Page 12 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2022

COAST NOTE
Helping You Honor Your Furry Friends
story by Victoria Snyder
photos courtesy of Paws to Remember
Death is hard to talk about.
Nobody expects pet loss to impact them so greatly – but it does. Whether you’re a cat person, a dog person, or otherwise, ours pets become our best friends. Pets are there for you whenever you need them. They provide unconditional love. And if you’re anything like me, when you get home, you tell them about your day. They learn the ups and downs of your life, because they’re a part of the family.
And one day, you lose that pet. You grieve for days, weeks, months – a lifetime. You may worry about forgetting your best friend and all of their little quirks, all of the memories you shared.
Within a six-month period, my family and I lost two of our beloved cats. We had brought both of them to Gulf Coast Veterinary Emergency Hospital so they could have 24-hour care, and to see if anything could be done to help them. The staff there helped to keep them as comfortable as possible in their last hours. They also told us about Paws to Remember, their pet loss service.
In the past, when we had lost our pets, we had no way to keep them with us, aside from pictures and memories. Now, Paws to Remember offers the ability to keep your pet’s ashes. My family decided on beautiful wooden boxes for both of our cats, and Paws to Remember gives you the opportunity to have something engraved on the plaque on the box. We went simple: “Tux, In Loving Memory, 2020” and “Patches, Loved by All, 2009-2021.” We also went with the option of getting an imprint of their paws, and some locks of their fur.
I can’t lie – when I’m feeling down, I’ve been known to pull out their paw prints and reminisce. It helps to have another piece of my pets as an anchor to my memories.
Now, I’m able to keep two of my best friends with me forever.
I’ve suggested Paws to Remember to all of my friends going through
pet loss – and now, I’m recommending them to you.
12 | July 2022
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Paws to Remember
8144 East Oaklawn Rd., Biloxi Facebook @PawstoRememberPetServices