private.

At Best Friends, we believe in providing the highest quality care possible for families. That means investing in a place where people feel comfortable and comforted when they must say goodbye to one of their family members. It also means investing in our staff to ensure we provide excellent service by people who truly care.

We know that putting your pet to rest and choosing their final arrangements is a very emotional and often stressful decision, and we’re here to help provide you with peace of mind whenever possible. If you’d like to learn more about our services please reach out to our Albuquerque office at 505-345-5615 or stop by in person at 1001 Menaul Blvd NE, Suite E Albuquerque, NM 87107.

Pet Funeral and Memorial Ceremony Ideas

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:00:58 GMT

Pet Funeral and Memorial Ceremony Ideas

It’s not easy saying goodbye. Here are some ways to honor your companion.

When a human loved one dies, a funeral or memorial service provides an outlet for grief and a way to honor their memory. This is just as true for the animals you love. Pets are family, and their loss can be excruciatingly painful. Losing a pet can also feel very isolating, and some people may not understand what you’re going through. When a person dies, everyone expects there to be a funeral and a period of mourning. But people don’t always know what to do when a pet dies, even when that pet is a beloved and integral part of the family.

Having a ritual to follow can help you deal with the intense emotions that come with grief and loss. Gathering with friends and family who may also be grieving helps comfort, as well as normalizes and validates your own feelings. Coming together in grief gives you an opportunity to share the good times you had with your pet as well, which help in healing from loss. Children especially may benefit from a pet funeral service, especially if they’ve never faced this kind of loss before.

Memorial Ideas for Pets

Your animal companion’s funeral can be as involved or simple as you prefer. It can be somber in tone or more lighthearted, focusing on positive memories. What matters is that you take some time to honor your pet, share your grief with others who are also mourning, and to let yourself feel.

Here are a few ideas that may inspire you while planning your pet memorial service:

Collect photographs of your pet and assemble a photo collage or slide show. Looking over old photographs can help remind you of good memories, and you’ll have a lasting memorial to look back on when you’re finished. If you’ll be keeping their ashes, a photo urn with places to store pictures is a great option. You can sit with your child or other family members and decide together which pictures to choose.

Share stories. One of the best ways to begin healing is to reflect on positive memories. Make it memorable by meeting with friends and family at a special location, such as your pet’s favorite park, or by preparing or ordering a special dinner in the pet’s honor. Encourage everyone to share sweet and funny stories about your pet. You might even want to record these on video or write them down in a book or on slips of paper that can be stored in a memory jar or scrapbook. That way, you or your child can look back on these memories any time you want long after the ceremony is finished.

Write a letter or poem. You can read this at a memorial service if you wish, but you don’t have to. Sometimes simply writing down everything you’re feeling is enough. Write to your pet to say how much you miss him or what you wish she could know. Craft a poem honoring your pet’s best qualities. Children who may otherwise struggle to express or process their feelings may benefit a lot from writing about them instead.

Set up an altar or ofrenda. If you will be keeping your pet’s ashes at home, consider dedicating a small table to the urn and surrounding it with things that remind you of your pet: collars and tags, favorite toys, photographs, even treats. You might like to light a candle or burn incense in your pet’s honor as well. You can keep the altar up for as long as you need. It’s thoughtful to discuss with other family members before disassembling or moving it. You might even consider keeping ashes and a few other keepsakes together on a shelf or other location permanently as a forever reminder of your pet.

Choose a memorial marker. If your pet is buried at home or their ashes are scattered in the garden, you might choose a grave marker for that spot. Even if your pet is not buried on your property, a memorial stone or marker can still be a great way to honor their memory and provide a permanent place to remember them. Pet memorial markers can be homemade or professionally crafted. They might be made of wood, stone or metal. A statue of your pet, a plaque bearing their name, or even a tree planted in their honor are all excellent ways to honor their memories and give you a place to reflect. Choosing a memorial marker together as a family can be a meaningful way to find peace.

Remember your pet with a portrait or other keepsake. You might want to commission an artist to draw or paint your pet and keep the artwork on display near their ashes or on the wall. You and your family might also want to try your hand at drawing your animal. Even if you aren’t Michelangelo, sketching a simple portrait with love can be cathartic. Assemble your drawings into a collage alongside a few photographs as a memorial. There are also companies that make custom-made plush toys that resemble your pet. Having a physical reminder of your animal that can be held and snuggled can be very comforting for some.

The details of how you pay tribute to your pet after they have passed don’t matter as much, just that you and the people who loved them take the time to not only honor their memory, but honor yourselves and the time it takes to heal from their loss as well.

Pets are so much more than just animal companions. They are family, and they deserve to be remembered and celebrated. At Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations, we understand how difficult it can be to lose a pet, and we exist to help families say goodbye in peace. If you’d like to learn more about our services or need help with a pet who has recently passed, please reach out to us at our Albuquerque, New Mexico location at 505-345-5615 .

How to Include Your Pet in Your End-of-Life Wishes

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:55:15 GMT

How to Include Your Pet in Your End-of-Life Wishes

Most of us approach pet ownership with the understanding that we’ll need to provide end-of-life care for many of our animals throughout our lifetimes. Dogs and cats (not to mention reptiles, rodents and birds) have shorter lifespans than their human caretakers, and being prepared for your companion’s final days is an important aspect of loving care. But planning for the opposite scenario is part of good pet ownership, too.

After all, none of us know for certain when we might die or become incapacitated by an illness or injury. Planning to provide for our animals after we’re gone is another way to show them love and ensure they are cared for as members of the family. When it comes to estate planning, your pets should get the same consideration you would give to any other loved one!

Can I include my pet in my will?

Current state laws view animals as property, which means pets cannot be gifted anything or named as a beneficiary in a will. However, you can specify in your will that you’d like custody of your pet transferred to a specific person and include money for the animal’s care. When you die, that money and your pet go together to your chosen beneficiary.

The downside to this arrangement is that the care instructions left in the document are not legally binding. Once the funds have been disbursed, there is no guarantee that the person who receives your pet will use the money for the pet’s care or even that they keep the pet. If you trust your chosen caretaker, this may not be a problem for you. But if you’d prefer a greater amount of security, you may consider setting up a pet trust.

How does a pet trust work?

Unlike a will, which disburses its funds all at once, a trust is a fund set up for a specific purpose that pays out over time. In setting up a trust, you will have a beneficiary (the pet), a caretaker, and a trustee who manages the funds and ensures that the terms of the trust are being followed.

Although pet trusts are a very secure way to provide for your companion’s future, they aren’t right for everyone. It’s more time-consuming and expensive to set up a trust than to modify a will, and you will need to consult with a lawyer to do so. It can also be inflexible, which could cause trouble for a caretaker whose life circumstances change after receiving your pet. Finally, a pet trust can still be challenged by your other heirs. In some cases, courts have ruled in favor of these challenges, especially when the money left for a pet seems excessive.

It’s ultimately your decision whether to account for your pet in your will or go the extra step and set up a trust. The best path will depend on your pet’s needs, your personal finances, and who you have available in your life to serve as a caretaker or trustee.

