Animal Radio Interview Today!

I met Hal and Judy last week in Las Vegas--we already had the interview scheduled for today but I wanted to give you the link to Animal Radio where you can listen online or find a local station!

If you are a listener already--be sure to sign up for the bonuses promised via the sign up in the upper right.

Animal Tails Radio Interview

Well, I finally arrived home after a week since the evacuation. If you didn't know, I live in the area of California where the Butler II Fire raged.

Anyway, today is my first day home and I am attempting to settle back in. You might remember that I did an interview with Animal Tails Radio and you can listen to the podcast here. I'll be back with updates soon...

On Tuesday, I'll be doing another interview with Animal Radio...

Tumpek Kandang (aka Tumpek Andang): Balinese Animal Blessing Tradition

Above Photo: Copyrighted to Himalayan Academy Publications, Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii. Licensed for under Creative Commons and requires attribution when reproduced.

Early this year I posted about Tumpek Kandang but since the celebration takes place again this year I thought I would alert you to it...

In Indonesia, Hindus celebrate Tumpek Kandang (also known as Tumpek Andang) in honor of household animals such as cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs and birds. During this special Saturday (held this year on September 15, 2007) rituals take place on farms and compounds around the region. Many animals are honored with different ceremonies.

Tumpek Kandang is held in appreciation for animal assistance on the farm and around the home, cattle may receive distinctive treatment such as ceremonial bathing, specialty meals, unusual snacks, fancy costuming, cosmetic grooming, or adornment with trinkets. Creatures also receive special prayers complete with a sprinkling of holy water or rice.

In some areas blessing groups travel to homes to bless the animals. In earlier times a similar blessing tradition existed in the United States as clergy traveled to farms and small rural towns to conduct blessings.

During my research for Blessing of the Animals (ISBN 1402729677) I found a one book talking about rural areas outside of the New York area that contained a picture of a woman with a cow adorned with flowers on their way to such a blessing taken in the late 1800s.

Agrarian areas rely heavily on livestock and other animals for sustenance and many of the blessing traditions focus on asking for their health and fertility. Today most blessings here in the United States take place at a specific location and people travel to have their animals blessed.

Animal blessings take place around the world--and are on the increase. I have not found just how long Tumpek Kandang has been celebrated but it is nice to see the different blessings in the many different traditions around the world.

Flushing Fish is Passé & Other Pet Memorial Day Tips

This Sunday, September 9th 2007 is National Pet Memorial Day. The tradition was established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories as a way to honor the loss of people’s precious pets.

Pets are part of the family and the loss of a pet is a devastating experience. What makes it difficult is that traditionally society has not offered pet owners a whole lot of sympathy. Fortunately, that trend is changing and even flushing fish is passé.

When researching Blessing of the Animals I discovered that although pet burials can be traced back between 14,000 and 9,000 years ago, contemporary ceremonies began to escalate in the late 1800s--and today pet memorials are on the rise.

For instance, Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in New York is the oldest cemetery in the United States and was established in 1896. However there has been a huge increase in different types of pet memorial services and related options within the last 30 years. This coincides with the increase in pet households which estimates say now comprise 63% of all American homes.

The increase has triggered a growth in pet bereavement services and products. Some of which include pet chaplains, custom made coffins, urns, lockets, and even funerary gems which the manufacturer says can “turn a man’s best friend into a girl’s best friend.

The important thing to remember is that the human-animal bond is a strong one. Even though the grief process is the same, pet loss is often more devastating because people don’t get the same support or sympathy that they do when they have lost a human family member.

If you need a few suggestions on how to memorialize your pet, I included a list of suggestions in the section titled, Grave Topics at Tails End. I also stressed that flushing fish is a thing of the past and include a fish prayer and fishy funeral as a respectful, compassionate alternative.

If you want to do something special on pet memorial day my favorite suggestion (from the book) is to keep a candle lit in honor of the pet and let its brilliance symbolize the light and joy the animal added to life. The illuminating glow the flame casts represents the ethereal light of the pet’s existence beyond this realm...

Here are seven additional tips for honoring pets during pet memorial day:

*Send a card or note to a friend who has lost a pet or make arrangements to spend the day with that person.

*Create a collage or memory box with favorite photos, drawings, pet tags, baby teeth, remnants of favorite toys.

*Visit the pet’s favorite place and have a picnic.

*Make a shelf into an alter and commemorate your pet with a photographic memorial and candle.

*Sow a living plant or tree in honor of the animal.

*Scatter flower petals, or make a special potpourri mix, in honor of the pet.

*Share, or listen to, joyful memories and stories about the pet.

St Francis Feast Day & Another Blessing of the Animals Video

World Animal Day and the Feast Day of St Francis is fast approaching. I thought you would like to see this video of an Episcopal pet blessing and festival. If you haven't viewed mine yet--click the link at the top of the blog to watch it.

St Paul's Episcopal Church (the video maker) is located in Yonkers, NY.

Enjoy!

Pet Inherits Leona Helmsly Fortune

Above: Photo courtesy Forbes. See the photo and article regarding pet care trusts now.

Pet Trusts have a whole new meaning these days. Today, approximately 39 states in America have provisions for pet care trusts. Forbes reported on the 12 million dollar pet care trust established for the Leona Helmsly's precious pet.

This trend is increasingly common. In fact, I have a client who is the executor in a trust for five dogs. She is very diligent about overseeing the matter and really sticks to her guns against those who don't understand or dismiss the matter.

You may or may not agree with the trend but I have to say that it is a nice change from the past when animals got euthanized because there are no provisions for care or management after their owners passed away.

Anyway, let me know what you think of pet care trusts and what, if any, provisions you have for your pets.

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On another note, you might have noticed the advertising post--another one about how to subscribe will go up shortly. Sorry it is off topic--it was not supposed to be posted yet but sometimes there are glitches.

I hope you all had a great holiday. Over here I left my home for a night because of wild fire that was heading my way. It was only three miles away and I could see the smoke on the ridge across from where I live. All looks good now and I am happy to be home!

Did you catch the radio show last week? It was a hoot. If I get the link or audio, I'll post it for those of you who might have missed it.

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