Good-Bye My Friend
Author: Michele Lanci-Altomare

Broward Pet Cemetery & Crematory, Plantation, Florida

Initially, the prayer at graveside would choke me up—still does occasionally. It gratifies me to listen and offer sympathy to clients as they talk about their deceased companions—I think it helps them get through this very trying time. There once was a family who bought a bubble maker to the cemetery, and after the service, when my staff and I had walked away, they blew bubbles into the air above the grave—obviously a game they played with their dog when he was alive.
—Ernest E. Seiler, Jr., D.V.M., Broward Pet Cemetery and Crematory

I have always had two or three pets. Right now, I have two cats and two dogs. I cannot say my pets have gone into grieving over each other. Maybe it’s because at the loss of one, we cling to the living pets. I still feel the presence of my deceased pets. Maybe it’s because that is the window my cat looked out of, this is my dog’s favorite chair. Beautiful memories never seem to fade away. When remembering my animal friends, I think of the

Paw Print Gardens Pet Cemetery & Crematory, West Chicago, Illinois

gentleness, the devotion, the true dedication, and mostly the unconditional love that surpasses all human understanding. That little paw that stroked my cheek, that tongue that licked away my tears when I was upset, that tail that almost wagged itself off when I came home, that uncanny knowledge of when I was hurt or upset, that warning bark when a stranger was near. Oh, I could go on and on, but I will not. Our pets are just wonderful. They deserve the best burial possible. Nothing could repay what they give us; no amount of money can buy that kind of love.
—Patricia Blosser, Paw Print Gardens Pet Cemetery and Crematory

Saratoga Pet Cemetery, Wilton, New York

With a Smile
Toby was nineteen. Last year I thought he was on his last legs. He used to weigh 12 pounds, but by last year he weighed 7. He had stopped eating and my vet was preparing me for making the “big decision.” I just didn’t feel as though Toby was done living. I took him home and force-fed him for about a week. We spent evenings in front of the fire, which he loved. I bought him a heated bed. Suddenly, Toby began eating again.
In the past year, Toby had gained maybe a pound or two. Although he was just hanging on to life, he still purred, walked outside to bask in the sun, hung around our active dogs, and was truly enjoying himself despite his frailty. I knew he wouldn’t be with us for much longer.

Hartsdale Pet Cemetery & Crematory, Hartsdale, New York

I can’t help thinking about all the time we had spent together. Toby used to go on walks with my dog and me. He always greeted me at the door when I came home and had always unashamedly demanded attention and affection from people. In his younger days, Toby thought it was great fun to hide in the long grass in our front yard and leap out at unsuspecting dogs as they and their people strolled down the sidewalk. Once he saved me from a possible fire by waking me up in the middle of the night when the neighbor’s house was ablaze. I knew Toby was special when my brother was in the hospital suffering from a concussion after a car accident and all he could say was, Here Toby kitty kitty over and over again. My brother had spent years claiming he didn’t like Toby at all.

Hartsdale Pet Cemetery & Crematory, Hartsdale, New York

Toby had always been a happy-go-lucky cat. That’s probably one reason he lived for so long. He had been with me for nearly half my life—longer than most of my friends and longer than I’ve known my husband. His age or cancer or some other malady finally took him. But even at the end, when he weighed a mere 3.4 pounds and could hardly hold his head up, Toby tried to be in the middle of all the action of the household. Even at the end he was demanding affection.
I want to keep Toby near me, so I had him cremated. He sits in a high, warm spot in my house in an urn I’ve chosen especially for him. Every once in a while, my dog stops in his tracks and points his nose upward at the spot where Toby is. Does he know? It was rough when it was finally time for Toby to go, but I will always smile when I think of him.
—Ruth Berman

The Surrey Pet Cemetery & Crematory, South Godstone, Surrey England

On many occasions I find a stick placed on this one particular memorial. Each time the pet owners visit their beloved Labrador, they leave a fetch stick to let her know they were there to visit and to reminisce about her wonderful love to retrieve. A little squirrel adorns the monument to Nickie, who lived to give chase to the squirrels in her yard. Sea shells are left to grace the memory of Buffy, a Pekingese who obviously loved to walk the beach.
—James L. Boles, Jr., Good Shepherd Pet Crematory and Cemetery

Grace had the gentlest black eyes I have ever seen in a Labrador. She had a way of looking at me and conveying her feelings of trust and unconditional love. Being with her during the euthanasia process allowed me to hold her while she comfortably fell into a deep sleep without pain. It allowed me to let her know she was safe in my arms until the very end.

San Diego Pet Memorial Park, San Diego, California

I had supportive friends who shared my grief, and my ten-year-old Lab, Beretta, who was there for me too. We went through the grieving process together. When the time was right, I moved Gracie to a special part of my heart and was able to get another puppy. It took several weeks for a relationship to develop between the new puppy and Beretta, but when it happened, it brought new life and love back to us all.
— Jacklyn B. Coger

Text Copyright © 2000 by BowTie^TM Press
Jacket and book design © 2000 Michele Lanci-Altomare
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