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| - 5 stars - "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" Somehow this just doesn't seem fitting given the circumstances.
To some people pets are property, to others friends and family members. To me...well I probably had what some might consider an "unhealthy" relationship with my cat, Jasper, whom my husband later so crudely dubbed "The Big Sexy." But Jasper had been with me for more than 16 years, my husband only 8. Who would you expect to have the highest rank in the house?
It was somewhat of a last minute decision to handle Jasper's final arrangements ourselves, rather than using the service provided by our veterinarian. And I'm glad that we did. I was impressed with the services Fairwinds offers. Their focus is as much on those "surviving" the loss, as well as the pet.
Mary and Fairwinds are available to retrieve your pet valley-wide 24/7. You may also bring your pet to them (no charge during regular business hours). Fairwinds' services range from just the cremation to a clergy-presided service, and everything in between. Mary will gladly accommodate special requests as well (paw impressions for example).
We opted to take the Sexy in ourselves, and were warmly greeted by Mary and two new friends of the canine variety. They were blissfully unaware that funeral homes are to be quiet, yet they were oddly comforting, especially to my husband who has always been a dog person.
All cremations are not only individual, but private as well (meaning only one animal at a time is cremated). There are procedures in place upon your pet's arrival to ensure there are no mix-ups either. I was 100% confident I would not be crying over a little bit of my Mr Man and a little bit of someone's schnauzer. The website lists the pricing, but you can also choose just the services important to you, and not a "package."
Mary handled the details professionally and personally. It is clear she has a deep understanding of the bond some of us have with our pets, and she does everything she can to respect that bond. Jasper's ashes were ready within 2 days. We were given our keepsakes, a big hug, and resources should I need some serious therapy.
So yes, Mary is "as good as it gets." I hope my fellow Yelpers don't need to use her services, but she will be there if you do.
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