Fairwinds Forever
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A few days after the funeral, his cremains were ready. The day I picked up the cremains of my best friend was a defining moment in my life. It was a day of sadness because I had lost my best friend. Yet, I had feeling of satisfaction and pride that I was able to let go of him before he lost his dignity.
Tristan had always been a proud dog. He wanted to protect me, to spend time with me; he loved his family, he loved his pack. When the day came that he couldn’t stand of his own volition, we had known it was time. It wasn’t his spirit that gave out, it was his body. I was extremely lucky – Tristan lived 17 years and at 85 lbs, that’s quite an accomplishment.
While making the decision to euthanize was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve made in life, I’m proud of myself for doing it. And I know Tristan is up at the Rainbow Bridge with the many other animals I’ve lost – Malachi, Aquilla, my cats – Napoleon, Baby, Grey Ghost, Cochise, and all of the others. Even Podo, my ferret and my three little bunnies. One of these days, I’m sure to join them – but not yet.
It makes you think about death. And I’ve pretty well decided that when I die, I’m going to have my ashes mixed with those of my pets, turned into a mold, and dropped to the bottom of the Caribbean to become a reef. I’ve never been a fan of worms and decay, so this seems like a good solution. This way, my husband will get a great vacation in the Bahamas – but hopefully we’ll go together long before then.
I’ve always had my pets cremated. Their ashes are in small little urns in my living room. That’s why it’s very important to me that the cremation is done correctly. Fairwinds Forever exceeded my wildest expectations…
The entire process, from picking Tristan up at the vet’s office to the final delivery of his cremains, was neatly documented on a page of notes. Everyone who signed the document, took responsibility for their parts in the proceedings. A small ID tag was fastened around Tristan’s neck and it remained there throughout the preparation, the viewing, the transfers and finally – with his remains. There is no possibility of a mix up or receiving the wrong remains.
When I arrived to bring his remains home, Mary handed me a bag of items. In it was the entire record of the transfers, the hand-carved urn with his ashes, two small organza bags that contained long locks of his luxurious coat, a plaster casting of his nose and paw-prints.
In addition, Mary handed me a standalone frame and on one side, Tristan’s picture in happier years has found it’s home. On the other, the plaster paw print she so carefully made an impression of and placed in the frame.
Never have I felt so secure in the death of an animal. And it was all made possible by Mary of Fairwinds Forever.
The cost is barely more than what I would have paid to have Tristan’s body cremated through the vet’s office.
The vet quoted me $185 to have my dog’s body cremated and returned in a group cremation. The cost at Fairwinds was $225 without all the extras. The “extras’ included: retrieval was $75, the paw print with frame $45 and the urn $36, and the visitation with grooming was $215 so the cost for everything was $ 596, but the cremation. The long process we selected was more expensive, of course it was, but not by much. And the peace of mind it brought to me was worth ten times the amount.
Had I chosen to just receive the ceramic heart and hair clipping, the total cost would have been $225.
In the case of Roscoe, I paid over $120 (he was smaller than Tristan at only 55 lbs) to never see my dog again and have no memory of him. Why did I do it? Grief. I wasn’t thinking straight because I was overcome with grief and a lack of sleep.Â
Our animals deserve our best – in life and in death. What other member of your family so completely devotes themselves to you? Who else can show the type of unconditional love you will find from your pet? And why wouldn’t you give them the absolute best? You spent the time and money in life. Why not treat them with the same respect in death.
Call Fairwinds Forever. Begin the pre-planning stage of your family pet. I can promise you won’t regret it. If money is an issue, talk to them – they will work with you to provide your pet a dignified service – one that you will need more than your pet.
