Old Yeller

It’s safe to say that times have changed for pets and the way we care for them since the debut of the movie Old Yeller.  For those that don’t know, "Old Yeller" was the story of the life of a remarkable Yellow dog that wandered into the life of a family who lived on a ranch back in the days of the old west.  The movie was made in 1957, but was set in the late 1860's.  The part that made the movie famous was also the worst part and the most difficult to watch. Old Yeller ends up contracting rabies and has to be "put down" the only way that was known back then. With the shotgun.  Old Yeller's companion and best buddy a young boy named Travis was the one who had to pull the trigger.  I was thinking the other day how synonymous the Old Yeller movie is with the modern day movie "Marley and Me".  Both told the story of  that wonderful relationship we call the human/animal bond.  Both ended with the family having to make the decision to end the dogs life.  Marley's life came to an end with modern day anesthetic euthanasia. Even though the way the dogs lives came to an end were drastically different, the emotion shown by the family was the same.    

The comparison of these two movies really shows us how differently we think about our pet’s lives today and the different options we have now, that allow them to be such an integral part of our lives.   Our pets have really climbed the social status ladder.  What was acceptable and common 60 years ago (or less) is not so much acceptable and common today.  Here are some comparisons of what was common and acceptable then and what is common and acceptable now:

We take them everywhere with us:

Sixty years ago (or less) our pets stayed at home and most likely slept outside in kennels or in the barn.  Very rarely were they allowed in the house.  Their job was to hunt and protect. 

Today, they come everywhere with us.  They accompany us to family gatherings, ride with us in the car wherever we may be going, and even go to nursing homes to visit and give comfort to the elderly or come to schools or libraries to interact with children and help them learn to read.  And yes.......they have even taken over the bed!  How many of us have found ourselves scrunched up in a ball in one corner of the bed while the dog (or cat) sprawls out in the middle.

We have pet stores and boutiques:

Sixty years ago (or less) if you asked somebody where you could find a pet store, they would have probably pointed you to the nearest grocery, hardware store or feed mill.   And if you asked them about a pet boutique?.........well, one can imagine the looks, laughs and smirks you would have gotten.

Today, you would be hard pressed to NOT find a pet store or boutique in any town small or large.  These stores carry everything you can imagine for your pet.  Might I mention, sometimes, at a pretty impressive price.  But we buy that $8.00 cat toy, $10.00 ball or $25.00 Packer jersey for them, because well, it is worth it.

We have daycare:

Sixty years ago (or less) if you happened to mention at the office that you had to go and pick your dog up at the daycare center, you can be quite certain that the "white coats" would have been waiting for you at the door when you got back.

Today, doggy daycare is just as common as child daycare.  We want our pets to be entertained and well exercised and taken care of while we are at work. Might I mention, sometimes, doggy daycare can come at a pretty impressive price.  But we pay it, because well, it is worth it to know that we don't have to worry about our pets when we are gone during the day.

We have access to high quality veterinary care:

Not to say that veterinarians didn't give quality care 60 years ago (or less), but just like in the human medical world, new practices and treatments have given us the opportunity to extend the lives of our pets and help them live much longer, happier and healthier lives.

Today we have veterinary clinics and 24 hour emergency hospitals, equipped with the best and most up to date medical equipment, as well as veterinarians who specialize in all different areas of veterinary medicine.  Primary care veterinarians who may not have some of this equipment or specialty care have the opportunity to refer their clients to the specialists instead of saying I'm sorry, we have tried everything but there is nothing more we can do.  Might I mention that access to this higher quality of care sometimes comes at a pretty impressive price.  But we pay it, because well, it is worth it.

Better options for end of life care:

Sixty years ago (or less) when a pet reached the end of his or her life, it was most often handled the Old Yeller way.  In fact it seems it was almost a "rite of passage" of pet ownership to end your pet's life this way.

Today, the choice to euthanize a pet is made with much thought and consideration to not only the comfort of the pet, but the comfort of the family. Often times special accommodations are made for all hours of the day and night because we don't want our pets to suffer.  It is often done in the comfort of the home or special comfort room at a veterinary clinic or it may take place at the 24 hour emergency care hospital. It may also take place while the pet is in the care of a pet hospice.   After the euthanizing, your veterinarian or after care provider may do some special things for you like make an ink or clay paw print and send you a sympathy card.  They most likely follow up with you a few weeks later to see how you are doing.  Might I mention, you may think that this quality of end of life care, may come at a pretty impressive price.  But truthfully, it does not.

