Some of my best childhood memories involve our family pets. My whole family and I were dog lovers. We had fun with Benson and Suzy, our two Maltese Poodles. To us, they were as much a part of our family as any human. And when our dogs had litters of puppies, we all got involved and played with the newest members of our extended family.
Now, having a family of my own, we are cat lovers. Rocky, who was our first child per se, died a couple of years ago. This was heart wrenching for us as a family, especially for my kids. Since then we have had several pet fish funerals as well. Each time, I have to comfort a grieving child due to the loss of a family friend.
I have though a lot about the grief we go through when we lose a pet, a family member. We become strongly attached to our pets due to their unconditional love for us. This unconditional love, at times, can seem to be missing in other aspects of our lives. The bond that we can build between an animal friend is amazing.
Earlier this year, we opened up Cottonwood Canyons Pet Memorial Garden at our Mountain View Memorial Cemetery in Cottonwood Heights. We, as a company, believe this will be a successful venture because of our experiences with our own pet family members. As you visit this pet garden, you feel a reverence for those animals that have touched people’s lives. In the Memorial Garden rests animals that have perhaps filled the measure of their creation by bringing joy to you and me. What a comfort it is to have a place for reflection and to remember the life of a family friend. This is just another way that we at Memorial Mortuaries & Cemeteries are helping people honor the lives of those in whom they cherish. I am Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC, and I thought you might like to know.
Brandon W. Burningham CFSP, CPC
I have been researching green funerals/burials. I live in Southern CO and so far there is no preserve of nature for green burials in CO. A development in Denver is under the planning stage but I don’t want to be buried on the front range. Anyway, I am looking for scenic land preservation green options and see Bountiful, UT is one of the closest to where I am currently. I saw the link to the blog hoping for more info on this subject but the Pet title caught my eye. I think it is a wonderful idea with great financial possibilities. I liked your words about pets in your family and your experience. As a animal lover, I have rescued many neglected and abandoned animals and they indeed are my family. Best wishes to you and the Pet Memorial Garden. If I choose Bountiful, UT as my final resting place I would definitely look at the pet burial options. Michele