Hi,
I'm new to this forum, so I thought I'd let you know something about myself.
I'm Scott and I live in North Wales, where I operate a conservation enterprise called Stonecat Nature Reserves. Essentially, I produce saplings and donate these to tree planting enthusiasts across Britain. Lately, SNR has embarked on a new project, to create its own woodland nature reserve here in the region.
It is envisaged that pet owners within reasonable travelling distance of the area will support SNR in exchange for a FREE pet burial plot within the proposed reserve.
As the project is not yet established, SNR is inviting pet owners to Register Their Interest. When land is acquired, those registered pet owners will be asked to support SNR by collecting 15 sponsors for a sponsored angling or balloon race event. In exchange for this support, a FREE plot will be given alongwith all documentation.
Plots will accommodate a very large dog breed, so over time, several smaller pets can be laid to rest in the same plot.
SNR will open and close a grave on request and will again for free, provide a simple wooden marker carrying a simple message and details about the pet(s).
Pets will truly rest in peace in a place of sanctuary where new life will flourish.
SNR operates all sorts of initiatives, from providing free sea angling boat trips, membership subscriptions to various organisations, even free magazine subscriptions.
It also produces booklets under the title Poetry For Conservation. Poets from around the world submit their work and such is included in a booklet. These are sold to raise funds.
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:44 pm
spottydog Dog Expert
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 1106 Age: 51 No.Of Pets: 1 Pet Types: dogs
Hi Stonecat, what an interesting and worthwhile project, as a Wiccan I applaud this kind of thing and wish you all the best.
In Ireland everyone is expected to bury their own pets, I am lucky that I have bought an acre of land between the peat bog and the river, filled with ancient trees and I am slowing building a timber frame house. I lost my first dog in the summer and she is buried there in a wooded glade.
Ireland is very hot on "green" issues (apart from the cement factory ) and is largely unspoilt once you get away from Dublin. All houses must have an energy rating from next year to encourage better energy efficiency and use of resources. Maybe the UK will follow eventually ...... ____________ Pretty Polly Pavey of Polidot - 06/08/1996 - 13/07/2006 - Dalspa Liquid Gold for Polidot 20/10/1999 - 08/05/2007 - Polly and Polo together again
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:55 pm
Stonecat Newbie
Joined: Dec 07, 2006 Posts: 5 Age: 44 No.Of Pets: 1 Pet Types: cat
In the UK, pet cemeteries and the like are proliferating and that's good, because anyone who uses such a facility obviously cares greatly about their pet. I know several people with urns containing their pets' cremated ashes.
Studying the subject though, I discovered that as in the case of humans, nobody likes to consider death and it is put on the back burner so to speak. Unfortunately, when a pet dies naturally or is euthanased, the owner is traumatised and in no fit state to consider what comes next. All too often, that is the reason why pets are abandoned to the vet for disposal. Long after, the pet owner carries guilt about this dilemma.
Obviously, planning ahead is useful, but that too doesn't help low income families or pensioners who are not well off and cannot afford even a basic cremation.
There is the other factor too. That which demonstrates that only in protected places like private woodlands or cemeteries etc are grave sites likely to remain undisturbed for ever. Again, pet owners would like their animals to be laid to rest where they will truly rest in peace. This cannot be achieved even if buried in the garden of a privately owned house. Owners change sooner or later.
That is why I've developed this initiative. I hope to provide genuine burial sites which will never be disturbed, and where new life will spring forth, and for FREE. Everyone has time to give, even if they don't have money.
Scott.
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:17 pm
spottydog Dog Expert
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 1106 Age: 51 No.Of Pets: 1 Pet Types: dogs
I agree totally Scott. I moved to Ireland 2 years ago and when I lost Polly, was stunned to find that vets have no means of disposing and there is only one pet crematorium in the state, (I think there may be another on the west coast now) they couldn't take Polly for a week and being mid summer could I find a deep freeze to put her in? Being a predominently R Catholic country, there is I think only one crematorium for humans too, the expected pracise being burial.
So really, a home burial was the only option apart from where the diseased, non-food chain animals go .... which I drive past every day and didn't want her going there obviously
If there was somewhere like what you are proposing, that would be a great option, unfortunately not possible here. Yet. ____________ Pretty Polly Pavey of Polidot - 06/08/1996 - 13/07/2006 - Dalspa Liquid Gold for Polidot 20/10/1999 - 08/05/2007 - Polly and Polo together again
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:24 pm
littlelab Moderator
Joined: Jan 07, 2006 Posts: 2490 Age: 36 No.Of Pets: 5 Pet Types: 2 Dogslets and 3 Kittys
Welcome to Petchat, very interesting concept you have, will be interested to see how it goes, Good Luck with your venture ____________ Natalie and Co xxx
Posted:
Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:16 am
Stonecat Newbie
Joined: Dec 07, 2006 Posts: 5 Age: 44 No.Of Pets: 1 Pet Types: cat
There are several 'green' pet burial concepts around Britain now, and quite a few dedicated to evetually creating some sort of woodland habitat. There are a couple already in North Wales, but these still come at a price and my own research points to the fact that there is a problem even getting this information out to potential clients. One such nearby enterprise doesn't even have a website which I find strange.
My idea is simple. Provide a genuine place of peace whether in a marked grave or otherwise, for FREE. Essentially, I will be giving a pet lover written consent to bury a pet on private land. There is no financial contract between me and the pet owner. I exchange consent for a favour.
It is the wider community (fund raising event sponsors) who fund the on-going management and thus indirectly finance environmental improvement too.
Of course, the whole idea rests on a minimum number of pet owners Registering Their Interest. If the project never happened, nobody loses out except for the loss of a potential final resting place.
Stonecat Nature Reserves, the not for profit initiative I operate, will fund land purchase when such a minimum has registered. That way, I know a minimum amount of funding is in place to finance management.
Thanks again for your kind words.
Scott.
Posted:
Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:11 pm
Animad Packleader
Joined: Nov 06, 2006 Posts: 116 Age: 36 No.Of Pets: 4 Pet Types: Dog,cats ,rat
What a brilliant idea,i have buried pets in the past in my garden but have since moved then only to have the guilt of leaving them behind,so to speak.
The thought of them being able to rest forever in peace never to be disturb is very comforting for any owner.
I would definatley welcome the idea and i hope it takes off for you,good luck!
Tanya.
Posted:
Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:32 pm
Stonecat Newbie
Joined: Dec 07, 2006 Posts: 5 Age: 44 No.Of Pets: 1 Pet Types: cat
I've been involved in conservation for many years, but the concept of this project came about due to my guilt in leaving behind buried pets. I conceived the idea of uniting the two subjects to all round benefit. It seems to be well received on this forum so far, which is very encouraging.
Scott.
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) and is largely unspoilt once you get away from Dublin. All houses must have an energy rating from next year to encourage better energy efficiency and use of resources. Maybe the UK will follow eventually ......
Being a predominently R Catholic country, there is I think only one crematorium for humans too, the expected pracise being burial.
