The third national Pet Remembrance Day, where people across the UK will remember beloved pets that have died, is to be held tomorrow (Wednesday, 5th July.)
Pet Remembrance Day provides an opportunity for people to celebrate the lives of pets and the increasing number of ways in which we can commemorate them. A Twitter chat will take place on Wednesday using the hashtag #PetRemembranceDay for people to show their support and share thoughts and photos of deceased companion animals.
Pet Remembrance Day, which is organised by 3D printing specialists Arty Lobster (www.artylobster.com), is once again proud to support The Oldies Club (www.oldies.org.uk) – a national charity, which rehomes dogs aged seven and over in need of homes. The charity is particularly in need of new foster carers: www.oldies.org.uk/get/fostering-dogs.
The national day of remembrance comes as a new Populus survey, commissioned by the founders Arty Lobster, of 2,000 adults revealed that young adults aged 18 to 24 are the most likely (59%) to remember a beloved deceased pet by holding a ‘memorial event’ – compared to just three in ten of those aged 65+ (29%).
Among all respondents who currently own a pet, just over two fifths (42%) said they would be likely to grieve for pets in this way. Women appear slightly more likely than men to hold a memorial event for their pet (44% vs. 40%). Single pet owners are more likely than pet owners who are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting to mourn their pet (48% vs. 40%).
People living in the Midlands are the most likely (35%) to hold such an event while 30% of pet owners in Northern Ireland say they would. This was followed by London (28%), Yorkshire (27%) and the South East and Scotland (each on 24%) while the North East ranked joint bottom with Wales at 19%. The aggregate figure for England is 28%.
Lars B Andersen, CEO of Arty Lobster, said: “Pet Remembrance Day is a special day when people can collectively remember departed pets and celebrate the importance they play in our lives.”
Best-selling author and speaker Wendy Van de Poll, MS, CEOL (Certified End of Life and Pet Loss Grief Coach and Founder of Center for Pet Loss Grief, LLC) explained: “Pet Remembrance Day is a time for outwardly expressing your deepest love for your pets that have reached the end of their lives.
“Outwardly mourning is a way of saying good bye in a very healthy way by celebrating the life of your beloved companions. Paying tribute to those animals that touched your heart with a pet funeral, memorial, or remembrance will help you heal your loss all the while keeping the love of your companion close by.”
Entertainer, and Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Damon Scott, said: “Only last year, my darling rescue dog Sophie gained her angel wings, and so I experienced the extreme grief and sadness which the loss of a beloved pet brings. Pets are family and they deserve to be remembered and to have their lives celebrated like any other family member.”
Animal welfare campaigner Lisa Garner lost her beloved rescue Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Lucy in December last year. Lucy became a social media star with a 70,000 Facebook following and a leading light in the campaign against puppy farming.
Lisa’s love and devotion for Lucy speaks of the strength of the human – animal bond. She said: “Lucy was my best friend and soul mate, who depended on me for everything, to lose her was and still is indescribable. Even now 7 months on I struggle to think or talk about her without crying, on some level it still doesn’t seem real.
“I guess when we love someone so much the pain we go through when we lose them is just a reflection of that love. I hope Lucy knew what she meant to me and her friends from all around the world, if the sheer love for Lucy could have saved her when she was so poorly, she would be here today asking for her favourite thing, cake. Lucy will forever be in many hearts and so terribly missed every single day.”
On Pet Remembrance Day, there are many ways in which people can remember deceased pets, including:
- A memorial service in a place where the pet liked to walk or play.
- A living memorial by planting a tree or flowerbed
- A pet sculpture or portrait featuring the pet or their image printed on a coaster or other accessory
- A scrapbook with photos and other reminders of the pet.
- An online memorial with photos of the pet
- A poem about the pet
- Donating to charities like The Oldies Club or volunteering at an animal rescue centre