Today, Sunday September 9th, is National Pet Memorial Day. A day to remember pets and honor the memory of pets that are no longer with us. The day was established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries in 1972 and is celebrated by most pet cemeteries across the US on the second Sunday of September each year.
One way to remember your pets is to create an online memorial for them at I Loved My Pet. At this site you can create a page that contains photos, audio, videos, and thoughts and memories about your pets.
It seems strange that I saw an article about this day of celebration this week as one of my pet sitting clients was just telling me about our local pet cemetery last weekend. I have never heard of pet cemeterys except the one in Stephen Kings famous book but when I did an online search I found that they are very common. When our Lab Mackie passed away 2 years ago we were able to have her cremated at the hospital where she was receiving treatment and we keep her ashes in an urn on our mantle.
Pet cemeteries give owners a final resting place for their pets or their ashes and allow owners to visit to pay their respects and visit the grave as often as they want. I can see how this type of facility can help owners ease the emotional pain of pet loss.
Many pet owners are also investing in elaborate headstones, caskets, or urns if they opt for pet cremation. There are many online vendors for pet urns and other memorial items.
The cost of burying a pet in a cemetary or cremation of a pet is often quite high. In a recent article about the Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park a park spokesman said that
the cost to bury a pet starts at $549 and is based on plot size and type of casket. The price includes everything–casket, plot and maintenance, and can go as high as $1,205. Cremation costs are based on weight–$85 for a pet under 10 pounds; $245 for an animal weighing 151 to 175 pounds.
The need for pet cemeteries and crematoriums is growing as pet ownership grows and states start to impose stricter regulations against backyard pet burials. Many veterinary offices work directly with pet crematories for their clients pet burial needs.
If you have experience with cremation or cemetary management and want to work with pets you may consider opening a pet cemetary in your area to serve local pet owners.
To find out more information visit the website of the International Assocation of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories.
Alternatively there are many opportunities to create unique pet urns, caskets, or memorials and market to pet owners. You can browse one of the search engines to find out what types of products are being offerred to pet owners.