Steps to follow when including your pet in your estate planning:

No matter what form of estate planning you choose, there are a few steps to follow that can ensure your pet is well cared for in the event something unexpected happens to you:

Have a serious talk with your loved ones about your wishes. Identify a few people who could act as temporary or long-term guardians for your companions. You will ideally want an emergency caregiver (who can take your pet short-term), a long-term caregiver, and an alternate in case something changes in the caregiver’s life circumstances. It may be a good idea to bring up the topic with a group of friends so you can all agree to be one another’s pet guardians when possible.
Make a card for your wallet specifying who to contact for pet care in the event of an emergency. Place a duplicate of the card in a prominent place in your home, such as the refrigerator door or wherever you store your other emergency contacts.
Create a detailed care sheet for your pet. Consider what someone else would need to know when assuming ownership. What vet do you use? What grooming service? What type of food does the pet eat? Any medications or allergies? This care sheet will come in handy any time you need a pet-sitter, too, so having these details written down can save you a lot of trouble.
Determine how much money your pet’s care costs per year. Take into account the cost of food, grooming, vet visits, and any minor expenses. Calculate how long your pet might live. This will give you a good idea of how much money to set aside in the will or trust to cover for your pet’s care.

Once you’ve handled these details, you can discuss your wishes with your attorney and make the necessary arrangements. Just bear in mind that you may need to adjust your documentation throughout your life as pets come and go or caregiver circumstances change.

What happens if I don’t have anyone who can care for my pet after I’m gone?

Not everyone has friends or family available to provide long-term care for a pet. Fortunately, there are alternatives to ensure a pet is placed with a loving home after the owner’s death. These “pet retirement homes” or sanctuaries provide lifetime care to animals in exchange for a monetary donation. Many are run through university veterinary schools, while others are non-profit rescue groups.

You can ask your veterinarian for recommendations or call your local animal shelter to be placed in contact with a rescue group who can help you to make these end-of-life arrangements to ensure your pet will be cared for.

Planning for your own end-of-life arrangements can be complicated, but planning for your pet’s doesn’t have to be. Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations in Albuquerque, New Mexico provides pet cremations, memorial services, and grief resources to help you say goodbye to your furry family members as peacefully as possible. Reach out to us to learn more at 505-345-5615 .

What to Say to Someone Who Has Lost a Pet

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:50:41 GMT

What to Say to Someone Who Has Lost a Pet

Pets are members of the family, and the loss of a beloved companion can be just as emotionally devastating as the loss of any other loved one. In some ways, the death of a pet can be even more isolating because it’s often misunderstood. People who are not animal lovers will often say things that are unintentionally callous while trying to be comforting. They mean well, but a thoughtless comment can add more pain to one’s grief.

Attitudes that pet death “isn’t a big deal” can make a pet parent feel ashamed or self-conscious of their feelings. They might try to hide their emotions or force themselves to “get over it” too quickly. Unfortunately, being isolated with these unpleasant feelings make grieving the loss of a pet even more difficult than it has to be.

What NOT to Do When Someone’s Pet Dies

If someone in your life has recently lost a pet or is likely to be in that position soon, it’s a good idea to plan what to say in order to offer support. Here are a few tips on things to avoid:

Don’t invalidate their feelings . Statements like “It was just a cat” or “At least you still have your other pets” are unhelpful. The pet parent is grieving because they lost someone special to them, and that loss deserves to be respected and acknowledged for what it is, without any qualifiers.
Don’t add to guilt. Many pet parents find themselves needing to make difficult choices for their pet’s care. It is not helpful to make suggestions for how a medical problem could have been handled differently. Also avoid saying things like “Now he’s not suffering anymore” or “She’s in a better place now” unless that sentiment was one the other person brought up first.
Don’t ask about a replacement. It’s tempting to ask, “So when are you getting another cat?” but avoid pushing this issue, especially if the grief is fresh. Your friend will get a new pet on their own time if they want. Asking about it now just makes it seem like you view their pet as a possession to replace rather than an individual whose loss needs to be mourned.
Don’t make it all about you. It’s easy when you’re trying to sympathize with someone to fall into the trap of talking about yourself instead. You may find yourself saying things like, “I know exactly how you feel. When my cat died…” and start telling a story all about your experience. Sometimes this is well-received, but more often it can be awkward for the recipient and leave them feeling like their feelings don’t matter. Hold off on sharing your experiences until you’re asked for them.

So, with that in mind, what do you say instead?

Express your sympathy. You can keep it simple: “I’m so sorry to hear about Sparky” is as good a starting place as any. “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now” is good, too, because it allows the other person to open up about their feelings if they wish.
Ask questions. Don’t probe for uncomfortable details, but asking questions can help the person feel comfortable talking if they want to. “What happened?” can be good but runs the risk of being upsetting if the death was traumatic. Asking about the pet’s life is a safer option. “How long have you had them?” or “What was your favorite thing to do together?” can get the person focused on good memories rather than painful ones.
Share a favorite memory. If you knew the pet, sharing a favorite memory of your own is a great way to connect. “I never saw her without a soggy tennis ball in her mouth. Remember how she’d always drop one in my lap when we were watching movies?” Even if you didn’t know the pet well, you can acknowledge some other way you know the pet’s life impacted your friend’s. For example, “I remember you telling me about him when you adopted him” or even “Is that the one whose picture is on your desk?” can build a bit of a connection.
Use the pet’s name. Make an effort to use the pet’s name. “I’m sorry about Rover” will always be more heartfelt than “I’m sorry about your dog.”

More often than not, simply being there to listen is the most helpful thing you can do when someone is in pain. Acknowledge their grief, offer your support, and resist the urge to “fix” anything or offer advice. Death is not something that can be “fixed.” The pain will lessen with time, but it’s not your job to hasten that process. It’s your job to be there for your friend or family member.

Other Ways to Offer Sympathy and Support

Aside from being there for your friend, there are a few ways you can show how much you care when a loved one is coping with the loss of a pet:

Send a sympathy card. This is especially helpful if you are long-distance from one another, or when you want to show your support as a group, such as when a coworker is grieving. There are a number of sympathy cards, both pet-specific and generic, that can carry a meaningful sentiment.
Send a gift. Depending on the person, a gift of flowers or a potted plant might be well-received. A donation in the pet’s honor to an animal-related charity can also be a very thoughtful gesture.
Send a memorial gift. Personalized memorial gifts bearing a pet’s name or likeness can be a considerate way to memorialize the animal and show how much you care.

Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations exists to help pet owners say goodbye to their loved ones as peacefully as possible. We offer a variety of pet memorial gifts and options for personalized memorial services. If you’re looking for a way to help your grieving friend memorialize their pet, we can help. To learn more, call our Albuquerque location at 505-345-5615 .

When Should I Get Another Pet After One Dies?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:43:38 GMT

When Should I Get Another Pet After One Dies?

One of the hardest parts of pet ownership is knowing that someday you will have to say goodbye. Because we live much longer than dogs and cats (and birds, and rodents, and reptiles), we will likely outlive many furry companions in our lives, and losing a pet never gets any easier. Whether the loss is sudden and unexpected or comes at the end of a full life or a long terminal illness, the end is the same: a broken heart, and worrying you’ll never again have a bond like the one you had with your special pet.

Whether you are grieving the recent loss of a pet or are looking ahead to the final days of your pet’s life, know that the pain will not last forever. Your heart will heal when the time is right, and you will be able to share a lifetime with many pets if you wish. By giving yourself time and space to heal, and approaching the decision to get another pet carefully, you can honor your pet’s memory in the best way possible: by giving another animal in need a loving home.

A New Pet is a New Relationship, Not a Replacement

A common emotion felt by pet parents looking for a new animal is guilt. After all, isn’t it disloyal to a pet’s memory to rush out and get a substitute? In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. The bond you have with your pet is a special one, and nothing could ever replace them in your life. But getting a new pet isn’t about replacing the old one; it’s about making room in your heart and life for a different relationship with a new companion. Love is an infinite resource; you will never run out!

