I just ordered my new baby bird!- Page 4

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:19am

Jane, my beloved shop cat (whose name I use on this site) passed away a year or so ago. I had him cremated and his ashes are in a very tasteful cherry box on my desk with a photo of him on the lid. He will stay there, in the shop he loved until it comes time for me to move, then he will be scattered on the east river where those damned seagulls, that were fascination of his life, hang out.
Cremation , I feel is a great idea.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:25am

Cremation is a fine idea. There are people out there who will not only cremate your pet with respect and dignity, but will also be sympathetic and kind to you. My former housemate had her rat cremated (I'm a rat-lover, but even I'm sometimes astonished at what amazing pets they make), and the cremation people were very kind to her. They had a nice little chapel and memorial garden and it was a very positive experience for her at such a negative time.

Make sure you make the decision that's best for you, but if you are collecting opinions, here's a vote for cremation. That way he can always physically be with you, or you can bury him at a time when you're ready.

[Tom's Cat]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:34am

The fact that you can make those bad jokes is a VERY good sign.

let me add another thought here - We used to live in a house with a big back yard and every time we lost a dear pet, we held a ceremony and carefully buried them way out in the back of that yard. Each grave was marked with a stone and then a small tree sapling was planted on the spot.

Today those trees are over the top of the roof (and it's a 3-story house) and then some. We drive by the house and can see them from the street. As we go by, we can name each of our friends who's ashes went into growing those big trees.

Just a thought.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:35am

I think Doodle makes a good suggestion about letting the vet know.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:53am

Tom's Cat-that's a great idea, but I live in NYC in an apt house with no land around it.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:43pm

I have to agree with cremation. I'll do that when my cats pass. They handle the pets very humanely at pet cremation centers and you can get a plaque and/or photo of Robbie Sue on the box. A lovely memorial.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:51pm

I'm starting to think that cremation's the best idea for me because I can't let him go. I want him here with me always. There are some phone numbers in the yellow pages-I'll look into it right away. Thanks for your opinions!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:02pm

Jane, your vet will probably have a contact for cremation.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:11pm

SNAFU, I had no vet for Robbie Sue. He was never sick a day in his life. That's why I'm having such a hard time accepting that one day he was fine and the next day he was dead.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:54pm

Jane, take him to West Village Animal Hospital on 8th ave and 14th street. That is where I take my old dog. They can hook you up with a crematorium. Bide-a-wee on 38th street and 1st Ave (a not for profit animal rescue and health clinic) also might be able to help with the cremation. They also have grief counseling for people who ar having a hard time with the death of their pets


ETA:You can check out what bide-a-wee offers at Bideawee.org. It is one of my favorite charities, they do incredible work!

Updated On: 3/4/09 at 01:54 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 2:46pm

Thank you thank you SNAFU. I think I may in fact need the counseling. I'm very depressed and I don't know what to do.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 3:00pm

I'm so sorry to hear this. I lost a pet in 2007 and it was the hardest thing I had dealt with at the time. You are in my prayers.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 3:44pm

So sorry to hear this. Sending you lots of good thoughts, Jane.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 5:39pm

Thank you, WW and MTV!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 5:43pm

Jane FYI the grief counciling at Bide a wee is the first Friday of every month (this Friday) if you decide to go you should probably contact them. It might very well help.

[Dangerous Divine]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 6:39pm

Jane, I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing today. Joking is a good sign. You and Robbie Sue are in my thoughts. (And I want nothing more than to go home and give my bird a cuddle.)

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 7:31pm

SNAFU, I plan to call them first thing tomorrow.

Dangerous Divine, thanks so much for checking-I'm still devastated. I talked to him constantly, day and night. I cuddled with him and said I loved him around 100 times a day. I only hope it'll get better each day.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 9:06pm

Janey, my friend lost her dog almost a year ago. She hadn't gotten her as a pup, and only had her a little over a year, but Cordy just attached herself to her and became her dog over everyone else in the family. When Cordy got sick, and it was apparent that she wasn't enjoying life, my friend was devastated. She went to a few grief counseling sessions at the Red Bank Animal Hospital, and it was a tremendous help to her. She even was able to call if things got too bad for her. They were wonderful.

Sending more hugs out to you!

[etoile]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 1:12am

Jane, have you thought of taxidermy as an alternative to cremation? Or does that seem somehow ghoulish?

[danmag]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 7:30am

I thought the same thing, etoile.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 8:57am

I had thought of that, but I don't think I could do it. It is a definite alternative to mull over, Jane.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 9:19am

Girls, for some reason, I couldn't do the taxidermy thing. I can't look at my baby in a dead state. Same with people-if there's an open casket at a funeral, I can't look. I want to remember them the way they were alive.

I had better decide soon, because every time I open my freezer, there's the package with him in it-too weird!

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 9:41am

Because so many friends are concerned, I thought I'd mention that the best thing I can do is get another parrot as soon as I feel a little better about losing Robbie. It's too hard being alone without another living person/pet after over 30 years. I don't like it.

I'm thinking of going into the pet shop around the corner and looking around, asking, etc.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 1:36pm

Sending you my love, Jane.

I think it'd be great if you did give a home to another bird when you're ready. You don't stop being a pet-owner that easily, and just think of the decades of love you could have ahead of you for another bird. Not a replacement, just another bird. :3

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 1:41pm

Exactly, Weez. I just did some research and located two african greys in a pet shop in town. I plan to go visit them tomorrow and see if there's chemistry!