For Immediate Release
For more Information: Mary Auld, mpadvmg@hotmail.com, 410-666-0490
Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens Opens Pet Loss Center; New Full-Service Aftercare Pet Facility is designed to meet the needs of the pet community and honor the bond shared with beloved pets
Timonium, MD — In 1967, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens opened one of Baltimore County’s first pet memorial gardens. Called the Pet Haven, this original pet area was created in response to the need for dignified and respectful sites that would pay meaningful tribute to pet family members. Over the years, two more sites were created, and pet loss services expanded, including the Pet Sanctuary and Faithful Friends gardens.
Now as Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens commemorates the 55th anniversary of its first pet memorial garden, Dulaney will officially launch a new full-service aftercare pet facility called the Dulaney Valley Pet Loss Center. Developed with input from nationally recognized expert on the topic of pet loss and bereavement, Coleen Ellis, the center provides a variety of pet loss services built around a model of grief support for pet parents and recognizes the powerful bond shared with pet family members. Services include dignified transport, memorialization, ritual options, funeral services, private cremation, burial arrangements, keepsakes, and grief support.
“We are proud of the evolution of our pet memorial services. As the demand for more pet burials and customized pet memorial ceremonies continued to grow each year, we started our plans for a full-service pet aftercare facility and pet funeral home,” stated Amy Shimp, General Manager at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. “As our plans moved forward for the Pet Loss Center, we sought the consulting services of one of the nation’s top experts on pet loss and grief support, Coleen Ellis, and the results speak for themselves. Pet parents and veterinary professionals will be able to rely on the Dulaney Valley Pet Loss Center for all final arrangements in a setting that conveys respect and comfort.”
The center is designed to have the feel of a cozy home, featuring tranquil, calming colors and comfortable furniture. The objective was to offer a quiet and serene environment appropriate for final rituals and good-byes.
In addition, to honor Maryland’s police K-9 and fire service dogs, as well as police mounted units, the Dulaney Valley Pet Loss Center provides aftercare services free of charge for those who have died in service to the state of Maryland.
Note: Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens will commemorate the opening of the Pet Loss Center following their annual Pet Blessing and Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday, October 22, 2022, 10:00 a.m. The Pet Blessing and Remembrance Ceremony honors all pets and service K-9s both past and present. The ceremony will conclude with a bubble release, a memorial tree planting, and unveiling of a dedication plaque.
Background on Coleen Ellis
Often referred to as the “Pet Loss Pioneer,” Coleen Ellis has extensive experience in the pet loss segment as an award-winning industry leader, an accredited pet loss professional, and author. Coleen, who holds certifications in Death and Grief Studies and Thanatology, is the author of Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief. She is the founder and past co-chair of the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance and the past president of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, where she currently serves as an advisor.
For Coleen, her foray into helping grieving pet lovers started in 1998 with a chance encounter with a pet parent facing the death of her pet. It was the beginning of a vision of how to best meet the needs of pet parents in their desire to mourn, memorialize and pay tribute to their beloved pets when they die.
“Our pets are family and deserve the best that we can give them, in both life and death. I am so pleased to have helped Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens with the development of their Pet Loss Center and know that it will be a source of great support for pet parents and family members, as well as pet professionals throughout Maryland,” stated Ms. Ellis.
History:
Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, located at 200 E. Padonia Road in Timonium, Maryland, has been serving families since 1958. In 1967, it extended its memorial care to include the pet members of the family when it added a new garden on the northeast side of the cemetery called Pet Haven. In 2010, the Pet Sanctuary and Faithful Friends gardens were added. The new Dulaney Valley Pet Loss Center will be officially dedicated in October, 2022.
Source: https://i95business.com/releases/4457