“With Bungee, every day seemed like the first day we got him. We never took him for granted. We were lucky to have him,” says Kim Warmolts. He and his wife Peggy recently said goodbye to their 16 year-old cat that had become more than just a pet – he’d become a member of the family.
That’s the case for so many pet owners, which makes saying goodbye so difficult. In fact, more than 90 percent of pet owners are likely to risk their own lives to save their animal companion. But sadly, the majority of us will lose a pet, or perhaps several, in our lifetime.
Recognizing a need, the SPCA Tampa Bay and Curlew Hills Pet Cemetery are teaming to offer a Pet Bereavement Seminar in April. It’s a chance to help pet owners like Kim Warmolts not only anticipate the eventual loss, but to learn how to find help to cope with grief. Visitors will also learn about a variety of memorial options.
Earlier this month, just two days after leaving town, the Warmolts got the news that Bungee had passed away at the vet’s office. “We really miss him a lot. It’s like losing a member of the family. Reality hits you hard sometimes.”
Bungee came into the Warmolts household to celebrate Kim’s 40th birthday as a kitten adopted from the SPCA back in 1992. “He had another name when he was adopted, but I went bungee jumping for my 40th so we changed it to Bungee.”
“He was the ugliest kitten I ever saw, but turned into quite a beautiful cat,” recalls Warmolts.
They noticed a change in Bungee about 6 months ago, and even canceled a trip to take him to the vet for symptoms that included vomiting and lethargy. The diagnosis – thyroid and intestinal problems – made the Warmolts realize it was just a matter of time before they’d have to say goodbye.
An accomplished Bay Area grief counselor who will speak at the seminar has been helping pet owners cope with loss for years. Crystal Finnis started Florida’s first Pet Loss Support Group at the Pinellas Animal Foundation back in 1987 and has been involved ever since.
“One of the things I try to do is explain that this happens down the road when you decide to bring a pet into your home and it’s important to understand that,” says Finnis.
She points out that loss can happen at any time. “Things happen unforeseen – it’s imminent, it’s just a matter of when and how.”
The goal is to educate and inform pet owners on a variety of topics related to the loss of a companion animal. Types of loss, the euthanasia decision and the various stages of grief will be covered.
Also on the agenda is Keenan Knopke, President and CEO of Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Pet Cemetery. He’ll share with pet owners some of the options available to memorialize that special pet.
The Pet Bereavement Seminar is scheduled for Saturday, April 19th from 2:30 – 5 p.m. at the SPCA Tampa Bay’s Humane Education and Training Center. That’s located at 9099 130th Avenue North in Largo. The public is invited, but asked to leave pets at home. For more information or to RSVP for the seminar, please call the SPCA at (727) 586-3591 ext. 134 or visit www.spcatampabay.org.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Tampa Bay has served Pinellas County for more than 65 years. More than 15,000 homeless and abandoned animals come to the shelter every year. Its mission is to protect animals, find loving homes for homeless animals, educate the public about humane care of all animals and assist in the enforcement of animal protection laws and ordinances.
Curlew Hills Pet Cemetery offers memorial space for up to 1,500 pets. It sits on half an acre at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Northern Pinellas County. It’s located at 1750 Curlew Road in Palm Harbor, Florida. Visit www.curlewhillspetcemetery.com for more information.