My Pet Has Crossed The Rainbow Bridge

Losing a beloved pet

Our pets are more than just animals; they are family. They bring us joy, love, and laughter. Even after they’re gone, their paw prints remain in our hearts. Our love for them never fades.

Honouring and celebrating our pets’ lives has become a global trend. Every pet, from cheeky ferrets to loyal dogs, holds a special place in our hearts. When they cross the rainbow bridge, we want to give them the most beautiful and meaningful farewell possible. We do our best to honour their memory and celebrate the love and joy they brought into our lives.

That’s why pet memorisation and cremation urns for pets have become more than just a trend; it’s a way to show our pets how much they mean to us and how much we’ll always love them.

Our pets have become increasingly important to us

The Importance of Pets in Society

Pets are integral to our lives, providing unconditional love and emotional support. Spending time with pets can significantly improve our well-being. For instance, interacting with dogs can boost oxytocin levels in our bodies. This hormonal “love injection” enhances social bonding and reduces stress.

Emotional Benefits of Pet Ownership

Pets contribute to our mental well-being by helping combat depression and improving our mood. Research shows that pet owners, particularly those with cats and dogs, experience more daily joy and laughter than non-pet owners. Additionally, pets help reduce loneliness and social isolation, particularly for older adults. Simple acts like holding a cat or petting a dog can greatly enhance their mood and sense of purpose.

Pets as Companions in Single-Parent Families

For single-parent families, pets can be vital companions for children. Having pets can also increase empathy and self-esteem in kids compared to those without pets.

How pets helped our mental health during lockdown

Impact of Pet Ownership During the Pandemic.

Recent studies have found that owning a pet during the pandemic significantly impacted people’s well-being. With lockdown measures in place, many felt isolated and lonely. However, dog and cat owners reported feeling less lonely and experiencing notable emotional benefits.

Benefits of Walking a Dog

Walking a dog has been linked to reduced symptoms of loneliness, particularly among older adults. Pet ownership offered a way to alleviate psychological stress during lockdowns.

Comfort Through Physical Touch

Pets provide comfort through physical touch, which is especially important during social distancing. This was crucial for individuals living alone or those unable to meet loved ones due to restrictions.

Routine and Emotional Support

A pet’s presence can create a sense of routine, responsibility, and purpose, positively affecting mental health. Additionally, pets served as sources of entertainment, helping people cope with the challenges of social distancing.

Dealing with the loss of a beloved pet

Losing a pet can be an emotional experience. The pain and sadness can feel overwhelming, triggering difficult emotions. It’s natural to feel devastated, as pets play significant roles in our lives. Their absence creates a considerable void. Whether a cat, dog or any animal, their impact is meaningful. Pet owners often celebrate their pets’ birthdays, confide in them, and carry their pictures. Thus, losing a beloved pet can lead to immense sorrow. If your pet was a working dog, service animal, or therapy animal, you may grieve the loss of a companion and vital emotional support. Losing an only companion can make coping even harder. Everyone experiences grief differently, and there’s no clear timeline for healing.

Nadja Geipert, a marriage and family therapist at LA Family Therapy in Los Angeles, created her pet grief toolbox to help clients. She says, “There are things you feel about this cat, this dog, this bird, that no one else feels, which is true for all grief. Your relationship is unique, and your pet is completely irreplaceable in its unique qualities.” then, “Grieving it’s going to take as long as it’s going to take.”

Since there is no set timeline for the grieving process, it’s essential to find healthy ways to cope with the pain and come to terms with your grief.

Once they cross the rainbow bridge, you may want to celebrate your pet’s life. Cherishing the memories you shared can be healing and comforting.
Please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can help.

