PET LOSS - RESOURCE LIST PAGE

Losing a pet is painful. For many, it’s even more painful than losing a relative since most consider their pets to be a part of the family. The bond we share with them is incredible and unique. Like a sister or a brother, a best friend, and a child all put together in one special being. We see them every day and we share with them the most important parts of our lives whether it’s the happiest or the saddest moments. They are such special companions. The best listeners. The best hug givers. They provide unconditional love and support. Losing them hurts, and we’re here to tell you that we understand and that you are not alone. We have put together resources to help you prepare for the loss of your companion, help you grieve when the time has come, and help you see the light again, while still lovingly remembering them.

TOOLS TO HELP DECISION MAKING

Preparing for the loss of your companion is very important. It can help the process of grieving for you and your family and will make saying goodbye less stressful and painful. Pets are part of the family, and every family is unique, you and your pet deserve to choose how this meaningful moment will go. Here is a list of things to plan, prepare and do before:

• Buying your respectful pet body bag in advance and personalizing your EUTHABAG can be very soothing and can help the grieving process, especially for children.

• Knowing when the time has come. You can take different questionnaires made by professionals to know when it’s time. Many pet parents say this has helped them have a better objective understanding of when it’s time. Consult the questionnaire “How do I know when it’s time?” or the following pain scales:
  BEAP scale for dogs / BEAP scale for cats / Feline grimace scale / Quality of life scale

• Surround yourself with people who understand. More about this on our Support Groups and Grief Counselors Page.

• Deciding between an at-home euthanasia with a veterinarian or taking an appointment with a veterinary clinic. You can find a veterinarian who uses EUTHABAG on our find a clinic page.

• Deciding between cremation, home burial, burial in a pet cemetery or aquamation: your veterinary clinic can guide you through the options.

• Verified with your city about the laws regarding burials at your residence. Our document can help you.

• Deciding if you want to keep a souvenir, such as the ashes following cremation, a paw print, jewelry with the ashes, etc. There are many options available, and you can discuss these with your veterinarian or crematorium. To learn more about this, visit our page dedicated to Honoring your pet.

• Read books on the subject to understand grief and what can help this difficult process.

• Prepare your children for the transition. Many books are available on the subject and we created a handout (Pet Loss & Your Family) for you to read on how to handle such a delicate matter. We included exercises specifically for children to do to help them as well.

• Talk about it with your family and your veterinarian, together you can choose the best option for you and your companion.

Before EUTHABAG, there were no functional alternatives to plastic bags which are usually used to dispose of our companions.

Pet owners care about how their pet’s body will be handled after they pass and as pet lovers and veterinary professionals, we do too.

That’s why we created EUTHABAG, a respectful, practical, dignified, and ecological pet body bag.

Veterinarians & Pet Owners now have an appropriate option for the transportation, cremation, aquamation, and burial of deceased pets that is, most importantly, respectful for the animal.