A Fond Farewell to Our Four Legged Friends

A Fond Farewell to Our Four Legged Friends

LONDON, December 7/PRNewswire/ -- A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Dmitri will be the first pet to
have his life commemorated on The Blue Cross's new Remembering Your Pet
online memorial service.



The service, which is the first of its kind in the UK, has been developed
by the pet charity to enable people to mark an animal's passing and celebrate
the role the pets played in their lives.



Marilyn Chase, who sadly lost Dmitri last year, said: "Dmitri was our
constant companion. He really was a member of my family. At times I think he
thought he was a human and not a dog. When Dmitri died the grief that we felt
was so intense. It became important for me to honour Dmitri's memory and
record his life. He still lives on in our hearts and minds."



Remembering Your Pet is run in conjunction with the Pet Bereavement
Support Service (PBSS), a telephone helpline and email service run by The
Blue Cross and Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) to help grieving
pet owners. The PBSS receives a growing number of phone calls and emails
every year from people who have lost a pet. Trained volunteers provide
reassurance and comfort to callers who, in many cases, find it difficult to
communicate with friends and family about their feelings.



Claire Branigan, PBSS co-ordinator at The Blue Cross said: "When a pet
dies owners can feel that they have lost an important member of their family.
We often encourage people to remember their animals and celebrate their lives
as this can be helpful and comforting to grieving owners."



The new Blue Cross website, which will go live in December at
www.bluecross.org.uk, will also include screen savers, animal knowledge
quizzes, information on Blue Cross services and events plus a new children's
section which is being supported by boy band Blue.



Notes to editors



- The Blue Cross is Britain's pet charity, providing practical
support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network
of animal adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its
hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford
private vets' fees.




Source: The Blue Cross

Media contact: Sam Roberts +44-(0)20-7932-4065 (direct), +44-(0)7917-132-698 (out of hours)


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