Don’t Rush Into Getting Another Pet Too Soon

While some may feel they can never have another pet, others may respond to the loss of a pet by wanting to get a new one right away. For a long time, that was the common wisdom: The way to heal is to get a new pet immediately. This is not always the best choice for every family, though.

When you rush to get another pet, you don’t give yourself time to fully grieve your loss. You may find yourself comparing the new pet to the old one, feeling resentment toward the new pet, or struggling to bond with them. You may also be using a new pet as a way to distract yourself from your pain. But in the long term, those feelings need to be confronted and dealt with; hiding from them will merely prolong your mourning.

How Do You Know You’re Ready to Get a New Pet?

The best time to get a new pet is when your heart has healed and you can look forward to building a new relationship with a future companion on its own terms. Here are a few tips for easing that transition:

Be sure everyone is on the same page. Children, spouses and even roommates may be grieving the loss of a pet as well and have opinions about acquiring a new one. Everyone’s needs should be considered before proceeding with the plan to get another animal.
Be sure any other surviving pets have their needs tended to first. Pets grieve, too, and the stress of losing a companion and getting a strange new animal in the home can be a lot to deal with. In some cases, getting a new friend for your surviving pet can really help that animal perk up and overcome its sadness. In other cases, it may be kinder to wait until all elderly pets have passed on before introducing a new pet into the mix.
Take stock of your lifestyle needs. Have you put anything on hold due to your pet? Now may be the time to work on that project or take that vacation you couldn’t do while the animal was ill. It’s not selfish to take some time to tend to any priorities that shifted before jumping into another commitment. Consider what in your life may have changed with the passing of a pet and whether you’d like to change your lifestyle. For example, maybe you always wanted a cat but owned a dog who was not cat friendly. Now might be the time to adopt a cat into your home.
Spend time around other animals. Volunteering at a local animal shelter or being a temporary pet foster home is a good way to get some animal companionship while giving your heart time to heal from a loss. It allows you to enjoy the company of animals without committing to them long-term. If you find it too painful to be around them, or if interacting with shelter animals reminds you too much of your deceased pet, that’s a sign that you still have grief to process and aren’t ready to get a new pet just yet.

Once you’ve determined that you are ready for a new pet, get one quite different from your previous companion. Choose a different color, sex or breed, and give them a name very different from your old pet’s name. This will make you less likely to constantly compare the animals and make it easier to get to know your new pet as a unique individual and new member of the family.

Whether you are struggling with the grief of a recent loss or looking ahead to your pet’s final days, Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations can help. We can provide you with resources for managing your grief. We also offer pet cremation and memorial services and end-of-life planning for pet parents in the Albuquerque area. Reach out to us to learn more.

Seniors and Pet Loss

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:24:17 GMT

Seniors and Pet Loss

What to Know and How to Help

Losing a pet is never easy, but it can be especially devastating for the elderly. Seniors may already be facing a great deal of loss on a day-to-day basis: loss of health, financial security, autonomy, of friends and family. The death of a beloved pet on top of other struggles can feel overwhelming. If you have an elderly loved one facing the loss of a pet, or if you are dealing with a loss yourself, know that the pain is real and valid, but that there are things you can do to help ease grief.

Seniors and their Pets Share a Unique Bond

For many seniors, pets offer more than companionship. They provide structure and routine to the day and provide a sense of responsibility and purpose to a life. Many elderly individuals live alone and may not get out as often as they once did to socialize; a pet could be a primary source of company and comfort. All these factors make losing a pet especially difficult.

Seniors may also grapple with feelings of guilt or shame over the way a pet died, especially if finances were a factor in the outcome. A fixed income may mean making difficult decisions for end-of-life care, and it’s easy to feel guilty for not doing enough even if the outcome would not have changed despite monumental efforts.

The death of a pet can also remind their human parents of their own mortality. It’s natural as people age to think about the end of their lives, but excessively dwelling on death and estate planning can lead to depression and feelings of despair.

Signs of Grief to Look for in the Elderly

If your aging loved one has recently suffered the loss of a pet, it’s important to watch out for these signs and symptoms that show grief has become something more serious:

Sleep disruptions
Weight loss or loss of appetite
General lack of self-care
Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
Reduced desire to socialize
Worsening pain, such as from arthritis or headaches
Persistent fixation on the topic of death or mortality
Feelings of hopelessness or despair

It’s normal to feel sad after the loss of a pet, but if that grief persists for a long time without any relief or leads to the signs listed above, a person’s loss may be affecting their mental health and professional intervention may be needed to help them begin to heal.

How You Can Help a Loved One Cope with the Death of a Pet

There are many things you can do to help someone cope with the loss of a pet. One of the easiest and most helpful is simply to be there and listen. Ask questions and invite the grieving individual to share fond memories and stories about their departed companion. Validate their feelings and be empathetic toward the loss. This can go a long way toward helping ease the pain of these feelings.

You might also want to offer company and friendship if possible. Arrange routine visits or phone calls. Choose an activity you can do together, whether it’s a shared meal, piecing together a puzzle or an afternoon sharing stories on a park bench. If you have a pet of your own to bring along for company, that might be a welcome way to brighten a senior’s day. If not, pet therapy programs exist to bring pets to the homes or care centers of the elderly so they can enjoy the company of an animal without committing to owning one.

Is It Time to Get a New Pet?

Getting a new pet can be a tremendous comfort for a grieving animal lover. Though the new pet is not a replacement for the one who’s passed away, it can help fill the void left behind. Having a pet to love fills a senior’s need for companionship and routine, while forging a new bond can help with healing from loss.

However, there are practical considerations for the elderly that other pet owners may not face when choosing a new pet. The energy needs of a young animal can often be too much to handle. A senior may also worry about what could happen to the pet after they die. This is one reason why many animal shelters and rescue groups offer a “Senior for Seniors” discount, matching up older pets with elderly adopters. Older pets are often calmer and understand basic commands. Since older pets can be difficult to place with new adoptive homes, these programs are valuable for pets and seniors alike.

On the other hand, there are additional practical reasons why a senior citizen should think twice about getting another pet. If their physical health or income make it hard to care properly for an animal, or if transition to assisted living is on the horizon, for example, it might be best to forgo adopting a new companion.

If you are someone who is struggling with the loss of a pet, know that you’re not alone. Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations can help. We can connect you with grief resources, as well as provide pet memorial services to help you honor the animal you love. To learn more about our memorial and cremation services, and grief support, call our Albuquerque, NM office at 505-345-5615 .

How to Deal with Losing a Pet

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:19:43 GMT

How to Deal with Losing a Pet

Many pet owners are unprepared for the emotions that come with the death of a beloved animal. For those who have never experienced pet loss, they may not realize that grief over a pet can be as difficult and overwhelming as the death of a friend or family member. And many people feel embarrassed to be grieving an animal so deeply. But please know—it’s completely normal, healthy and ok to grieve the loss of a pet you loved.

What does grief look like?

Grief doesn’t just look like sadness and tears, it is a complex emotion that affects individuals in a myriad of different ways. Sometimes people are grieving, and don’t recognize that what they are experiencing is actually grief. The following is a list of signs that may indicate you are experiencing grief:

Emotional Signs of Grief

Increased irritability
Numbness
Bitterness
Detachment
Preoccupation with loss
Inability to show or experience joy
Inability to focus or concentrate
Guilt
Feeling alone
Excessive worry
Restlessness
Social anxiety

Physical Signs of Grief

Digestive problems
Fatigue
Headaches
Chest pain
Sore muscles
Sleep disruption

How do I deal with the grief of losing a pet?

