Heartbreak suffered from losing a pet.
The loss of a beloved pet is rarely anything less than devastating. Anyone who has been through this experience will remember the heartbreak and sadness associated with total grief. Whilst time heals all, nothing seems to console you, and any mention of the situation typically brings on uncontrollable tears.
A personal experience with grief.
Some years ago, I lost my chocolate Labrador. Despite his senior age and a lengthy good life, the pain of grief persisted for a very long time. Nothing could fill the void, and our home felt empty without the sounds of his claws on the hardwood floors.
'Barney' my chocolate labrador, in later years, sat next to his favourite tree and resting place.
For various reasons, it wasn't until some years later when I was in a position to consider a new four-legged friend. Today, my partner and I enjoy life with a wonderful Weimaraner named Noodle. Some of you might have met him on his days in the showroom in Ryde.
Some time after Barney's passing, I sought a way to memorialise his memory and settled for a large, deep-etched granite boulder. I scattered his ashes on a beautiful Japanese Acer tree in our garden. Sadly, we moved, and although I took the boulder with us, a part of me wishes I had kept some ashes aside for now.
Over the last few years, we have introduced many new collections into the Serendipity showroom. Some of the designs were intended to hold ashes. For a time, we helped clients memorialise their pets by organising designs from the 'Everwith' collection. However, we were unhappy with the arrangement because the personal effects were sent away. Our work involved arranging commissions, with a lack of hands-on involvement.
Fast-forward to earlier this year, and we were approached to introduce a new collection covering cremation ashes jewellery for people, pet hair/fur jewellery for pets, cremation ashes jewellery for pets, and a range of maternity jewellery suitable for breast milk.
We've added several designs to the showroom as examples, and we are thrilled with the response so far.
Creating pet ashes jewellery in our showroom.
The main difference with our work now is that we have full training to add ashes and effects without sending any personal effects off the island. All work is carried out to complete commissions in the Serendipity showroom.
For anyone who knows us or who has purchased from us before, we have a lovely team, kind, understanding, and sympathetic at all times, and knowledgeable in what we do and the services we provide.
Pet ashes vs pet hair jewellery.
The difference between jewellery with pet hair and jewellery with pet ashes is that pet hair can be added during a pet's life as a further bond to a living pet or after they pass.
In my situation, I kept a small piece of my dog's favourite blanket and still have it today. While some might have lost pet ashes after scattering them, a small section of bedding or blanket might still hold pet fur, which can be sampled and put into jewellery.
A thoughtful service provided by pet crematoriums.
In recent months, as we speak with more clients needing ashes and jewellery, many have informed us that crematoriums often take paw prints and a small amount of pet fur as part of their service. I assume that this change has arisen as more people like to memorialise their pets in various ways.
There is never any easy way to lessen the pain, but over time, many people feel that an item of memorial jewellery deepens their connection with a lost pet or family member, keeping them close at all times.
When the time is right, and if you need any help, we are here to assist with any questions. Brochures and designs are available to view in our Ryde showroom, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
