BY MIKE CETERA
Earlier this year the paper published a column about a new pet cemetery scheduled to open in Kendall County. The idea that someone would want to give Fido a proper burial has fascinated me ever since. Growing up, when pets died in my family, they either ended up being flushed down the toilet or handled by the local veterinarian.
What inspires people to bury their dead pets in a graveyard? Have pets become such a big part of the family that we feel the need to follow similar death rituals as with our human relatives? And why would someone spend the money?
Now comes word of a new trend: hospice for terminally ill pets.
From the Denver Post (via Poynter.org):
America is undergoing a cultural sea change in how we say goodbye to our pets. A growing hospice movement is teaching pet owners how to administer late-stage care to animals with terminal illnesses. Vets make house calls to euthanize pets in the comfort of the home; bereavement counselors work with humans grieving over their four-footed dead.It's a long way from picking up a rifle and saying goodbye to Old Yeller, the old farm and frontier model. And it speaks to the increasingly complex relationship many people have with their animals.
Hospice care for pets? That's amazing. I wonder, are we becoming more sensitive to the fact that our dogs and cats are truly members of the family? Or are we just a bunch of sentimental wimps? Could be, pet owners fall into both categories.
As an aside, the American Veterinary Medical Association offers a number of grief support hotlines, including one in the Chicago area. Call (630) 325-1600.
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