It’s only natural for humans to yearn to provide a physical shape for the emotions we feel after losing a faithful friend and companion. Generations of children have made grave markers for their beloved pets, helping them to come to terms in some small way with their loss, and this is a tradition that looks set to endure for many more generations to come.

Now, thanks to the convenience and endless choice afforded to us by the internet, there are countless other options available for those of us seeking a permanent memorial to our much-missed pets. Some of our favourites follow below and you can find more at The Ralph Site HERE.

Online remembrance

One of the most important and popular pages of The Ralph Site is our memorials page, where anyone missing a pet can upload a photo and a few words paying homage to their unique personality and character; you can also link to a YouTube video. There is no charge to leave a memorial and you can leave as many as you like, although you must first register with www.theralphsite.com in order to do so.

Selected memorials are then shared on The Ralph Site’s Facebook page on their anniversary. Find out more about this sharing to Facebook HERE.

Dedicate a tree

What better way to celebrate the life and memory of a canine companion that dedicating a tree in his or her name? Aside from providing an apt reminder of woodland walks and outdoor fun, your accompanying donation to The Woodland Trust will help fund vital conservation work across the UK. You can find out more HERE.

Name a star

Perhaps you’d like to memorialise your own little star by naming a celestial body for him or her, way up over the Rainbow Bridge? There is more information on how to do this HERE.

Statues and plaques

Many owners like to mark a place that was special to their pet – a favourite garden bench or a tree that always offered shelter on a sunny day. Memorial plaques and stones can be ordered from The Ralph Site Shop HERE and are available in a range of sizes and finishes, to suit all budgets.

Jewellery and keepsakes

If your pet has been cremated, you may wish to incorporate his or her ashes into a pendant, so that you can keep him or her close to your heart at all times.
Or if you have a lock of your pet’s fur, a silver locket provides a discreet place to keep this safe.
Perhaps you would like to take a cast of your beloved friend’s paw prints? Easy to use kits make it easy to capture their unique impression.

However you choose to memorialise your friend, you’ll be paying a fitting tribute to the bond you shared, and ensuring that their spirit lives on in some small way in addition to those special memories locked inside your heart and mind.

Until next time very best wishes,

Shailen

The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

One of the most popular products in The Ralph Site Shop is this natural calming spray, suitable for all pets, from hamsters to horses.

Many of us have anxious pets – whether it is in specific situations such as Bonfire Night, or going to the vet, or as a permanent character trait. Countless owners have reported finding this calming spray to be a helpful addition to their armoury of techniques and products for helping nervous pets deal with everyday situations; the natural ingredients are said to work to calm your pet down gently, without sedating or causing drowsiness.

The spray offers a natural anti-stress solution, with its unique blend of calming Valerian essential oil, Vetivert, Basil Sweet and Sage. It can be sprayed onto your trouser leg when walking with an anxious or jumpy dog, so that his or her nose takes in the scent of the calming essential oils. Or you can spray it on your pet’s bedding, carpets, soft furnishings, or in the car to help your pet feel calmer, naturally.

Nervousness is a trait that is usually inherited from a pet’s parents (both the four and two-legged varieties!).

Pets that are predisposed to anxiety will require extra care when being introduced to new situations and people, and puppy classes are hugely beneficial for young dogs here. Nervous pets will invariably cower or hide when faced with a stressful situation, and may lash out through fear if they are unable to escape.

There are two things to remember when dealing with nervous pets:

• Never force your pet into a situation that he or she clearly finds uncomfortable – they will not ‘get used to it’ in a way that we might, but instead may react aggressively the next time they are presented with that same situation.
• Never punish your pet for this natural reaction; your pet will quickly learn to associate the scary situation and the punishment, which will then actually intensify his or her behaviour in the future.

Patience and calm are the most effective tools – at the first sign that your pet is feeling anxious, move away from the situation; this demonstrates to your pet that you are in control. Distract your pet with a toy or treat, and talk to him or her in a calm, low voice. Gradually move closer, or slowly increase your pet’s exposure, to the source of anxiety – familiarity and your presence will both help to ease your pet’s nervousness over time. Always reward positive behaviour with lots of fuss and treats.

More advice on helping your nervous pets can be found here:

• For dogs here
• For cats here
• For horses here
• For rabbits here

Until next time very best wishes,

Shailen

The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Calling all cat lovers…

Those of you with cats in your lives know that every day is cat day! It’s not possible for your feline friend to let a day pass without reminding you just how special he or she is – be it by means of a thoughtful ‘present’ waiting on the doorstep, a gentle pat across the cheek in the middle of the night or with the wave of a tail across the screen as you attempt to type around the tangle of paws and fur where your keyboard should be!

But if you need more cause to celebrate the wonder of all things cat, then you’ll be pleased to know that Saturday August 8th 2015 is the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s designated International Cat Day.

Cats certainly are amazing creatures, as we all know. But did you also know that reportedly they:

• Have 24 more bones than us humans?
• Are born with blue eyes, which change colour as they grow?
• Have sharper claws on their front paws than on the back legs?
• Have the largest eyes of any mammal, relative to the size of their bodies?
• Are referred to a ‘clowder’ when in a group, whilst a ‘kindle’ is the term used to describe a group of kittens?
• Sleep for 16 hours a day, on average?
• Have around 12 whiskers on each side of their face?

Check out www.animalplanet.com for more fascinating feline facts.

It’s always nice to surprise your cat with a little gift, or an edible treat and you’ll find plenty of ideas, to meet any budget, in our shop. Here are a few of our favourites:

• How about some jingle balls?
• Or a tasty chewing snack?
• Maybe a fancy new collar, with safety features?
• And if you’re fed up with not being able to get on your favourite chair, how about this wonderful cat-sized chaise longue?!