We have professional pet death care services:

Sixty years ago (or less) there was no such thing as professional pet death care.  Your pet died either on its own, or like Old Yeller and burial was in your backyard or on the farm. 

Today we have professional pet death care services such as cremation and memorial tribute centers and dedicated pet cemeteries.  We have visitations and funeral or memorial services for our pets.  If we have them cremated, we put them in an urn and take them home.  We might put some of their cremated remains in a necklace or other keepsake, so we can have them with us always. We memorialize them.  Might I mention, you may think some of these services come at a pretty impressive price.  But truthfully, they do not.

If I've managed to keep your attention throughout this rather long blog, you may have noticed how I used key sentences and wording at the beginning and end of each paragraph. Let me assure you... there is a method to my madness.   Sixty years ago (or less) we didn't have to spend a lot of money on our pets, nor did we have the options and level of care we do for them today.  For most of us, our pets had different purposes.  Dog's hunted, protected and managed the herd.  The job of a cat was to catch the mice.  Today the dogs still hunt, protect and herd, and the cats still catch mice, but regardless, they are part of the family and we treat them as such.

Throughout a pets life today, we may spend literally thousands of dollars on them whether it be at the pet stores or boutiques or training or daycare, grooming or for preventative health, specialty or emergency care.  Some of these things may come at a pretty impressive price, but we pay for them because, well, it is worth it. 

When a pet comes to the end of his or her life, that worth for some people, seems to diminish somewhat. The services and care the pet needs to give them a dignified and peaceful ending, some believe, costs too much.  The truth is, when you compare the cost of caring for a pet throughout their life to the care they need for a peaceful and meaningful end to their life, the cost doesn't compare at all.  The price for a peaceful tranquil, and comforting ending to a pets life is worth every dollar that you have spent giving them a happy, healthy and fulfilling life. 

Most of you who read this blog already know and understand what I am trying to convey.  So, I am "Preaching to the choir" as they say.  Maybe you are one who grew up in the times of Old Yeller and have witnessed the change in the social status of our pets today.  You have helped lead that change.  Maybe you are of the Marley and Me generation.  If so, you never knew any different way.  Your dog always slept with you, your cat always laid on the counter or sat at his favorite perch on the windowsill and couldn't care less if a mouse ran by.  In writing this blog all I ask of you is this.......continue living and experiencing that wonderful and priceless human/ animal bond.  Continue to take advantage of the opportunities we have today to give our pets the best care, both during their lives and at the end of their lives.  Because as you know and have experienced, it is well worth it.  

The Story

The Story

I love listening to a great story.  In fact I love listening to any story.  When I was practicing as a funeral director one of my favorite things was listening to the family tell the story of the person's life we were going to be celebrating.  By listening to their story, I could better put together a funeral  service or celebration of life for them that was going to be meaningful.  This continues to be one of my favorite things to do at Forrest Run.  When we consult with a family about the actual or impending death of their pet it is an extremely difficult and emotional time.  When I take a call over the phone, I hear the familiar "hitch" in the person's voice and I know immediately why they are calling.  When a family brings a pet in to Forrest Run, it is almost always accompanied by tears.  Sometimes the pet had a wonderfully long and fulfilling life.  Sometimes the life was cut too short by an unexpected tragedy.  Make no mistake, no matter what type of death, it is always difficult.
Over the years I have found that,  just like with the death of a person, it helps to talk about the life of the pet and tell their story.   I love hearing the story about the first time you saw your pet.  Sometimes, it was when the pet took their first breath.  Sometimes the pet "found" you.  One would think that the stories start to sound the same after you hear so many.  Not so.  Every story is unique because every pet is unique.  They all have silly things that they do that make up their particular personality.  Just like a person.

Just like when a person dies, one of the things that gives us the most comfort when our pet dies, is talking about them.  Remembering them and telling those silly stories.  It doesn't matter that they have been told many times over.   It will help.  How do I know this?  Because this is what we do.  That person who called on the phone with the hitching voice?  It is our goal to have the hitch in that voice replaced with a smile or sense of comfort and relief by the time we hang up.  The family who brought their pet to us with tears welling in their eyes or streaming down their cheeks?  It is our goal, by the time they leave to have those tears replaced by a smile or sense of comfort and relief.  How do we achieve this goal?  We let them tell us their story.

