Losing a pet is hard. It's not only the loss of a dear and loyal friend, but also, oftentimes the loss of a major source of unconditional love, affection and comfort. We get so attached to our pets that when they are no longer in our lives, the steadfastness of their love and friendship still remains in our hearts. Often we are blindsided by the depth and intensity of our grief when we lose our pets. It's hard to find our way through the difficult emotions and find a sense of peace and forward movement. When we are unable to let go of the intense emotions surrounding our loss, and get stuck in thoughts of the past, unable to accept and be in the present, it is often a good time to consider trying flower remedies and essences.

Many people don't understand the enormous emotional burden that losing a pet can create. According to research from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the grieving process that follows the loss of a pet can closely resemble the process experienced by people who have lost a family member or close friend.

Nonstop licking and chewing on your pet's own flesh could have serious, if not deadly, results. A transition from excessive grooming to self-mutilation occurs when a clinically significant lesion appears on a dog's body, and then the animal licks itself to the point of abrasion. A few dogs don’t make it and die, causing their owners grief not to mention an unexpected pet memorial.

Best-selling book, Merle’s Door, Lessons from a Freethinking Dog not only offers readers fascinating facts about the evolution of dogs and human relationships, but it is also one of the highest tributes to a dog ever published; it is a biography of Merle, not just a pet memorial. Author Ted Kerasote’s story takes place in Kelly, Wyoming, where he and Merle spent time outdoors hunting, fishing and enjoying nature together.

We've all had thoughts about wishing our dogs could live longer lives and not wanting another pet because their death is too painful. If you are in the market for a new dog, here is some information from Peternity.com on the life expectancy of dogs that could help in this decision making process.

There is another series of reports about mysterious illness and death in dogs from people who have pets that ate Nutro pet food. The report is listed on the Consumer Affairs website. Peternity.com wishes to offer condolences to these families, and a discount on pet memorial services and products like pet urns, pet memorial stones and statues, pet portrait art and pet keepsake boxes.

If you and your family have experienced the loss of a pet, or if your pet is getting older, the first thing that often comes to mind is whether or not to get another pet. And then the questions start stacking up: Should we wait or get a new pet right away? Should we wait until the older pet dies and have a pet memorial for the kids first? Would getting a new pet traumatize the older one? Often times, when one pet is getting old, and children are fond of the animal, it's a good idea to go ahead and think about introducing a new pet.

Laura Glusha is a master artist and illustrator who co-authored the successful book called "Suck-a-toe" about the rehabilitation of an abused baby monkey at the Los Angeles Zoo. Now the master artist is creating hand painted pet memorials for Peternity.

We have all been party to trying to remember and figure out how old "in dog years" or "in cat years" our pets are and comparing that to "human years." A figure that is commonly used is seven years for each calendar year. For example, it's common belief that one human year equals seven dog years. After all, this information is important as we want to honor our animals at their pet memorials upon their death. The oldest living animals include elephants who live to be as old as 70 years of age. Kambakuo, the Tsonga word for old elephant bull, lived from 1930 to 1985. One of the Kruger National Park "Magnificent Seven," the elephant died at the age of more than 55.

Have you ever wondered exactly what your pets see, or what happens when a dog goes blind? Dogs experience many of the same physical and mental changes that humans do. Their hearing and vision often deteriorates, and as sad as it may seem, sometimes older dogs do sometimes need to be put to sleep. Being prepared with ideas for a pet memorial can help the humans get over the grief of losing their pet.

Among the popular animal cemeteries in the United States, Hinsdale Animal Cemetery was established in the year 1926 in Hinsdale, Illinois. The final resting place for thousands of pets, blue blooded prize winners lie side by side with those who boast no pedigree whatsoever. The important thing is that their owners loved them so much that they created a pet memorial for their beloved friend.

It is important to keep a first aid kit for your pet easily accessible both at home and in your car when traveling for your pet's well being. It is also just as important for your well being to have pet memorial keepsake box to remember your pet long after he has passed on.

Pet cemeteries are not new to history. For centuries people from around the world have honored pets upon their death and buried their beloved friends with pet memorial stones or in pet cremation urns. In 1986 Laurence Stager's archaeological team discovered the ancient pet cemetery of Ascalon in the Gaza Strip controlled by Israel containing the remains of over 1000 dogs. In France, there is Le Cimetière des Chiens D'Asnières-Sur-Seine on the Seine.

Peternity Founder Colleen Mihelich and her team are always on the lookout for unique, handcrafted pieces of art to help her customers express their love, joy and memories of beloved pets who have passed on. Recently, Mihelich discovered a new artist named Alyson Whitney, who is nationally recognized for her bright colored, whimsical fine hand-painted pottery. Whitney's vibrant pet urns have been added to the website which features custom pet products including pet memorial stones and grave markers, garden statue and headstone pet memorials, and custom engraved glasswork.

The earliest evidence of cat domestication is from ancient, and many experts believe that the Egyptians probably tamed and bred felines to produce a distinct species by the 20th or 19th century B.C. Cats are known to be cherished as our companions, worshipped as idols, and used for pest control and good luck. That's why there are so many people who pay tribute and honor their beloved cats upon their passing, according to Peternity.com Founder, Colleen Mihelich.

Canine warriors have served as sentries, scouts or messengers since ancient times. But historically, it wasn't until after many dogs were reported to perform acts of heroism on the battlefields of World War I, including the Red Cross dogs, that the concept of pet memorial and the burial of our pets in pet urns and caskets gained wider acceptance. Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory is America's oldest and most prestigious pet memorial and burial grounds.

Grieving the loss of our pets and loved ones is very difficult. Where does one begin? How does one move through grief? We tend to assume that grieving and mourning are the same thing, but there is a very important, and helpful, distinction to draw between the two.