| "I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a | | | | to create. |
| peep. | | | | Once you receive the marker, where you choose to |
| I could see that you were crying. You found it hard | | | | put it is equally important. While some people place |
| to sleep. | | | | their pet cremation urns or memorials on a mantle, |
| I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear, | | | | end tables in a room, or in an indoor sanctuary, many |
| "It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm | | | | people choose to keep their pet cremation urns in |
| here." | | | | their specially design memorial garden or retreat. |
| I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour | | | | Memorial gardens offer a sanctuary in more ways |
| the tea, | | | | than one. A sanctuary, literally, means a place that |
| You were thinking of the many times your hands | | | | offers relief, solace or freedom from grief and pain. |
| reached down to me..." | | | | Creating your own garden retreat allows you to |
| - Author Unknown | | | | customize a space that is truly full of meaning for |
| The loss of a loved one or a pet can hit us hard. | | | | you. Memorial sanctuaries are therapeutic places |
| When you have spent many hours, days and years | | | | where you can just meditate, sit, think, remember or |
| together sharing love and taking care of each other, | | | | spend a few minutes to honor the memory of your |
| the sudden loss can indeed leave a gaping void. It's | | | | dearly departed pet. To this effect, pet owners |
| also true that the more you love the more will you | | | | often try to make these gardens peaceful, colorful, |
| grieve. Therefore, everyone has to prepare himself | | | | quiet and lovely. Tall trees, green grass, flowing |
| herself for the inevitable - at least in the mind. | | | | waters and garden flowers all form a significant part |
| Memorializing a loss can lead to healing. Often, in our | | | | of your very own pet memorial garden. Pet grave |
| quest to reach the blessed state of acceptance, we | | | | markers or memorial stones are often nestled in a |
| go through various methods of coping. Some of | | | | bed of flowers, placed at the base of a special tree |
| them are:o Erecting a pet memorial marker.o Placing a | | | | or added to a rock garden. |
| pet grave stone or rock cremation urn.o Leaving | | | | English and Japanese garden themes are particularly |
| aside an area of the garden or designing it to serve | | | | well-suited for a memorial garden sanctuary because |
| as a memorial garden sanctuary. | | | | of the availability of benches and other restful places |
| Memorial and grave markers serve as a permanent | | | | to sit and lose yourself. Sub-tropical gardens also |
| monument of love to your special someone. You can | | | | offer you wide sweeping beds for placing the pet |
| choose a pet grave marker from a variety of | | | | grave marker or stone. Rock gardens are ideal |
| pre-designed markers to honor the passing of a | | | | because the pet grave marker or stone is easily |
| beloved pet. Or you can custom-build a pet grave of | | | | visible. The setting is rugged and comfortable. |
| your choice. Pet memorial stones can be made of | | | | Grieving is a process and while it is painful in itself, it |
| marble, granite, metals or even wood. They can be | | | | can also heighten your sense of life. When facing |
| big or small, freestanding or wall mounted. Some | | | | complex emotions, it is always better to examine |
| stones can be personalized and you can even add a | | | | yourself and evaluate your own state of mind. |
| short poem of your choice. | | | | Memorial gardens and sanctuaries are places where |
| Some pet owners use rock cremation urns in their | | | | you can take your grief and quietly work through it. |
| garden retreats. This is a relatively new concept but | | | | Ironically, we begin to appreciate life around us when |
| it opens up a whole new world of possibilities to the | | | | we see it through a sheer film of tears. |
| grieving person and the kind of experience he wants | | | | |