Come join us on Sunday, September 29th at 2PM for our annual pet memorial service,  "Honoring Friendship and Loyalty ", held on the grounds of the Fox Valley Humane Association.  We would love to hear your pet's story.  See the link to the memorial service information below.   http://www.forrestrunpettributes.com/honoring-friendship-and-loyalty-pet-memorial-service/

A Pet is A Pet......is A Pet

A Pet is a Pet....is a Pet

One of the questions people ask me all the time is "What is the most unusual pet you have cremated or that you have buried in the cemetery?"   The answer is, I don't consider any pet unusual, however, we do help pet parents memorialize a variety of different pets.  We take care of pets of all kinds big and small.   The largest was a horse which is buried in the cemetery.  While this was before my time at Forrest Run I am familiar with the story.  In fact, I am quite surprised at the amount of people that ask me about the horse.  The conversation usually starts out, "I heard you have a horse buried here", to which I answer, "well yes we do" and then I show them where.   The smallest pet we have ever taken care of was a spider.  Yes, a spider.  I often receive phone calls from well meaning "jokesters", usually friends saying things like, "I have an elephant that died and I don't know what to do with him".   While I usually am tipped off by the voice, I always play along with them until I am completely certain.   One night I received a call from a gentleman asking me if we cremated spiders and he was also interested in burial.  Not recognizing the voice, I listened closely, and soon figured out that this in fact was not a joke.   He had a pet tarantula that had died and wanted to know what his options were.   After talking to him for some time I learned that he had his tarantula for about 25 years.  He ultimately decided on cremation and brought him out the next day. 

We always want people to know that we do not discriminate, nor joke about anybody's pet.  A pet, is a pet, is a pet, no matter what type and we treat everybody and every pet with the same dignity and care.  There are many pets that are misunderstood, or should I say, the relationship with them is misunderstood.  It is not for anybody to judge what type of animal is appropriate for pet status.

 The grieving process after the death of a pet is the same whether it be a spider, bird, ferret, rat, guinea pig, hamster, cat, or dog.  Part of the reason the grieving process is so intense after the death of a pet is because of that unconditional love and companionship they give to us.

I write this for the people who have all types of pets, letting them know that we at Forrest Run understand.  I also write this for people who don't have all types of pets in the hopes that, they may too understand.  

Duke

Duke

I graduated from High school 25 years ago this June.  It is hard to believe!  I am sure anybody who has come to this milestone in life has had similar emotions.  How many times do we hear the phrase, "time flies"?  I can honestly say, never in a million years would I have guessed I would be the owner of a Pet Cemetery & Cremation Service 25 years out of high school.  I have had many people ask how I got interested in this profession. The following is that story.  I grew up with pets.  We always had a dog or two and cats.  We were always picking pet hair out of the butter or some other food item.  This isn't to say we didn't have a clean house, but if you have pets.......you know what I mean.  

After graduating from high school, my dad told me to get a job or he was taking me down to the Army recruiters office.  Well, the Army recruiter was not the answer for me!  I heard Westgor Funeral Home was looking for a driver for their hearse and I thought that would be pretty cool (and easy).  I started working at Westgor's on July 1, 1988, therein starting my 25 year career in the funeral profession. I started out doing maintenance work, cutting the lawn, washing cars (and yes, driving the Hearse). One Saturday morning, I was in the funeral home garage washing one of the cars and Ted Westgor came out and told me that we had a home death and asked me to go change into my suit.  On the way to the house I asked him (as I always did) who died.  He said, "it's Marge Applebee's dog, Duke."   I didn't know what to say, nor what to expect.  We had Marge's husband's funeral less than a year ago and all she had left as far as family, was her dog Duke and she thought the world of him.  When we got to the house we went inside just like we always did, to talk to the family and assess the situation.  There was Duke on the living room floor.  The veterinarian had just been there to take care of the euthanasia.  Marge was devastated and Ted comforted her like he would any other person who had a family member die.  I sat back in awe and watched how this scene unfolded.  Ted had put some blankets in the van before we left and he asked me to go outside and bring them in.  After a few more minutes of saying good-by we wrapped Duke up in the blankets and took him to the van. 