In the light of recent events in the news, the timing of this year’s International Cat Day is especially pertinent – highlighting the threats posed by our species to the domestic cat’s wild cousins, with the killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe. The Oxford University project studying Cecil and his pride has received in excess of a quarter of a million pounds in public donations since the news broke, allowing its important conservation and education work to continue in his name. You can find out more or make a donation at HERE.

Until next time very best wishes,

Shailen
The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Losing a friend is a devastating experience to go through, even without the additional burden of having to make practical decisions at a time when you are not functioning normally. Choosing whether to bury or cremate your faithful friend is one of the biggest decisions you will be asked to make at this difficult time, and it is always best to think about the options in advance if at all possible. In this way you can avoid possible regrets in future, resulting from decisions necessarily taken in haste whilst in a fragile emotional state.

There are two main options here, burial and cremation, and we take a look at some practical considerations concerning both.

Burial

• UK law allows pets to be buried either at your own property or at a licensed pet cemetery
• It’s wise to ensure that there is a metre of soil above the grave, in order to prevent wild animals disturbing your pet’s final resting place
• Burying your pet at home brings some comfort in that your pet is close by, in a garden that he or she loved. However, if you subsequently move house it can be distressing to leave your pet behind. If you have young children they might find this particularly upsetting.
• Planting a tree gives a permanent memory of your pet, but again this can be difficult to leave behind if you ever move. Perhaps you might like to consider dedicating a potted shrub to your pet’s memory – this can be taken with you when you move
• If you choose a pet cemetery as your pet’s final resting place, we recommend that you think about:
  • Arrangements for marking the grave – are you able to choose and place your own marker?
  • Opening times – will you be able to visit your pet easily (especially important if you have to travel far)
  • Annual maintenance fees – what is the ongoing charge for upkeep of the plot, and what would happen to your pet’s grave if the business ceased to operate?

Details on locations of pet burial grounds near you can be found by visiting The Ralph Site.

Cremation

Consider whether you would like an individual cremation for your pet, or whether it would be acceptable to opt for a shared cremation. Not everyone wants to have their pet’s ashes returned, and in this case a shared cremation can be a practical consideration.

If it is important to you that your pet receives an individual cremation (so that you can be certain that the ashes returned to you are those of your beloved animal) then we recommend you ensure that the crematorium you choose is a member of the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries & Crematoria, where this is standard practice.

Talk to the crematorium staff about your wishes – it may be possible to view the procedure if you would like to do so

A wide choice of urns and caskets are available (including those in our own shop). You may wish to provide your own container for your pet’s ashes, and your chosen crematorium can advise you on the specific requirements here.

Details on the locations of pet crematoria in the UK can be found by visiting The Ralph Site.

When considering this upsetting subject, you might also find it useful to speak with family and friends about their experiences and choices – they will undoubtedly have a wealth of advice they would be only too happy to share.

To read a bit more about pet aftercare options, please visit The Ralph Site HERE.

Until next time very best wishes,

Shailen
The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

It’s surprising what dogs can be drawn to nibble on, and whilst finding a hole in the exact Sunday supplement you were about to settle down with is certainly irritating, at least it is unlikely to cause any serious issues for your pet. Cats are more fastidious eaters, and therefore it is less common for them to eat things that they shouldn’t – but it definitely does happen!

Unfortunately many common plants and flowers are toxic to cats and dogs, and so it is always wise to prevent your furry companions from eating anything other than grass (which is hard to avoid!) when you are out and about. Of course many berries and fungi found in the wild can be poisonous too.

We have put together the following list of common offenders that you might want to avoid having in your home and garden. Fortunately many of these leaves and flowers do not taste good, and therefore it is unlikely that your pet will ingest sufficient quantities to cause serious harm – but why take the risk?!

Also you will potentially find conflicting information about many of these plants and flowers in terms of whether they are harmful to animals, if so to which animals, how harmful they are, etc. Our view is very much ‘better safe than sorry’ and we hope that seems reasonable?

Lilies are especially dangerous for cats with the potential to cause kidney failure – AVOID!!!

• Amaryllis bulbs
• Asparagus fern
• Azalea
• Chrysanthemum
• Cyclamen
• Daffodil bulbs
• Delphiniums
• Dieffenbachia / Dumb cane
• Foxgloves
• Hemlock
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Ivy
• Laburnum
• Lilies. Extremely toxic to cats, causing potentially fatal kidney failure
• Lupin
• Mistletoe
• Morning glory
• Nightshade
• Oleander
• Poinsettia
• Rhododendron
• Rhubarb leaves
• Sweet pea
• Tulip bulbs
• Umbrella plant
• Wisteria
• Yew

The list given here features some of the most common problem plants, but it is by no means exhaustive.

More detailed lists of poisonous plants can be found at www.dogstrust.org.uk and www.icatcare.org.
A comprehensive list of plants to avoid feeding your rabbit can be found HERE.

The signs of poisoning can range from a mild bout of diarrhoea to lethargy, vomiting, fitting and even death in the most serious cases. Therefore if you suspect that your pet has ingested anything unusual, please seek advice from your vet immediately.

It is usually the berries, fruit and pollen of such plants that are most toxic, although exposure to the sap can also cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. This is actually the most likely outcome of contact with problem plants, as fortunately cases of plant poisoning are relatively rare in the UK. Symptoms here can include sneezing, wheezing, rashes, blistering, itching and hypersensitivity to sunlight. Once again, it’s advisable to speak to your vet if you suspect that your pet is suffering with any of these.

AND please rememvber that although fruits not plants/flowers, grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas can cause kidney failure in some dogs and we recommend avoiding all forms of these fruits (cooked, uncooked, organic, inorganic, etc.) in all dogs.

Until next time very best wishes,

Shailen
The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.