Pet Loss
Saying Goodbye... 
Your companion animal is a member of your family. In fact, your pet may be as important to you as children, siblings, or best friends are to other people.
Your pet is always there for you, never judges you, and accepts you no matter what you say, do, or feel. Your pet offers you unconditional love and is part of your daily routine and activities. It is completely natural, therefore, to feel negative emotions, such as sadness and anger, when facing the death of your pet.
Preparing for the end of your pet's life is a difficult process and requires you to make many decisions. Our veterinarians and veterinary staff care about you and your companion animal, and we are prepared to guide your decision-making and offer you support along the way.
How to Prepare for Your Pet's Death
There are four important ways you can begin to heal the pain of losing your pet. Taking these steps before, during, and after your pet's death will help make your feelings of loss and grief more manageable.
- Say Good-bye - this doesn't mean you find ways to forget your pet. Rather, it means you acknowledge you loss and find ways to allow the healing process to begin.
- Make Decisions About Euthanasia - Because you know your pet better than anyone else, you will know when the time is right for euthanasia. Our veterinarians are here to help you with that decision as well as describing what will happen during your pet's euthanasia if you are unsure what will happen during the process.
- Make Decisions About Body Care - Burial at home, or we can assist you with our cremation services with or without the ashes returned to you.
- Plan a Memorial - Make a scrapbook, or photo album of your pets pictures. Make a donation to an animal charity in your pet's name.
Iron Mountain Animal Hospital has chosen Midwest Cremation Services of Wisconsin to assist us in the after care of your pet. They offer three levels of service which are:
- Priority Cremation - this allows you to visit the MCS facility and witness the individual creamtion of your pet.
- Private Cremation - this is for those wishing to receive the ashes of your pet. There is no comingling of remains during a private cremation.
- Group Cremation - group creamtion is a dignified and economical method for the final disposition of your pet. There is no return of the ashes.
For more information on cremation process and the facility that we have chosen, visit their website at www.mcsofwi.com
When your pet dies, you will grieve. Grieving is a necessary, unavoidable, and healthy response to loss. Grief is different for everyone. The lenth and intensity of your grief will be unique to you. There are many pet loss support groups that can help you work through your grief.
A Dog’s Plea
Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.
Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things youwould have me learn.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.
Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.
Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to rompand play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.
And, my friend, when I am very old and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun.
Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.
Author Unknown