Later that day Marge came in to the funeral home to make arrangements for Duke.   A visitation and service at the funeral home was scheduled for the next day, with burial at the Neenah Animal Shelter Cemetery immediately following.  I remember driving to the local casket manufacturer in Green Bay to get a white child's casket.  When I got there I was met with the somber looks from the employees as they all thought we were having a funeral for a child.  When I told them the casket was actually for a dog the somber mood was at first turned into laughter (relief, I'm sure) but then turned serious as they couldn't believe someone actually was purchasing a casket for a dog.  I explained that the dog's owner really did treat Duke like a member of the family and wanted nothing but the best.

The next day we set Duke up in the chapel and arranged the flowers that were picked out by Marge and ones that were sent by friends.  Many of Marge's friends came to the visitation and service for Duke and then drove in the procession out to the Neenah Animal Shelter where Duke was buried, complete with a concrete burial vault to surround the casket.  Throughout this whole process, I was amazed at what was happening, and being an animal lover, I was sold on the idea.

I was just 18 years old when I had the experience with Marge Applebee and her beloved dog Duke.  But ever since then, I had it in the back of my mind that "someday", I wanted to help people take care of their pets when they die.  I went to college and became a licensed funeral director in 1994.  I have had a very satisfying career as a funeral director and my "someday" came a little sooner than I thought it would when I started working at Forrest Run in 2003, becoming the owner the following year.  I continued to work full time as a funeral director until 2009 when I decided that Forrest Run needed my full time attention.  My life and career could have taken many different turns, but I am very happy with how it all turned out.  When I look back, I have one person to thank, whom I never really have.  That person is Ted Westgor.  Had he decided to not accommodate Marge Applebee's needs as a grieving Pet Parent, I never would have had that experience, and probably wouldn't be doing what I enjoy so much today.  Thanks Ted, for taking me along on that ride.  

Education

I believe strongly in education.  Especially in the world of pet cremation, burial and memorialization.  As I've said many times to people, pet cremation is still a relatively new concept.  There are many in the Veterinary Profession that remember how things used to be before cremation was an option.  This is just one of the topics discussed during the "Lunch and Learn" sessions that we host with Veterinarians and their Support Staff. 

 At Forrest Run we have a strong connection to our Veterinary Partners.  We believe that through education and communication we will be able to keep the pet families informed of all their decisions, as well as put to rest many of the myths and untruths of pet cremation and memorialization.   Most often it is the Veterinarian, Technician, Receptionist or any member of the Support Staff that receives the initial contact about a pet that is nearing the end of life.  In addition to asking questions about the process of euthanasia there are also questions about options for the pet after death occurs.  So it is important for all of the Veterinary staff to be informed as to what the options are, as well as be able to explain the differences in those options.   If a family chooses group cremation for their pet, what happens to the cremated remains?  If a family chooses private cremation, how do they know they are getting their pet back and not somebody else's?  What type of identification procedures does the pet cremation service have in place?  Where is the facility located?  Can a family tour the facility or be there when the cremation takes place?  

Another topic that we cover during the Lunch and Learn sessions are urn and other merchandise selections that are available.  We never expect the Veterinary Providers to know all of the products we provide, so we have tried to make it as  simple as possible by having them refer families to our website www.forrestrun.com .  We take advantage of modern technology as often as we can and have recently created a QR code which will be located on all of our brochures and printed material.  This will give families immediate access to our website at any time and place with the use of a smart phone.

These are just a few topics that are currently being discussed at our Lunch and Learn sessions.  Just as in any business today, we are constantly changing and updating to increase our customer care and service.  We truly value the relationship we have with our Veterinary Partners and we consider it a vital part of our responsibility to them and the families they serve to keep them up to date and informed. 

Because we believe so strongly in this education,  we provide the Lunch and Learn sessions to any Veterinary Provider even if they don't use Forrest Run exclusively for pet cremation and memorialization.  Ask your veterinarian if they have had lunch with Forrest Run.  We would love to sit down with them!

Assurance

Assurance

One of the most frequent questions people have about private cremation of their pet is how do they know they are getting their pet back and not somebody else's?   At Forrest Run,  no matter what type of cremation you choose for your pet, know that every pet is identified at all times and they are all handled with dignity and care.   

