November 11th, 2010
Victoria, BC Canada
Pat Rose of Esquimalt called the Greater Victoria Pet Memorial Center in search of a ´special place´ to take care of her little girl, a Shih-Tzu Poodle cross named - ´Rosie´.
Here is her story in her own words:
´After a visit to the vet which confirmed what I already knew in my heart, I realized I had to pick up the phone and book a time to let my little girl Rosie go.
It was a Saturday morning, so I called a mobile Vet service and booked the euthanasia to be done at home Monday at 1:30pm. Then I panicked as I had a dear pet euthanized at a local Vet hospital many years before and it had been one of the worse experiences of my life. I had left ´George´ there for cremation and had since heard countless horror stories that people were not really getting their pet´s ashes back.
Then I suddenly remembered clipping out an article in the newspaper a few weeks before about a woman - Jocelyne Monette - starting up a new business called the ´Greater Victoria Pet Memorial Center.´ Not kowing if she was in business yet, I called the phone number and Jocelyne answered immediately. I explained what was happening and she assured me that even though she wasn´t officially open for business, she would take care of everything. And she did!
We set up a time for her to arrive on Monday at 2:30pm. She arrived right on time and sat beside me as I cradled my little Rosie after she had passed. Then she asked my husband and I if Rosie had a favorite toy or blanket to go with her, and my husband said ´yes - a sweater of his she always slept on.´ There was no rushing - she sat with me until I could finally let Rosie go. Then she placed the sweater into the little coffin and wrapped it around her, then placed over her a beautiful soft blanket with little dogs on it. My husband carried Rosie to Jocelyne´s vehicle.
The follow up was wonderful! When I went to her office to take the picture she wanted and the words for the urn, she had brought Rosie to the Remembrance Room, and asked if I wanted to see her one last time. At first I hesitated but then I did, to give her one last kiss, and I was glad I did.
When Jocelyne brought Rosie home I was overwhelmed with all the special remembrances for us - the picture and hair clippings, the clay paw print, the 1/2 heart shaped cookie, the official Cremation Certificate, and the beautiful wooden urn with Rosie´s ashes and her tag # 10001 (Rosie was the first), plus a piece of my husband´s sweater to ´keep her warm.´
Jocelyne turned a heartbreaking experience into a time of love and celebration of life.´
Pat & Rick Rose
Thank you Pat & Rick for your wonderful comments and especially, for trusting us with Rosie´s care.
Many blessings,
Jocelyne