My Pet Has Crossed The Rainbow Bridge

Losing a beloved pet

Our pets are more than just animals; they’re family.
They bring us joy, unconditional love, and endless laughter. They fill our lives with happiness, affection, and countless precious memories. Even after they’re gone, their paw prints remain forever etched in our hearts and our love for them never fades away. That’s why the trend of celebrating and honouring our pets’ lives and the unique bond we shared with them has taken the world by storm.

Whether it is a cheeky ferret, a majestic stallion, a loyal dog, or a mischievous cat, every pet holds a special place in our hearts. When the time comes, and they cross the rainbow bridge, we want to ensure we 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 memorization 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

Pets are integral to our society, providing unconditional love and emotional support. Studies have shown that spending time with pets can positively impact our well-being. For instance, interacting with dogs can increase our oxytocin levels, providing a hormonal “love injection” boosts responsible for social bonding and that can help reduce stress levels. Moreover, pets can also contribute to our mental and emotional well-being by helping us fight depression, improving our mood, and facilitating healing. According to research, pet owners, especially those with cats and dogs, tend to experience more laughter and joy daily than non-pet owners. Pets can also help us reduce loneliness and social isolation. For example, holding a cat, petting a dog, or watching a bird can significantly improve the mood of older lonely people and increase their sense of fulfilment and purpose.

In summary, pets can be vital to social connection and joy. They positively impact our heart health, stress levels, emotional and social skills, and overall well-being.

For single-parent families, a pet can be an essential companion for children. Additionally, children who have pets may have higher levels of empathy and self-esteem compared to those who do not have pets.

How pets helped our mental health during lockdown

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

Walking a dog has been linked to reduced symptoms of loneliness, especially among older people. Moreover, owning a pet was a potential way to alleviate psychological stress during lockdown periods. In addition to providing companionship, being pets tactile, they offered comfort through physical touch during social distancing when human contact was limited. This was especially important for people living alone or unable to meet their loved ones due to the pandemic. A pet’s presence can create a sense of routine, responsibility, and purpose, positively affecting mental health. During the pandemic, pets were a source of entertainment and distraction, making it easier to cope with the challenges of social distancing.

Dealing with the loss of a beloved pet

Losing a pet can be a difficult and emotional experience. The pain and sadness that come with the loss can be overwhelming and trigger a range of difficult emotions. It’s okay to feel devastated during this time because pets are a significant part of our lives, and losing a beloved pet can leave a considerable void. Whether it’s a cat, dog, or any other animal, their role in your life can have a meaningful impact. Pet owners often celebrate their furry friends’ birthdays, confide in them, and even carry pictures of them around. As a result, when a beloved pet passes away, the intensity of one’s sorrow can be immense.

If your pet was a working dog, service animal, or therapy animal, you may be grieving not only the loss of a companion but also the loss of emotional support or independence. If your pet was your only companion, coming to terms with their loss can be even more challenging.

Each person experiences and processes grief differently, so there’s no clear-cut answer as to how long these feelings will last.

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 let us know if we can be of any assistance.

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 Our 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.

This living tribute is a constant reminder of the love and companionship shared with our pets, and it can also be taken with you if you move to a new location. Additionally, pet owners can create a dedicated space in a pet cemetery where their pet’s memory can be forever enshrined as a magnificent tree, providing a peaceful and beautiful place to visit and reflect.

Pet Water Urns For a Special Final Goodbye

Our pets and other animals often form bonds with us that are as deep and meaningful as any other human relationship. When a pet passes away, the grief we experience can be immense and overwhelming, similar to the grief felt when we lose a close family member or friend. Coping with the loss of a beloved animal can be challenging, but honouring and celebrating their life gently in an eco-friendly way is a good start.

As pet parents, we at Soul Trees feel we must go the extra mile to make any pet’s final journey memorable. We trust that offering our Bio Water Urns, handcrafted with so much love and care, can represent a meaningful last tribute to our beloved pets.

The ocean holds a deep spiritual significance, and the Bio Water Urn is strongly connected to its intricate life chain. It’s an affordable yet unique way to pay tribute to our furry companion or any other pet. Choosing an eco-friendly Water Urn is a thoughtful and responsible decision that shows respect for nature and our pets’ lives. When we cast our pets’ ashes into the sea, we create a special place of memory while letting go.

We’re allowing our pets to return to the earth and celebrate their freedom, completing the circle of life while expressing and processing grief.