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9.13.99 ◀
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Cats & Dogs
Pet owners' affection for animal companions endures beyond grave
By Stephanie Schumm Special to the Kansan
Bonnie Hullinger stoops to arrange the brightly colored bouquet of artificial flowers near Corky's grave marker, which reads, "An angel who won her wings."
Bonnie and Clarence Hullinger buried Corky, their canine companion of 14 years, at a nearby pet cemetery in order to feel closer to her. The Hullengers have fond memories of their pet that died last August and describe the brown-and-white Collie mix as smart and well behaved.
The Hullingers are among pet owners across the nation who forgo the standard backyard burial for a special burial or cremation service to commemorate their pets.
"It's still hard for us," Bonnie says, her voice hesitating. "That dog was like our child." Every Friday, the Topeka couple visits Corky's grave.
Corky's body was buried at Pet Memorial Gardens cemetery on the outskirts of Topeka. The cemetery, founded in 1953, was originally intended for humans, but because clients kept asking to be buried with their pets, the cemetery owner added a pet cemetery in the early 1980s.
The one-acre area allotted to pets is situated on the edge of the original cemetery grounds where a miniature red ceramic fire hydrant marks its entrance. Grave markers rest to either side of the path that leads to a covered memorial wall containing photos of the buried pets.
Benches provide mourners with a place to rest as they gaze at photographs and the collection of ceramic animal friends adorning the structure.
Denise Myrick, Pet Memorial Gardens' office administrator, said. "If you care about your pet as much as you do other people in your family, then it's really good to be able to have someplace to come and remember them."
Rolling Acres is another cemetery catering to grieving pet owners. The Kansas City, Mo., pet cemetery contains 2,675 buried pets: cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, snakes, horses, birds, pigs, cows and a fish. Rolling Acres sells a full line of p catkets and urns and offers optional services where family members can view their pet's body one last time. The bodies are shampooed, groomed, arranged in a coffin and placed in a special viewing room. Rolling Acre also will embalm pets upon request.
A pet cemetery lot can cost between $100 to $270 depending on the location.
In addition to burial, cremation is a popular and more affordable option for deceased pets.
The Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St., offers crematory services for animals. This process is similar to human cremation. Stacy Hoobler, office manager, said cremation was free unless the owner wished to keep the ashes. The cost for returning ashes ranges from $30 for small cats and dogs, up to $75 for larger animals and includes a decorated can.
Taxidermists can be of help to pet owners who are reluctant to bury or cremate their pets. Second Creation Taxidermy in Kansas City, Kan., offers both freeze-drying and mounting for small household pets.
Owner Cindy Cunningham said freeze-drying was a slow process, which dehydrated the animal's body. She compared the finished product to nonperishable camping food like beef jerky or dried apricots. Second Creation charges $500-$700 for freeze-drying depending on the size of the pet. The store also will stuff and mount pets, which scoote around $250. Cunningham
estimated that she worked on 15 pets per year.
Herschel Lewis, owner of Lewis Veterinary Clinic, 3101 W. 6th St. said that grief counseling was an important part of his job. He said that many veterinary colleges offered courses on how to counsel owners mourning their dead pets.
Lewis said that some people dealt oddly with the death of their pets. He recalled a man who brought his poodle to the clinic to have him examined
have him examined
"So I looked, and it was a fine p o o d l e ." Lewis said. The pooled's owner then told Lewis: "Well the dog's getting old, he's gonna die one of these days and I've just been thinking about having it made into a little throw rug. I'd just put it right there on the bed, you see, cause he spends all of his time on the bed anyway." Lewis recalled, smiling.
Humane Society guidelines for adopting a pet
Potential pet owners are asked to fill out application for adoption.
Documentation of landlord approval is required.
Landlord's pet deposit must be paid.
- Applicant's other pets must be up-to-date on shots.
Applicant must sign an agreement to spay or neuter pet.
Poop happens: Pets pose challenge to busy students
Applicant is encouraged to take pet to veterinarian during first five days.
- Applicant is asked about basic pet care.
Source: Dana Perhm, operations manager at Lawrence Humane Society.
By Nicole Roche Special to the Kansan
Ask him very nicely, and Captain, as his friends call him, will do the best rooster crow you've ever heard.
"He's the best roommate I've ever had," said Ron Powers, Fairbanks, Alaska, junior. Captain is a 7-year-old green parrot like the one from the movie Polly, Powers said. The two regularly go on walks together, and Powers even lets his parrot talk on the phone.
"You feed him every day, and he pretty much takes care of himself," Powers said.
That's not to say that there aren't problems with the living arrangements. The pleasures of owning a pet come with the burden of added responsibilities.
"I wouldn't recommend having a pet like this to other students," Powers said. "When you're a student, you are a busy individual, and you really have to be there for the pet."
Sometimes, Powers said, he would have to put the boisterous Captain in the bathroom, the bird's time-out room, and shut off the lights just so that he could study or simply think clearly.
"Pretty boy rooster," he yells, then starts to crow.
"At the end of the semester, everyone comes back and dumps the pets off," she said. "Parents won't let them bring the pet home, or they're moving into an apartment where they can't have animals. So, they either literally just open the door and let the pet loose or they bring them back here to us."
Despite the hassle, students have become increasingly interested in owning pets.
"In the last couple of weeks since school's started, we've definitely noticed a big flood of people wanting new kittens and puppies," said Stacy Hoobler, office manager at the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St.
Hoobler said that students who like having a pet around unfortunately have problems keeping it.
Mark Marks, D.V.M. at Marks Veterinary Hospital, said that he foresaw problems with students trying to raise pets.
"My concern is that students get a pet that one, will fit into the environment that they have available for it, and two, one they can afford," Marks said.
"What students don't realize is that the expense isn't in the shots, it's in feeding the animal every day of its life."
Students also may forget the expenses of frequent check-ups and flea control, Marks said. He estimated that owning a kitten could cost several hundred dollars a year
Dominika Frackowiak,
Overland Park
sophomore.
knows the pains of pet care.
She has worked at PetCo for five months taking care of animals every day.
However, her concerns for pets do not end when she leaves work.
"I have a cat that I'm going to have to get rid of," Frackowiak said. "The vet thinks there's something really wrong with it — and it doesn't use the litter-box."
Frackowki said that Tokyo, her Siamese cat, was a stray when she got it from a friend's mother:
"I thought that I could take care of it, but I don't have the time," she said. "Most students go to school full-time and work also, and it's hard to have an animal when you're never home."
She soon discovered that smaller pets present a another set of difficulties.
Amy West, Colwich senior, said she knew she wanted a pet that wouldn't be too time-consuming.
Only a few hours after purchasing tropical fish and a special heater and putting them in her bubble-gum machine aquarium, West noticed something was wrong.
"I was lying around studying when I looked at my fish. One of them looked fine, the other was swimming around in circles upside down," she said.
That night,
West left for a
couple of hours
to go out with
friends. When
she returned,
the fish were
dead.
The cause was unknown.
Still, students who love their pets will find the time to take a care of
time to take care of them.
Powers already has kept Captain for five years now, and he expects his roommate to be around for quite a while longer.
"Sure, you're not as free as you would be without the pet, but you always have someone there." Powers said. "It's all about the companionship."
Photos by Kate Levenson/KANSAN
Bereaved pet owners mark the sites of their furry friends' final resting places with flowers. Photos by Stephanie Schumm/Special to the Kansan