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Resting But Not Forgotten | |
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Nine hundred are buried there, lives that touched other lives in ways large and small. Most led simple lives and passed with hardly a notice except by loved ones. Others were heros, mourned by many. This is where law enforcement dogs, 18 now, have their final resting place, in a special garden set aside for them. All creatures are given recognition and respect at Precious Pets Cemetery in Spencer, OK. A cemetery for animals a bit much? Not to sisters and co-owners Linda McCullough and Lisa Richardson. Why does any business exist? To fill a need, and they saw the need. "It's amazing the impact a pet can have on someone's life," says Richardson. The cemetery is testament to that, where not only dogs and cats reside, but rabbits, ferrets, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, a raccoon, a turtle, even a shark-each special to someone. "This isn't for everyone; we understand that," says McCullough. "We have people who visit regularly. Others never come out. They just want to know where there pet is, that it's in a nice, secure place that won't be disturbed." It is a nice place, spread out over more than three acres with gardens and trees. Some gravesites are modest, some elaborate with custom-made markers. It's like a human cemetery in miniature. The office, on the grounds, has a small viewing room, and the caskets are, of course, smaller. A variety of decorative urns are on display for those who choose cremation. Precious Pets has a human crematory, but it's used exclusively for pets. "We do more cremations than burials," says Richardson. "The remains can be buried here or placed in our columbarium. Or people can take them home. Some even have the remains placed in their caskets when they die." Folks can do the reverse too. If owners are cremated, they can be buried in the cemetery with their pets. And there are a couple of humans buried there. Precious Pets isn't a singular phenomenon. There are 600 such cemeteries across the U.S. But only about 125, including Precious Pets, are members of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries. Nor is it a new concept. The cemetery was started in 1985 by the sisters with the help of their parents Bob and Gloria Cowles. That help included extensive experience; the Cowles have owned Hillcrest Memory Gardens in Oklahoma City for 40 years. Richardson and her husband operate the human cemetery. The sisters run the animal cemetery. McCullough is a registered pet funeral director and does the bulk of grievance counseling. Richardson handles the books. Being pet owners themselves, lends empathy to those who are suffering a loss. They have several dogs and cats- it's the family's way. "My father always loved animals," says McCullough. "We were raised with family pets and taught to respect animals." Like any funeral home, they offer a wide range of services, from picking up the pet to grooming. Cremation starts at $74; the price increases with the animal's weight. Complete funerals start at $195 and can get quite expensive, depending on the owner's desires. One can choose from a simple wooden casket to a fancy one, an ornate marker to none, and a prayer service in the chapel. There are payment plans and pre-need arrangements. A trust fund can be set up . The area for law enforcement dogs, appropriately called Faithful Guardians, was created in 1993. For a dog that dies in the line of duty, Precious Pets donates the casket and burial. "It's our way of thanking and honoring them for what they've done," says Richardson. The most recent burial was a police dog from Midwest City. McCullough estimates there were 70 to 90 people in attendance, along with 10 police dogs. After a human funeral, the bereaved are finished with the funeral home. Not so at Precious Pets. The sisters stay in touch with owners through letters. They even have a special annual event for them the second Sunday in September, which is National Pet Memorial Day. "We can do things here you couldn't do in a human cemetery," says McCullough. "The memorial day for instance, we make it a fun day." "And educational with speakers," adds Richardson. "It's sad, of course, the way we first meet the people, but we help them get over the bad time. And this occasion gives them the opportunity to meet others and develop friendships." "It's a lot different from memorial day at a human cemetery," says McCullough. "There, people go, decorate the grave and leave without speaking to anyone. Here, they talk to each other, talk about their former pets, their new ones. It's a happy atmosphere." These days, pet business is big business. There are pet psychiatrists, holistic veterinarians, daycare centers, pet sitters, etc. With people growing so attached to their pets and demonstrating the will to spend so much time, attention and money on them, the cemetery seems a fitting final destination. As Richardson puts it, "This is the last thing they can do for their pets. They don't have to do it; they do it because they want to. And we know they're grieving. If they choose to talk about it, that releases a lot of emotions, which helps over time." "We think we offer a wonderful service," says McCullough. "We try to make it affordable for everyone. And we try hard to make the cemetery the kind of place where people are pleased their pet is here. They're just happy that someone is compassionate and understands how important their pet was to them. It's a very rewarding job. Back to Archives |
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