Pet Farewell Ceremonies
Until one has loved an animal,
a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
Anatole France
The loss of a pet is truly sorrowful and it arouses deep feelings and reactions in us, because our pets are an important part of the fabric of our lives; they improve our mental health and general well-being, they are a companion for those who are lonely and a comfort for those who are in distress. They grow up with our children and accompany the days of our elderly.
The complexity of these relationships is intimate, consisting of small moments of everyday life which accumulate and become something meaningful and very complex.
For these reasons, it is important to find a way to also bid farewell to our animals, and say a proper goodbye.
As celebrant, it will be my task to gather the stories of your beloved pets and talk about their lives in a ceremony that remembers the happy moments you experienced together. The words may be accompanied by a symbolic gesture: planting a tree, placing a headstone, reciting a poem or walking down a familiar path you used to take together. By doing so we can process the loss and regain serenity.