Krossing Over
Kross Monsta Giles, RIP
Kross Monsta Giles, 9, of Saugus, MA passed on February 3, 2009, with his loving family by his side.
Kross (is) survived by his loving parents, Kris & Scott Giles, his human sister, Taylor, 7, and his canine sisters Bella Boo, 3, and his late-canine sister Shoei. He (is) also survived by his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Camponescki of Wakefield and Mr. & Mrs. William Giles of Melrose.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Kross was a beautiful German Shepherd who lost his fight with cancer. What’s unusual about this story is that the obituary above ran on the Gately Funeral Home website, normally reserved for humans.
Kross was a beloved family member in the Giles’ household, his passing has left a big void. For those that aren’t dog lovers, they just don’t get the importance of being able to say a proper goodbye. Which is why when the Giles’ approached John Gately, owner of Gately Funeral Home, he couldn’t turn them away. Being a dog lover himself he generously donated space for a service to be held in honor of Kross.
Giles, who was turned away by one funeral home owner worried about “public backlash,” said the wake will bring closure to her, her husband and 7-year-old daughter.
“It just felt so good having something for him,” she said. “It’s making me feel better. It’s making the loss a little bit easier.”
While this may be a first in Massachusetts, funeral homes across the country are increasingly servicing grieving pet owners, holding services and funerals. Also springing up across the country are pet memorial centers, specifically to help guide grieving pet owners in a dignified and loving manner when a pet dies. The memorial centers offer a wide range of products and services so you can customize the arrangements, from wakes to burials.
Locally we have a pet memorial center Dream Land, it is a wonderful place where you know your beloved pet will be in good hands after passing. A place your pet will be treated in a dignified and caring manner.
What do you think about having a memorial service for your pet? Would you use a pet memorial center to handle arrangements when your pet passes? Give me a bark.
* Pic of Kross courtesy BostonHerald.com
The local paper has a story as well:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/melrose/news/business/x114017694/Family-schedules-wake-to-say-farewell-to-beloved-pet
How wonderful of the Gately Funeral Home
Kudos Mr John Gately!!!
Warm HUGs and happy tail wags to you!
You have a special place in heaven waiting for you Im sure!
I might consider it. But I do know that I would have another pet cremated. I never knew you could until I lost a Rottweiler, that my parents and I had. He out lived both of my parents and died at the ripe old age of 12 and half years, during a difficult time in my life. The vet I used arranged for it, but failed to call me when his remains were returned to them and I even lost his ashes by the time I learned this called the crematory to ask about them. But in 2007, I had to have my German Shepard PTS who had grew up with him. And she had out lived him and my parents. Though I was still in the diffcult phase of my life, a volunteer at the rescue where she had stayed arranged for her to be cremated and her ashes return to them and they gave them to me. She was PTS Nov 2007 and would have been 14 years old in Feb 2008. I keep her ashes by my bed in the beautiful wood urn they put her in. On the bottom is a label with the date and they gave my like an announcement card. So i know I’d have another cremated without a doubt. At my death I am requesting her ashes be put in my coffin and buried with me.
I have one pet-child cremated and the ashes are on a book shelf with her name and date is went to Rainbow Bridge. If there was a funeral home to do this kind of service, I would have been the first to do it. My 4-legged child was my first baby in my life. I miss her so much!`
We’re Buddhists and it’s very acceptable to hold “services” for a deceased animal. In fact, the ceremony is the same for animals as humans.
There are also “powas” held for those that are on their death bed – again, the same for animals or humans.
It’s nice to hear that others are starting to accept funeral practices for animals.
Yes I would. I have had all my dogs cremated and have their ashes. They are to buried with my ashes. My family is ok with that..they have dogs they love too.
What a wonderful gester Mr. Gately did! I am glad to see someone has finally addressed the grieving that goes on for a loved animal!
Well as much as I think there would be many eyes rolling from some of my friends and family at receiving an invite to a memorial service for the recent passing of our fur-child, if this was available to me in my locale in Canada I would have done it. Thankfully I at least had the option of cremation so my fur-child’s urn will be with me always and be placed with mine at some point. Although I have brought the urn home, I still have not been brave enough to even open the box packaging the urn. I think a memorial service could help to give closure in some way and would be helpful for the grieving process. I tried to prepare myself knowing illness would take my fur-child but even I could never have imagined how such a little life could leave such a big hole in my life and heart.
I would definitely have services for my dogs. I had a party for their first birthday and plan on throwing one for many years to come. It only makes sense to me to give them a funeral. I know some people I know would think it is crazy (they didn’t come to the birthday party) but who cares, to most of us our pets are our children, siblings or best friend. I had a harder time losing my childhood dog Zipper than I did losing some family members.
I think grief is grief, whether it is for a person or an animal companion. When you love a living being, it is a loss when they die, no matter what. It hurts, terribly. I think it was wonderfully compassionate for Mr. Gately to agree to do this for the family. It is never wrong to be kind to someone, especially someone who is hurting. We could learn something about being kinder to each other from this story. God bless you, Mr. Gately.