Just like grief can manifest in different ways, it can also be managed in different ways for different people. Consider these methods to help cope with your loss:

Cry. Give yourself permission to cry and release emotions.
Find support in a family member or friend.
Create a ritual. A memorial service is one type of goodbye ritual.
Create a legacy, such as planting a tree in their memory, making a photo book of them, or commissioning a piece of art.
Practice self-care. Eat well and stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and exercise. Staying physically healthy can have a huge impact on your emotional wellness too.
Take care of your other pets. They can sense your distress and sadness, and will need your love and attention, as well as keeping to a normal routine. They may also be grieving the loss of your pet, too.
Artistic expression – Drawing, painting, knitting, crafting, wood carving – all of these can be cathartic and soothing ways to cope with grief.
Journal. Write down your feelings or write a letter to your beloved pet.
Seek out support online or ask your veterinarian about pet grief support groups. You’re not alone in this.

If you find that your grief is feeling overwhelming, preventing you from your normal daily activities, or lasts for a prolonged period of time, we encourage you to reach out to a professional grief counselor for help in healing.

Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations helps families in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho say goodbye to their furry family members every day, and we know how difficult it can be. If you have any questions about dealing with grief and loss, or about our cremation and memorial services, please call us at 505-345-5615 .

What to do When a Pet Dies at Home

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:10:24 GMT

What to do When a Pet Dies at Home

As pet owners, we all wish our sweet companions could live forever, young, happy, and free from pain and discomfort. Of course, this isn’t possible, and there will come a day when we have to say goodbye to the friend who made the world a sweeter place to live.

Some pet owners are faced with the decision to euthanize their pet, whether due to terminal illness, injury, or old age that is accompanied by significant loss of quality of life. It’s a deeply personal and often difficult decision to make. We encourage pet owners to seek the guidance of their veterinarian regarding their own animals’ unique circumstances. Others are faced with a pet passing naturally in their own home. Here are some things you should know when dealing with the death of a pet at home.

Look for the signs they are nearing death.

When a cat or dog is nearing the end, their body begins to naturally shut down. There are several signs that signal to an owner that a pet will pass in the next weeks, days or hours. Things such as:

Loss of coordination
Loss of appetite and weight loss
No longer drinking water
Lack of desire to move or fatigue
No longer enjoys activities
Vomiting or incontinence
Muscle twitching
Confusion
Slowed respiration
Inability to get comfortable
A desire to be closer to you or a desire to be alone (some animals will go off and hide)
Loss of consciousness

Try to remain calm.

The reality of our beloved pet no longer being with us is distressing, to say the least. But it’s a natural part of life for every living thing. However, our pets can sense fear, stress and sadness in their owners, which in turn may be stressful for them. For their own peace of mind, try to reassure them that everything is ok, provide them comfort and love, and let them know it’s ok to go.

If possible, make sure they’re comfortable.

If your pet prefers company, you may think about putting their bed next to where you usually sit or by your bed. Provide them with a blanket or soft towel. It’s ok to pet them softly and talk to them. If they want solitude, let them be alone.

How do you know your pet has passed?

You will notice a complete relaxation of the body as they release their last breath. At this time, you should check for respiration and a heartbeat. If you can’t feel a heartbeat after several minutes, you will know for sure that your pet has moved on. You may want to close your pet’s eyes. Sometimes an animal will release any contents of its bladder and bowels, and it’s a good idea to clean them.

Take your time saying goodbye.

Spending some time with your pet after they’ve passed can have a deeply positive impact on the grieving process. Unless they had a transmittable disease, it’s perfectly safe to be near their body. Tell them you love them, give them your last kisses, pets and snuggles, and then wrap them in a clean blanket or towel. If you have other pets, let them see and smell your deceased animal. This will help them understand what happened and why they won’t be around anymore.

Call Best Friends.

Once you’re ready, contact Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations online or call us at 505-345-5615 . A member of our staff will tell you your options and what to expect next. Depending on the services you select, a Best Friends associate will either send someone to come pick up your pet, or you will need to drive them to our facilities at 924 Menaul Blvd NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Be prepared to grieve.

Losing a pet you cared deeply for creates a significant change in your life. Grieving the death of a pet can feel just like grieving a human you love. It’s perfectly normal, and perfectly ok. If you need to, take time to feel and process your loss. Take some time off of work, lean into family and friends, or spend time alone in places that bring you comfort. And remind yourself that your pet was loved, led a good life, and is at peace.

How to Talk to Your Child About the Loss of a Pet

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:00:14 GMT

How to Talk to Your Child About the Loss of a Pet

Losing a pet is always hard, but it can be especially tough for kids. Pets are members of the family, and kids often bond very closely with them. In many cases, the loss of a pet is a child’s first experience with death and significant grief. It can be hard to explain death to a child, especially when you are mourning yourself. But helping your child find healthy ways to express their feelings can help not just with overcoming the pain of losing a pet, but also with handling future losses later in life.

Every Child Grieves Differently

A child’s understanding of death changes with age. Children under the age of five don’t really understand the permanence of death and may need it to be explained more than once that a pet will not be coming back. Older kids that have a better understanding of what death means but may have a lot of questions about what happened. Older kids and teenagers may struggle with expressing their emotions and may be embarrassed to be seen grieving. At all ages, the death of a pet can inspire worries about a child’s own mortality or the loss of other loved ones and caretakers.

Children are unique individuals, and no two people react to a loss the same way. A child’s response to a pet’s death will depend on the child’s age, their relationship to the pet, the circumstances of the death and so forth.

A wide range of emotions might be experienced during grief: sadness, anger, frustration, guilt, loneliness. The symptoms of grief can manifest in many different ways:

Anger, resentment and lashing out
Refusing to do chores or trouble with schoolwork
Indifference, coldness, quietness, or despondency
Physical manifestations such as upset stomach
Nightmares and sleep disruptions
Regressing to an earlier stage of development, like a return to thumb-sucking or bed-wetting

All of these are common and natural reactions to intense stress and emotional turmoil. It’s important to let your child know that these emotions are normal. Simply naming and validating their feelings can help a lot with overcoming grief.

If your child exhibits any physical symptoms for more than a few days, or if their symptoms become severe enough to disrupt day-to-day life, seeking the help of a medical professional is a good idea. You may also want to consult with a child psychologist or grief counselor to help your child and other family members through a tough time.

How To Explain the Death of a Pet to a Child

When you have time to prepare, it’s a good idea to discuss the approaching loss with your child and answer some of their questions in advance of the event. If you know, for example, that the pet will be euthanized, you can prepare your child by explaining how the process works. You may say that the pet is sick and will never get better, but euthanasia is a way to allow them to pass away peacefully without any pain. If the death is more sudden or unexpected, you’ll want to be as honest as possible about what happened without going into unwanted or traumatizing details—let your child’s questions guide the information you offer.

