Pet Remembrance

Here is another intriguing excerpt from our latest newsletter:

 

Pets are an important part of many households, often becoming a member of the family. When they pass away, we want to honour them, much like we do with human loved ones. You might be surprised, but there is almost as wide a range of options for animals as there is for people.

This isn’t a modern practice; we have been burying and remembering our furry friends for thousands of years! Have you given thought to how you will remember your pet and how they will be laid to rest?

Take a look at these weird and wacky ways that animals have been honoured after death:

 

Mummified Moggies

In ancient Egypt, cats were seen as mysterious and were linked with certain deities. Sometimes owners would mummify their deceased cats in the hope they would join them in the afterlife. Others were used as offerings to their god or goddess counterparts and buried in cat cemeteries. These weren’t the only animals to be preserved by the Egyptians, dogs and birds have been found mummified and stored inside pots.

 

Image from newsdesk.si.edu

Man’s Best Friend

In the Middle Stone Age in Scandinavia, roughly 6,000 years ago, some of the first cemeteries were created and they included dogs! The graves of the hounds were remarkably similar to the human ones, showing they were loyal companions even then.

The ‘Perpetual Pet’

Some people can’t bear to part with a beloved pet, well there’s no need to in this day and age with specialised freeze-dry pet preservation technology. The deceased are put through a specialised process for up to 6 months and returned to their owner perfectly in tact and preserved in their natural state ready to re-join the household.

Extravagant Equines

Cats and dogs aren’t the only animals that people have lovingly buried in the past. Some people experience lifelong bonds with horses, with spectacular burials being discovered across the world. In China there were chariot burials and in the ancient Pazyryk Culture in Russia they elaborately adorned their horses and buried them with their riders when dead.

 

Image from pinterest.com

 

 

You can download the full newsletter here!

Anguished Animals

Check out this article featured in our latest newsletter:

 

Image from forumserver.twoplustwo.com

 

Much like we experience grief after the loss of a loved one, some species of animals experience this too, in a range of ways. Scientists have observed behaviours that seem to indicate certain animals are grief-stricken and feeling the loss of a mate, friend or the remains of one of their species. Here are some examples:

Elephants are extremely emotional animals, easily bonding with other elephants or the humans who care for them. These deep attachments can lead to terrible grief when a loved one dies. When herds come across elephant bones, skulls and tusks they touch and explore the remains, sometimes carrying them away.

Chimpanzees’ close genetic makeup to humans means they get some of our faults as well. The primates are known to become distressed when they lose close members of their groups. The animals will often cry, refuse food, mope and separate themselves during grieving periods.

 

Image from Brendansadventures.com

 

Geese are very serious about commitment, devoting themselves to one bird for a lifetime. After a goose dies, its mate will undergo a rigorous mourning process, including weight loss, separation from the flock and submission to other geese. Eventually, the goose will find a new mate in another bird that has lost its partner.

Stereotypes say that cats are loners, but observation has shown that many felines grieve when they lose an owner or cat friend. This process can include running away, not eating, excessive meowing and house-training mistakes.

Sea lions have been seen to cry out in anguish when their babies are taken by predators. A sea lion will continue wailing in mourning after its child has died. The same behaviour has also been seen in sea lions dealing with companions taken by hunters.

Wolves also mourn lost pack members. After the death of a wolf, the remainder of the pack walk with their heads and tails held low – a sign of depression. They no longer howl as a group, but each cries in their own way. This behaviour often lasts for a few weeks.

 

Image from sodahead.com

 

Grief is not just a human emotion; it’s something that many different species feel. We all grieve in our own way, why would it be so difficult to think that other living beings don’t feel the loss of a loved one as heavily as we can?

 

Read the full animal edition newsletter here!

Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014

Image from dyingmatters.org

 

Dying Matters Awareness Week is fast approaching, taking place from the 12th – 18th May. We are hosting a number of exciting events throughout the week, in partnership with the World Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Central Library, FACT and Siren to name a few. We will be releasing the details shortly but make sure you follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to get the latest updates!

There are a number of family events taking place on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of May from Meet the Mummy! at the World Museum to cookie decorating at The Garden in LEAF @ FACT. All of our events are free and promise to be engaging and a lot of fun.

 

Image from sweetsugarbelle.com

 

Check back here soon for the dates and times of our events! If you would like to get involved or want to know more about The Bucket Project or Dying Matters, please contact us at amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk.

Are you doing anything for Dying Matters Awareness Week? Let us know here #YODO