ANIMAL LOVERS ARE being offered the opportunity to pay tribute to their late pets as a pet memorial garden opens its gates in Dublin this week, the first of its kind in Ireland.
The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) Pet Memorial Garden will offer grieving owners a space where they can remember their now deceased pets.
Located on the grounds of the DSPCA Centre in Rathfarnham, Dublin the memorial garden opened to the public on Friday, 8 September.
Anyone who has suffered the loss of a pet knows the grief that accompanies the moment, and it must be said the word “pet” does not accurately depict the true nature of our attachment to our animals because, to many, they’re part of our family.
The DSPCA Pet Memorial Garden is a reflective and dedicated space for pet owners to remember beloved pet companions who have crossed the rainbow bridge.
Pet owners can buy a memorial tree, bench or plaque to honour their late friend’s memory, with all of the money raised going back to help other animals in DSPCA’s Rathfarnham shelter. Or visitors can simply take in the tranquil setting and reflect on the installations created by local artists including Richie Clarke, Laura Steerman and Jackie Ball.
It’s natural to mourn what’s lost, and we encourage everyone to mourn the loss of a beloved family pet, because as Josh Billings said, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself,” and that’s a hell of a loss to come to terms with.
Which is why the DSPCA Pet Memorial Garden wants to help people pay tribute to their pets in a symbolic way and help to keep their memory alive.
“We understand the importance of pets in the lives of those who love them, and so, we are delighted to open our first Pet Memorial Garden as a meaningful way to honour their memory,” Pat Watt, DSPCA CEO, said.
The garden is not a place to lay pets to rest, instead, we’ve created a peaceful place for our patrons and animal lovers to remember their precious pets while at the same time help the DSPCA tackle the challenges of these difficult times.
“The garden is a beautiful way to celebrate the life of their pets while supporting essential animal rescue efforts. Like all charities, the DSPCA is seeing an increased cost of day-to-day operations so all support at this vital time has positive impact on the animals in our care.”
Established in 1840, the DSPCA is Ireland’s largest animal welfare charity, its mission is to make it socially unacceptable to mistreat any animal.
More information on the DSPCA Pet Memorial is available here.
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