Pet Memorial- Creating a Garden for a Pet that Has Passed
One of the most wonderful ways that you can honour the loss of a pet is in the creation of a pet garden. This type of pet memorial works well with both pet cremation and in-ground burial. Gardens are completely personal and can include herb or floral selections that are specific to your pet. Burial markers are a way to express the love that you had and are used in both cat and dog funerals and pet memorials.
When deciding on a garden you may want permanent flowers, annuals or perennials. The choice will depend upon the weather and seasons. Some choose small fountains so that birds and other creatures can share in the beauty. Others decide on creating a butterfly garden, through the use of organic plants and flowers that don’t have pesticides.
The beauty of a pet garden is that it is eternally growing and changing. It displays the wonders of nature and can be enjoyed by family members as a way to honour your beloved pet. There is a unique bond between pet parents and those that are furred or feathered and it often transcends beyond the feelings that we have within our human groups. It is therefore understandable that some have great difficulty going through the grieving process, feeling powerless and alone. A pet garden is a physical action that you and your family can take to help you get through this difficult time.
When you select garden creation, the process should involve all family members that want to participate. They can help to choose the flowers and plants, decide on what a market should say and even help in creating the overall look and feel of the garden. One of the most important factors in a pet garden is the location. It should be in a place that can allow the reverence needed as family members visit. Some choose to add a permanent bench so that those that want to talk and meditate have a comfortable place to do so.
It’s important to create a pet memorial garden that honours your pet but also encompasses an appeal that is open and welcoming for all that visit. Understand that many of the initial plants and flowers may not last with time and make it a family responsibility to select new ones as replacements. This empowers those that feel the loss so great and gives them the opportunity to participate in an act of love for their lost pet. For children old enough, you can allocate specific responsibilities so that they know that they are doing their part in honouring their lost loved one. This is also an excellent way for them to accept the loss. Kids often have a difficult time processing death and giving them a duty for the garden will assist in the acceptance.
When you lose a beloved pet, there is a sense of loneliness. Normal routines are no longer there and there is an emptiness that can be partially replaced by visiting your pet garden.