Here are a few more tips for discussing pet loss with a child:

Use simple, direct language that the child can understand
Use the words “death” and “dead” rather than euphemisms
Make sure the child understands that death is a permanent and irreversible state
Answer your child’s questions with as much detail as seems appropriate
Encourage your child to talk about their feelings
Acknowledge the different emotions that make up grief and be aware that grieving is not a linear process; your child may have a mix of bad days and good days while coming to terms with the loss
Suggest ways to memorialize the pet as a way to process the grief

DON'T

Use euphemisms that might confuse a child such as “put to sleep” without making the meaning very clear
Lie about what happened to the pet (“Kitty ran away” instead of saying Kitty died)
Ignore a child’s questions or punish them for asking “morbid” or “impolite” questions
Panic if you see your child incorporating themes of death and dying into their playtime; this is a normal way for kids to process emotions

After the death of a pet, your child may be concerned about other people in the family dying. If your child asks about your death, you might explain it in terms such as, “Every living thing dies, but most people die when they are very old. I plan on being around for a very long time.” It may also be helpful to explain to your child about the concept of “dog years” or “cat years” and explain that different animals have different natural lifespans.

There are a number of age-appropriate books written to help explain the topic of pet death to children. Some popular ones include:

Sammy in the Sky, by Barbara Walsh
The Goodbye Book, by Todd Parr
When a Pet Dies, by Fred Rogers
Saying Goodbye to Lulu, by Corinne Demas
Goodbye, Mousie, by Robie H. Harris

If you know that a pet is nearing the end of its life, purchasing or borrowing a book from the library in advance and reading it together can help prepare your child for the future event.

Pet Memorial Services Are a Healthy Way to Process Grief at Any Age

One of the best ways to cope with loss and grief is to memorialize the departed. Holding a memorial service for your sweet companion or coming up with a creative way for your child and other family members to honor and remember the life of your animal can help tremendously with healing.

Pet memorial ideas might include:

Keepsakes such as pawprints, fur clippings, or the animal’s collar kept safely in a display
A memorial or ash scattering service to gather together and tell stories about your companion and lay them to rest
Writing a letter thanking the pet for all the good things it brought to the family, or a poem that can be framed and hung
Making a photo album or collage of your animal with photos and memories

You can explain to your child that grief is born from love: We mourn a loss because we care so deeply for the animal that died. By channeling that love into a memorial service or ritual, you and your child can build a place in your hearts for the pet’s memory to live on forever.

Best Friends is here to guide your family through this difficult time. We offer compassionate cremation services, personalized pet memorial keepsakes, urns and jewelry, and memorial services that can help you say goodbye to your sweet furry family member. Call us at 505-345-5615 or stop by our Albuquerque, New Mexico location to learn more about how we can help.

Animals Grieve, Too

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:50:38 GMT

Animals Grieve, Too

How to comfort your other pets after one dies.

The loss of a furry friend affects everyone in the family – including other pets. This is especially true for bonded companion animals. When your dog or cat loses their favorite playmate, it’s normal for them to go through a period of mourning. Understanding the signs of grief in animals and knowing what to do to ease your companion’s pain can help both of you through the loss of a beloved pet.

Do Pets Understand Death?

Because animals cannot tell us what they’re thinking and feeling, we can only infer from their actions what they may be going through. It’s likely that animals don’t understand death the same way that we do. They’re more likely to live in the moment and probably don’t grapple with the concept of mortality. But animals certainly do show signs of grief and mourning after the loss of loved ones.

In the wild, many animals have been observed grieving in ways quite similar to our own. Elephants will carry the remains of herd members who have passed on and will stay near the bodies of their deceased companions for days in what could be perceived as a mourning ritual. Apes, birds, and dolphins have all been documented as expressing sadness and grief in the wild. Even the smallest of domestic animals like rats and rabbits can become depressed after losing a playmate.

One thing that often helps is to let your surviving animal see and smell the deceased pet. This is the only way to communicate with your dog or cat that a loss has occurred and that their friend won’t be coming home. Animals who have a chance to see the body are less likely to look around the house for their missing companion.

Another thing to consider is how other members of the household are coping with their own grief. Animals are highly empathetic, and your dog or cat will almost certainly pick up on your mood. Your pet may not understand why you are upset, but your sadness can affect their mood as well. It’s normal for an animal’s behavior to change for a while during this time of mourning as other household members grapple with a loss.

Signs of Grief in Animals

Just like humans, animals are individuals and all of them grieve in different ways. Some pets will be quite stoic, and others may seem entirely unaffected. It’s important to remember that the response a pet has to the death of another animal has no malicious intent; your pet is simply coping with their loss the only way they know how.

There are several common signs of grief in dogs and cats:

Loss of appetite or disinterest in food and treats
Irritability and stand-offish behavior
Sleeping more than usual or seeming sluggish and depressed
Neediness or “clingy” behavior and demands for attention
New behavioral problems such as inappropriate chewing or “accidents” in the house
Changes in vocalization, such as whimpering and crying
Sleeping in the deceased pet’s favorite spot, playing with their toys, rolling in their scent, etc.
Searching the house or yard for the missing family member

The duration of these symptoms can vary from a few days to several weeks or even months depending on the animal’s personality and the strength of their bond with the deceased pet. If you have multiple surviving pets, their behaviors and relationships may go through a transition as they work out a new hierarchy and cope with the loss of a packmate or friend. Don’t be surprised if pets who previously got along fine suddenly start to fight; this is a normal part of the animal grieving process. Only step in if it looks like someone might get hurt or if one pet is looking especially harassed.

If your pet’s grief symptoms are severe or don’t seem to improve with time, it’s a good idea to consult a veterinarian. There are homeopathic and natural remedies available to help with severe grief in animals, and your veterinarian may be able to prescribe treatments that can ease behavioral problems or depression in your pet. You’ll also want to speak to a veterinarian right away if your pet refuses to eat and is showing any signs of illness such as fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. Ruling out physical illness is an important step in helping your companion cope with grief.

How to Help Your Pet Through Grief

When your household is dealing with the loss of a pet, everyone grieves in their own way. This is just as true for your pet as for you and the other humans in the household. For this reason, there is no “one size fits all” approach to helping your pet through the loss of a companion. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind that can help ease the pain of loss for your furry companion:

Maintain routine. Pets may not understand the concept of death, but they certainly understand disruptions to their routine. Try to keep your pet’s schedule as consistent as possible to reduce stress and anxiety.
Don’t reinforce negative behaviors. Though it’s tempting to try to soothe or baby your pet when they’re crying or acting up, this can backfire by reinforcing those behaviors. It’s best to ignore unwanted behavior and maintain a calm, gentle presence rather than feeding into the animal’s negative conduct.
Keep active. Exercise is a mood-booster for animals and people alike. Introduce additional play sessions or long walks with your pet to provide distraction and stimulation to combat depression. Introducing new, challenging toys like food puzzles can help keep your pet’s mind occupied when you’re not around to offer distraction.
Listen to your pet’s needs. If your pet is feeling extra clingy or affectionate, it’s fine to indulge in more cuddle time than usual. But if your pet is aloof in their depression, don’t try to force interaction. Leave some space for your pet to come to you when they’re ready.

Grief is painful, and coping with the loss of a pet takes time. But by being there and helping your pet through the mourning process, you can start on your own path toward healing as well. Whether you’re anticipating the passing of a beloved pet or have recently experienced a loss, Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations in Albuquerque, New Mexico is here to help however we can. We offer pet cremation services and pet memorial services. Call us at 505-345-5615 to learn more or schedule services

What kind of animals can be cremated?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:44:56 GMT

What kind of animals can be cremated?