How to support yourself through the stages of grief

Shock
The initial stage after losing a beloved pet is shock, which is a natural response. It is important to be gentle with yourself during this time and allow yourself to process the shock, as you would with any other loss. It may take some time, from a few days to a few weeks, to fully grasp what has happened before another stronger emotion takes over.
Anger
The feeling of loss overwhelms you, and you find it hard to accept that this has actually happened to you. You may be angry at how unfair it is or at how it happened — the car that came out of nowhere, the disease that took your dog’s life in just a few short months.
Denial
It is not uncommon to experience denial after losing a beloved pet. Individuals may think they are handling the loss well or may try to find solace in a new pet. However, it is essential to understand that while wanting to move on and find comfort in another animal is natural, a new pet cannot replace the beloved lost one. Experts caution against the idea that a new pet can heal the emotional void left by losing a previous pet.
Guilt
It’s natural to feel guilt and also self-blame following the loss of a pet. However, it’s important to recognize that guilt is just one stage of the grieving process and can become overwhelming. You may find yourself obsessing over what you could have done differently to prevent the loss and feeling regretful, which can make it challenging to move on from the situation.
Depression
It can be extremely difficult to overcome depression, especially when it feels like you’re stuck in a hole that you can’t climb out of. Rev. Terri Daniel, who is a grief counsellor and hospice chaplain with a specialization in animal loss, suggests that this period of intense pain may actually be the ideal time to begin processing the loss of your beloved pet genuinely.
Resolution
Here’s the good news: As cliché as it sounds, when you honour your loss and let yourself feel your feelings, you will come to the end of your bereavement journey. No longer grieving doesn’t mean you no longer love your pet — it just means that you allowed yourself to grow and heal, proving that something beautiful can come out of loss. Dr Tessina says, “Any time we love, whether it’s a life partner, a dear friend, a child, a sibling, a parent, or a beloved pet, we risk losing that love and a broken heart. The promise of happiness is strong enough that the risk is worth it.”

How to celebrate your pet’s life

Honouring your pet’s life can serve as a source of comfort and healing during this difficult time. Consider these ideas for tributes and activities to help keep their memory alive and preserve the love you shared with them.

Choose a meaningful location where you can gently release your pet’s ashes in the water with a Bio Water Urn.
Invite your family and friends to attend a special ceremony on a boat, by the sea or a river to celebrate your pet’s life.
Host an exceptional memorial service for your beloved pet surrounded by peaceful waters and blue skies. This unique setting can add a touch of serenity and beauty to the ceremony while also providing a refreshing change of scenery. You may place a wreath around the urn, scatter flowers and petals, and play music. Create a memorable experience that meaningfully honours your pet’s life and legacy.
Commemorate your time with your beloved pet by growing a unique memorial that will keep the memories alive for years.
Gather all your loved ones to plant a Bios Urn with the ashes of your cherished pet in a meaningful and unforgettable activity.
Organize a planting ceremony for your pet, and share food, stories, laughter, and photographs or videos of your pet’s exceptional life with you. Spread the love by giving your family and friends fruits and flowers from your pet’s tree over time.
Create a memory book or scrapbook with your favourite photos and memorabilia.
Donate to a pet rescue group, shelter, or non-profit animal protection whose mission you support.
Create a memorial page on social media to showcase your fur-friend’s photos for friends and family to view.

Planting a Bios Urn with your beloved pets' ashes

A bit of the story behind the Bios Urn:
The prototype for the Bios Urn was created in 1997 and launched on the market in 2001. That makes the Bios Urn the world’s first 100% biodegradable urn and the first urn to plant a tree with the remains obtained after human and pet cremation. The idea of pet burial went to the next stage, and “creating life after life” became a reality.

The Bios Urn is an innovative and meaningful way to honour and remember our beloved pets. This unique concept involves growing a tree using our pets’ ashes, creating a living tribute that will continue flourishing and giving back for years to come. Any Australian Native seedlings, like fruit trees and fragrant rose bushes, can be chosen. The Bios Urn can be planted in your garden, in a plant pot or a Memorial Park, and there is no expiry date, so you can use it with either recent or old ashes whenever you are ready.

Growing a memorial tree for your pet

As pet parents, we at Soul Trees believe in creating a memorable final journey for every pet. That’s why we launched the iconic Bios Urn in Australia in 2016. This unique urn allows you to grow a Pet Memorial Tree as a meaningful tribute to your beloved companion.

This final tribute is a constant reminder of your love and companionship. Plus, if you live in an apartment or plan to move, we provide detailed guidance on growing your tree in a planter.

Using your pet’s ashes to grow a tree beautifully honours their memory. This act symbolises life, love, and continuity, creating a living memorial that flourishes over time. As the tree blossoms each year, it reminds you of the joy your pet brought into your life while benefiting the environment.

Please feel free to contact us if you need help. We’re here for you and glad to assist you.