When choosing cremation for your pet at Forrest Run you have two options:  Private cremation and Group (sometimes referred to as Communal) cremation.  Private cremation is when your pet is cremated individually and the cremated remains are returned to you.  At Forrest Run, every pet that is cremated privately is assigned a stainless steel identification tag with a number on it.  That tag stays with the pet through the entire process and is placed with the cremated remains into the urn or temporary container.  You will also receive a cremation certificate with the name of your pet, the date the cremation was done and the cremation i.d. number in the upper right hand corner.   Group cremation is when your pet is cremated along with other pets whose family has chosen group cremation and the cremated remains are not returned to you.  They are then buried in the Companion Garden which is located in the Southeast corner of the cemetery property.

 Often times people want private cremation , but they don't want to take the cremated remains home with them, so they think they can only choose group cremation.  This is not the case.  You can still choose private cremation and we will scatter the cremated remains in the Scattering Garden at Forrest Run .  As a matter of fact we quite often have Scattering Services where the family is present or scatters the cremated remains themselves.  This option is only available for private cremation.  

There are very few veterinary providers in this area that actually perform the cremation process.  Most likely, they contract with a pet crematory that may or may not be in this area.  As always we encourage you to ask questions about the cremation services being provided for your pet whether those services are being provided by Forrest Run or another crematory.   You should be able to talk directly to the cremation provider and request a tour of the facilities.  

Yes, You Can Do That

Thank you for checking out the first Forrest Run blog post.  We will be sharing a variety of blog postings that will prove to be educational, as well as entertaining.  Most of the posts will be written by Forrest Run owner Pat Fahrenkrug, with a guest blog every once in a while.  We invite you to comment, ask questions and give us ideas for future posts.

We are very pleased and excited to roll out our newly designed website.   Our goal is to make it easy for our families to interact with us as well as share their stories about their beloved pets with others.

As we start out the year 2013 we thought this would be a good time to let people know how much we have changed as a company and service provider the past few years.  We are no longer just a Pet Cemetery and Cremation Service.  With the help of the families we serve and by recognizing their needs, we have really evolved into a Pet Memorial Tribute Center.   

As you can see at the top of the page we are now called Forrest Run Pet Cremation and Memorial Tribute Center.  The “Center” is located on the grounds of Forrest Run Pet Cemetery.  It is interesting to look at the history of Forrest Run going back to its establishment in 1984.  Recognizing the need for a peaceful and permanent resting place for pets, we started out primarily as a Pet Cemetery, offering burial services and a few private cremations.  Cremation was just beginning to be an accepted practice for pets.  Today, we have over 500 pets buried at Forrest Run, with room for hundred’s more as there are still three undeveloped sections.   Even though we continue to have many burials, I often tell people, it will never be full in my lifetime.  

Much like in the human funeral industry, cremation has become the most popular of the options provided.  In response to that need we put an addition on to the building to accommodate a larger crematory in 2004.   It used to be that the only time we had a visitation or funeral service was when we had a burial.  Now, we have visitations and funeral services for pets that are going to be cremated as well.   The services can be held here at Forrest Run or in the family home.   When offering these services to a family, I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “We didn’t know we could do that”!   

Not too long ago I had a couple that called me on a Sunday night to tell me their beloved Schnauzer had just passed away.  They knew that they wanted cremation for him, and they also wanted to stay while the cremation was being performed, another option that is becoming more popular.  They weren’t sure if they wanted to bring him out right away or spend some more time with him.  While I certainly would have accommodated them if they wanted to come out right away, I encouraged them to spend some time with him, have a visitation…..a vigil for him, if they felt comfortable.  “Can we do that?”, they asked.  Not only did they “do that”, but they put him on his favorite bed with his blanket and called all their neighborhood friends to come over and say good-by.  Along with the neighborhood friends, came their pets who were friends of the beloved Schnauzer too.  When they came out in the morning, they told me how they had so many people coming over that they finally had to close things down at 1 am so they could get some sleep.  They also told me how comforting it was and how much it helped them deal with the intense grief that they were feeling.

While pets have always been an important part of our lives, they have truly evolved into become special members of the family.   As the importance and significance of our pets has evolved, so have our services we provide to you.   Please know that, “Yes, you can do that”, and then give us a call so we can help you.