The people at Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations know that beloved companions come in all shapes, sizes and species, and that the love you have for your pet is much bigger than they are. Most of the animals we take into our care are dogs and cats, but we are honored to help you say goodbye to other species as well, including:

Rabbits
Ferrets
Birds
Small pigs
Snakes
Lizards
Guinea pigs
Rats
Alpacas
Goats

Some animals we cannot accommodate include llamas, horses, and livestock such as cows and large pigs due to their size and weight. As much as we wish we could welcome every type of animal, we do have a weight limit of 300 pounds. If you are in need of cremation services for an animal that exceeds 300 pounds, we recommend that you reach out to your veterinarian for their services or for recommendations for large animal cremation.

All creatures, great or small, can be remembered in a meaningful way. Best Friends offers a diverse selection of customizable urns and keepsake mementos to hold your pet’s ashes, so your best friend can stay by your side forever. We can also help you plan a unique memorial ceremony for your family and friends to say goodbye and lay your pet to rest, whether they wagged, purred, swam or flew.

If you’re unsure whether cremation is right for your pet, we are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have and to provide our compassionate and expert guidance. Just call us in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 505-345-5615 .

10 Ways to Make Your Dog’s Life the Best it Can Be

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:48:53 GMT

10 Ways to Make Your Dog’s Life the Best it Can Be

Pet parents want the absolute best for their animals, and jump through hoops to ensure their companions are the healthiest, happiest, and good-smelling-est they can be. But providing your dog with the best life doesn’t necessarily mean buying her weight in chew toys or spending a pretty penny on top-shelf kibbles. Here are ten simple things you can do to keep that tail wagging for as long as possible.

1. They are what they eat.

Just like humans, nutrition has a huge impact on the quality and length of life for a dog. Table scraps of fatty, sugary human food can give your pooch indigestion, or worse, induce pancreatitis. Other seemingly harmless people foods can also hurt your pet, such as peanut butter that contains xylitol, or grapes. Ask your veterinarian to help guide you in what foods and treats are best for your unique canine, so you can make sure they’re as pampered on the inside as they are on the outside.

2. Speaking of the outside…

Dogs may like to roll in questionable things from time to time, but keeping them clean and brushed regularly makes them feel more comfortable. Matted hair can tug on their skin, and also makes it easier for parasites to hide. If your dog has long hair, be sure to keep it trimmed out of their eyes. Being able to see can help keep them out of harm’s way. If you bathe them at home, be sure to use products specifically created for canines. Human shampoo can be irritating to a dog’s skin. And be sure to keep their nails trimmed, as they’re more comfortable to move around with, and long dew claws can catch on things and injure your sweet pooch.

3. Pups love pals.

Dogs are pack animals, and love playing with other four-legged friends. Regular doggie playdates with other well-socialized dogs can be extremely enjoyable, and help provide fun exercise.

4. Oral health is critical.

Dogs need dental care too. Just like humans, they are prone to tartar build-up and gum disease if their teeth are neglected. To nip nasty breath, plaque and expensive dental surgery in the bud, it’s recommended that dog owners brush their pet’s teeth every day with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Annual professional teeth cleanings and dental chew treats can also help prevent painful gum disease and tooth decay. Click here for a list of products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Counsel.

5. Yearly checkups are a dog’s best friend (besides you, of course).

All pets should be seen by a vet annually, not just when they are sick or injured. Regular wellness appointments can improve your dog’s lifespan by ensuring they’re receiving their vaccinations on schedule and catching any medical problems before they become a more serious issue, especially as dogs age.

6. A walk a day keeps the doctor away.

Daily exercise is crucial to keep your dog healthy and happy. It can be difficult for many pet parents to find time in their busy schedules to provide daily exercise, but finding an activity you and your dog both enjoy and working it into your daily routine can make it easier to turn into a habit. Walks around the park, playing catch at the park, or tug-of-war in the yard are all fun for your pet. Besides helping keep the weight off, regular exercise provides them with mental stimulation, and helps you stay fit, too.

7. Keep boredom at bay.

Mental stimulation can have big benefits for our clever companions. New sights, smells, tastes and activities help exercise the brain and gratify dogs’ natural curiosity about the world around them. And it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks—which helps keep them spry.

8. Loosen up a little.

A dog’s collar can be a life saving accessory. But can you imagine what it would be like if you had to sleep in one all night? Besides being less comfortable than sleeping au naturel, the jingling of tags can be less than ideal when your dog is trying to snooze. Consider removing their collar at night time when they’re safe and secure in the house, and be sure to give their neck a good scratch while you’re at it.

9. Love is an action.

Your sweet friend deserves all the rubs, scratches and massages he or she can get. Massages promote relaxation, healing and bonding, and c’mon—they feel amazing.

10. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Just as dogs needs play and exercise, they need to rest too. Make sure they have a comfortable and quiet place to go to when they want to chill out and relax. If they’ve had a activity filled day, try to make sure they’re not overstimulated or pushed beyond their limits. Just like humans, our fur-babies need their beauty rest, too.

Having a dog really is a lot like having a human child. They require attention to their health and wellbeing, both physically, mentally, and emotionally. When you can meet these needs, you help extend their life and make it a happy one. And remember, the one thing you can’t give too much of to a dog is love, so be sure to pile that on in copious amounts.

You Know You’re a Pet Parent When…

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:39:00 GMT

You Know You’re a Pet Parent When…

10 things only those with fur-babies will understand.

There are two kinds of people: those who keep animals as pets, and those who keep animals as family. The former may not understand the level of love and devotion that pet parents bestow on their companions, and that’s ok. But for those who have carved out a special place in their homes and their hearts for their pets, here’s a list of things all pet parents can relate to.

1. They are not “Its”

Our pets are not objects, they’re family. How would you feel if someone called your human baby an “it”? Probably just as appalled as pet parents would. A pet parent’s animals should be referred to by their name or appropriate gender, thank you very much. And don’t call them by their special nickname, either. That’s reserved for their closest companions only.

2. Their fashion has a function.

When we put sweaters, bowties, cute little parkas, shoes, hats, tutus….where were we? Oh, yeah. When we clothe our critters, it’s not so we can strut them down the catwalk (go ahead, roll your eyes). Sure, it is fun to add a little swagger to their wag, but they oftentimes need the extra layers. The sidewalks in New Mexico can scorch little paws, while our desert winters are too cold for many shorthaired breeds. Why not make our animals look snazzy while protecting them from the elements?

3. You brush their teeth regularly.

And just like human kids, it can be a struggle. But you know that your pet’s oral hygiene isn’t just for less offensive breath, it’s good for your pet’s health. Tarter and plaque buildup can be dangerous to their health and be expensive to treat, and it’s important to take preventative action.

4. You pass on happy hour with co-workers.

When your pet has already been home alone for eight hours while you’re at work, you can’t imagine hitting Nob Hill for dinner or drinks until you’ve let your dog out to go to the bathroom, fed them and spoiled them with treats, made sure their water dish is full and supplied them with plenty of scratches and snuggles. Besides, it’s no secret that you prefer the company of your fur-baby over human interaction, anyway.

5. In fact, they determine where you spend a lot of your free time.

Does your pooch fare better hiking the shadier trails of the Sandias? Do you only eat out at restaurants with animal-friendly patios? Do you end up relaxing with a book for hours to snuggle up with your kitty? If you can’t bring your pet with you, you’re going to think twice about going.

6. There’s a blurred line between cute and disgusting.

They just ate something disgusting from the trash/compost/litterbox. And you let them kiss you anyway. They dragged something dead inside just for you. You’ve shampooed them 5 times already and they still smell like skunk, but you would never make them feel bad by banishing them from your bed. What can we say. Love is blind. And nauseating.

7. You spoil them.

You spend just as much time and money shopping for birthday and holiday gifts for your furry companion than you do the rest of your family. Your floors are covered in chew toys and catnip-filled stuffies. There’s a pet bed in every room. Does kitty need a remote controlled mouse? Yes. Yes she does.

8. Your bed is really their bed.

Your pet takes up the entire bed and pushes you to the very edge, while flopping their paws on your face, all while snoring like a chainsaw. Even though you’ve slept terribly ever since bringing them home, you can’t imagine not waking up to their sweet whiskery face. And every time they nap, you take a picture to capture that similar-but-not-quite-the-same-pose of cuteness. It’s probably time to buy more memory in the cloud.

9. Your life is measured in “before” and “after.”

It’s hard to imagine what life was like before you brought your companion into your life. And you don’t want to imagine what it will be like after they’re gone. But how you think of the timeline of your own life is now based on when you became a mom or dad.

10. You know you’re a pet parent because you will always remember your first love.

Saying goodbye is something all pet owners know they’ll have to do one day. When that time comes, we want it to be as peaceful as possible. Best Friends Pet Passings & Cremations in Albuquerque, New Mexico is here to help families part with their beloved animals in the most comforting way they can, and to help keep their memories alive. Reach out to us at 505-345-5615 to schedule services or to learn more.

Should I Cremate My Pet?

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:32:15 GMT

Should I Cremate My Pet?

It’s not a question pet owners ever want to have to think about. But when the day does come to say goodbye, it’s a question that will need to be considered. Just like people, the remains of our sweet companions must be taken care of, either through cremation or burial. If you’re unsure of which method is best for you and your family, here are some questions to ask yourself to help guide you when making a decision.

Do you own property to bury your pet?

Many pet owners rent their homes. For them, burial may not be an option due to their property manager or HOA not allowing it. Not wanting to give their pet a final resting place that isn’t necessarily their own permanent residence is also a reason some people prefer cremation over burial.

For those who can’t bury at home but still want a burial, many cemeteries have designed areas just for furry friends. Reach out to Best Friends if you’d like to learn more about this option.

How large is your pet?

At Best Friends, we provide cremation services to creatures great and small. However, if your own animal isn’t small, you may not have the space nor the desire to dig a grave large enough to accommodate them. Animals must be buried three to five feet under the surface of the ground, and at least 100 feet away from a water source. This rules out the option of burying a pet for many families.

Where do you want your pet’s final resting place to be?

With cremation, you have many different options when it comes to choosing where to place their ashes. Did your pet have a favorite place to play or bask in the sun? Scattering allows for your pet to be laid to rest in a place that held meaning for you both. As long as you obtain permission from the owner or entity of a property that’s not yours, many places will allow scattering.

Cremation also allows you to keep your pet’s remains close to you. There are many ways to do this. An urn can be kept in your home, while keepsake jewelry that holds a small amount of ashes can be worn, allowing them to be by your side at all times. Some creative ways of keeping a companion’s ashes is to have them mixed into paint and commission an artist to paint their portrait. Cremation also allows a pet’s remains to be divided among different family members so each person can keep them close. Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations has a diverse selection of urns and keepsakes to choose from. And for those who want to spend eternity with their companion, being buried or scattered along with a pet’s cremated remains is possible.

With cremation, you can memorialize your pet without a gravesite. Headstones or plaques can create symbolic and meaningful markers that family members can return to, to honor and remember their companion with. Memorials don’t have to be traditional either. Dedicating a tree or bench in your dog’s favorite park, having a piece of art made, or framing their collar and dog tags are all beautiful ways to pay tribute to your pet.

Are you planning a memorial service?

Our pets may not be human, but they are family, and a funeral or memorial service allows for closure and can be a healing experience for a family and their friends. If choosing burial, a graveside memorial service would need to happen within a day or two of the pet’s passing. Cremation allows a family more time to plan a meaningful service and to notify guests of the event. However, there is no rule that says a family can’t have multiple memorial services. Best Friends can help you plan a personalized service that brings some peace to your goodbye.

If you’re still unsure whether or not cremation is right for you and your pet, that’s ok. We are available to answer any questions you may have, discuss your options in detail, and help you make an informed decision that brings you peace of mind. Call us at 505-345-5615 or send us a message and we’ll get back to you promptly.

What to Expect With Pet Cremation

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:28:16 GMT

What to Expect With Pet Cremation

Cremation of a loved one is a thought most people prefer to push out of their mind, and only think about it once someone has died. The same goes for losing a pet. The idea of cremating your companion can feel uncomfortable and sad. At Best Friends, we believe that knowledge of our cremation process can help alleviate any anxiety and make it easier and even comforting for the family.

After a pet has been euthanized or passes naturally, you may call Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations and schedule services over the phone, use our online tool to make final arrangements, or come to our facility at 924 Menaul Blvd NE in Albuquerque.

When the family is ready, a member of our team will pick up your pet from your home or veterinary clinic in the Albuquerque or Rio Rancho area, and bring them to our facilities. If you prefer, you may bring your pet to us during business hours. The family is given time to say goodbye at the time of transfer, or may request to schedule a viewing prior to cremation services. Our compassionate team will prepare your pet in a private room where you and your loved ones can spend time saying goodbye to your companion.

Afterward, your loved one will be taken to our pet crematory in a simple and dignified cremation container. If you have chosen a private cremation, your companion is placed in the cremation chamber alone. If a communal cremation was chosen, your companion is placed in the cremation chamber along with other animals. The chamber is then turned on, and heated to temperatures reaching 1500 and 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

After an hour or two, a pet’s body is reduced to bone fragments. The fragments are then crushed into what most people know as ashes, or cremated remains. These remains are mostly made up of dry calcium phosphates with some minor minerals, such as salts of sodium and potassium. They are not toxic to you or the environment.

If the family chooses a private cremation, their pet’s ashes are placed in either an urn we provide or one that they have purchased, and returned to the family. Best Friends provides a beautiful selection of urns to choose from and many of our urns can be engraved with your companion’s name or meaningful phrase. A family may choose to have the remains returned to them in a special scattering urn if they intend to scatter their pet’s ashes. We also offer a curated selection of keepsake items to help keep your loved one’s memory alive, including personalized jewelry that holds a small amount of their ashes, paw print or nose print memorial art, and photo boxes. Please reach out to us to learn more about our memorialization options.

The family may choose to keep the cremated remains with them in an urn, bury them in a small grave on their own property or another place that holds special significance, or as we mentioned before, scatter the ashes somewhere meaningful. If a communal cremation was chosen, the remains are placed in an ossuary specially designated for beloved animals.

If you have any questions about pet cremation or our other services, Best Friends is always here to help. Just reach out to us at 505-345-5615 . If you or a loved one is struggling with the loss of a pet, we encourage seeking out the help of a professional grief counselor.

Guilt After Euthanasia

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:20:51 GMT

Guilt After Euthanasia

How to Find Peace of Mind

The decision to put down an animal companion is one of the hardest many people will have to make. There are many different situations a pet owner can face that make assisting your pet with a peaceful death the best choice for you both. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have feelings of remorse or guilt.

You may ask yourself if you did everything possible, if you made the decision too soon, if you should have gotten a second opinion. In fact, questioning your decision is normal, and something many people face after putting their pet to sleep.

Get the Best Advice

When you’ve sought out the professional opinion of an expert, i.e. experienced veterinarian, you are more likely to have peace of mind if it’s time to put your pet to sleep. They will be able to examine your animal and tell you your options and advise you on the best way to proceed. If you want a second opinion, you’re free to do that, to ensure you’re making the best and most well-informed decision possible.

Sometimes, the decision whether or not to euthanize isn’t medically or age related. Other factors may play a role, such as not being able to afford treatment or a substantial life change. These circumstances can make a pet owner feel even more guilty for feeling like they have to put their pet down. But it’s important to take care of yourself, too.

And euthanasia doesn’t have to be the solution for many of these situations. Many vets may offer financing options to help ease the financial burden. There are also online resources that will help with medical expenses, and there are organizations that can help you find a new home for your animal.

A Best Last Day

When you know the time to say goodbye is coming, it allows you to plan what Best Friends calls a ‘Best Last Day.’ It’s a day full of snuggles and treats with your pet, and doing all their favorite things. A Best Last Day can help ease the transition from life to loss, and put your mind at ease knowing you were able to spend meaningful time with your pet and provide them with love and joy. We’ve compiled a list of ideas to help you create some beautiful final memories with your best friend.

Allow Yourself to Grieve

Pets are not “just pets.” Pets are deeply loved members of the family who provide companionship, emotional support and who love you back. Losing a pet is no different than losing a person you love. Their death creates a void in your life that was once filled with joy and comfort. To mourn the loss of a pet is normal.

Grief is also more than just feelings of sadness. Emotions can include anger, shock, denial, numbness and guilt. It can also include relief, like when a beloved pet has suffered. Grief can also intensify emotions, making you feel them more intensely than you normally would. We encourage those grieving the loss of their companion to reach out to speak to a therapist or grief counselor, or to find support through family or friends who understand what you’re going through.

Be Gentle on Yourself

People put down their companions because they love them and want the best for them: because they’re sick or suffering, have become a danger to themselves or others, or they want to ease the process of death for senior animals. They choose euthanasia out of compassion. Have compassion for yourself, too.

There is no multiple choice test that will definitively tell us when it’s the perfect time to help our pet pass. We must rely on the professional opinions of veterinarians, as well as our own knowledge and insights of our own animals. We do the very best we can. And that’s the best we can do.

By giving your pet the best life possible, and helping them pass as peacefully as they can, you are being the best companion you could ever be. It’s natural to feel conflicted when it’s time to say goodbye to someone you love. When that day comes, we will be here to help you honor them in a way that brings you comforts and peace of mind.

5 Things to do with Your Pet’s Ashes

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:14:09 GMT

5 Things to do with Your Pet’s Ashes

When the heart-wrenching but inevitable day comes when you must say goodbye to your pet, you may decide that cremation is the best option for you and your family. But the decision to cremate the animal you love is really two decisions in one. You’ll also have to decide what you want to do with the cremated remains, or ashes. At Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, individuals and families who choose private cremation are faced with this decision. There are several things you can do with your companion’s remains that can bring you comfort and keep their memory alive.

Keep Them Close

Many people choose to take their pet’s ashes home with them. This can be a comforting reminder of the joy they brought to your life. At Best Friends, we provide an urn with all private cremations that can be engraved with your pet’s name or a favorite quote. We also have a selection of unique urns if you prefer something different, as well as keepsake boxes, glass sculptures made from their ashes, and prints of your animal’s paw or nose.

Another way to keep them close to your heart is through jewelry. A necklace, keychain or bracelet that holds a small amount of ashes creates a meaningful connection to your companion.

Scatter Somewhere Special

Not everyone finds comfort in keeping their pet’s ashes at home. Releasing the ashes in a place that held special significance for you or your pet can be a beautiful step in the process of letting go and healing from grief. Perhaps this is off a hiking trail, in the backyard, or a favorite camping spot. Keep in mind that if you plan to scatter on property that isn’t yours, you’ll need to get permission first, and any required permits.

At Best Friends, we provide families who plan to scatter with a scattering tube. This is an eco-friendly container made with paper components. Like a permanent urn, a scattering tube can be personalized with the name of your pet. The ashes are placed inside the tube and when the family is ready to scatter, the lid is removed, and the ashes are released in an easy and efficient way.

Burial

Many people don’t know that you can bury cremated remains as well. By burying the ashes in an urn or box, you can create a smaller grave while providing you and your family with a permanent place to memorialize your pet. If you own your own property, this can be a beautiful reminder of your companion, and a comfort knowing they’re close by. Other places you can bury the ashes include a pet cemetery or at the base of a special tree. Like with scattering, be sure to get permission before burying ashes on property that isn’t yours.

Some individuals choose to have their pet’s remains buried with them when it’s their own time. This requires some planning and logistics, but it is definitely an option. Knowing your bond in life will be symbolized after death can be an extremely comforting to someone who loved their pet deeply.

Water Burial

Technically, a water burial isn’t a burial at all, but scattering ashes over a body of water. This can be a meaningful way to remember the dog who loved to swim in the river or keep you company while fishing. In New Mexico, we are far from the ocean, but the Federal Clean Water Act still has rules regarding scattering on inland water. To scatter on a river or lake, you may be legally required to obtain a permit from the state agency that manages the particular body of water.

Niches

Many cemeteries have an area designated just for furry (and feathery, and scaley…) friends. This can include ground burial, but they also may offer niches to keep one or more urns in. Oftentimes, these niches can be engraved with the name of your pet and any special words or sayings.

Losing an animal that felt more like family can be extremely difficult, and grieving your pet is a normal and healthy reaction. Memorializing them after cremation can bring comfort and peace of mind. At Best Friends, we are here to make this experience as easy as it can possibly be, and provide you with what you need to honor your pet.

Learn more about our cremation services or memorialization options, or call us at 505-345-5615 .

Best Friends Deserve the Best Last Day

duda@aftercare.com (Tukios Websites) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 16:28:58 GMT

Best Friends Deserve the Best Last Day

As much as we all try to push it out of our minds, every pet parent knows that one day they will have to say goodbye to the animal that has stolen their heart. If we’re lucky enough, that day comes when our companion’s fur is kissed with silver, after a long and love-filled life.

Deciding to put down a pet, whether due to the pains of old age or terminal illness, is one of the most difficult decisions a pet parent must make. But it can bring peace and relief to you both, knowing they’re no longer in any pain and you helped them have a quick and tranquil passing. Giving your pet a best last day can add joy and comfort to an extremely difficult time.

A best last day is just that—the day or hours before putting a pet to sleep that are filled with everything they love the most. A best last day is one last day to spoil your best friend, shower them in love and give yourself one last trove of beautiful memories.

Here are some ways to gift your own loved one with the best last day possible when it’s time to say goodbye:

Take the day off work
Go through a drive-thru for a special treat
A drive to a favorite park with the window down
Lots and lots of belly rubs
A swim in the river or lake
Naps with the family
Their favorite human food, such as cheeseburgers, bacon, peanut butter or cooked steak
Play ball, frisbee or tug of war (but stop when they become tired or winded)
Go on an easy hike in the mountains or the bosque
Let them sleep in your bed
Read your favorite book to them
Social time at their favorite dog park
A new, exciting toy
Visits with their favorite humans
Quiet time to rest without TV, music or distractions
Capture moments of joy with your camera

Your own companion will have unique needs, preferences and abilities. Only you will know what will truly make your sweet friend’s last day special for them, and what types of activities they will be physically able to participate in.

The day you have to say goodbye will not be easy. But a perfect day spoiling and loving your pet will give you memories that will comfort you both and help leave you at peace.