FRIENDS FOREVER

"FRIENDS FOREVER. . . . . .HELPING THOSE CELEBRATE THE LIFE, AND HONOR THE LOSS OF THEIR 'BEST FRIEND'"

THE LOSS OF A COMPANION ANIMAL FAMILY MEMBER IS ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL EXPERIENCES ONE MAY FACE IN A LIFETIME. THIS LIFE CHANGING EVENT FOR A CHILD OR TEEN MAY BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT AS THIS MAY BE THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE DEATH OF SOMEONE THEY TRULY LOVED - THEIR "BEST FRIEND."

PALS FOUNDATION, FOR THIS REASON, DEVOTES ONE OF ITS MISSIONS IN THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING, REVERING AND CELEBRATING THE LIVES OF OUR BELOVED ANIMAL FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY.

"FRIENDS FOREVER" IN 1982, THE PALS FOUNDATION FOUNDED "FRIENDS FOREVER," A NATIONAL BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THEIR ANIMAL COMPANIONS. THREE YEARS LATER, IN 1985, PALS ACKNOWLEDGED THE TREMENDOUS NEED FOR MORE FOCUS ON HELPING CHILDREN AND TEENS COPE WITH THE LOSS OF THEIR CLOSEST FRIEND - THEIR ANIMALS. SO TO MEET THIS NEED THE PALS FOUNDATION INTRODUCED THE "FRIENDS FOREVER ANIMAL ANGEL CARE PACKAGES."

"THE HEALING BONDS" MUCH EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON DEVELOPING THE "FRIENDS FOREVER ANIMAL ANGEL CARE PACKAGES." THE ITEMS CHOSEN TO BE INCLUDED ARE SPECIFIC TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HELPING A CHILD AND TEEN BEREAVE AND GROW EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. THESE CARE PACK ITEMS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT IN EMPHASIZING THE "CELEBRATION OF LIFE" OF THEIR BELOVED ANIMAL COMPANION THEY HAVE LOST. LOSING A LOVED ONE IS A DEVASTATING LIFE EVENT. THE GRIEVING PROCESS WILL LAST A LIFETIME. HEALING FROM WITHIN COMES FROM CHERISHING THE PART OF THOSE WE LOVE THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. WHEN OUR BEST FRIEND PASSES AWAY, WE LOSE THE PHYSICAL BOND. THE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL BONDS REMAIN WITH US FOREVER. IT IS THESE STEADFAST BONDS WHICH HELP US HEAL FROM WITHIN.

HOW TO RECEIVE A "FRIENDS FOREVER" ANIMAL ANGEL CARE PACKAGE

FRIENDS FOREVER ANIMAL ANGEL CARE PACKAGES HAVE BEEN HELPING THOUSANDS OF YOUTH BOTH HEAL AND CELEBRATE THE LOVE FOR ANIMALS NATIONWIDE FOR ALMOST A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. TODAY, THEY ARE REACHING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, HELPING THEM NUTURE THEIR SPIRIT AND CHERISH THE MEMORY OF THEIR BELOVED COMPANION ANIMAL FAMILY MEMBER, WHICH REMAINS IN THEIR HEARTS AS "FRIENDS FOREVER."

THE "FRIENDS FOREVER ANIMAL ANGEL CARE PACKAGES" ARE FREE TO ANYONE
AS A CHARITABLE SERVICE OF THE PALS FOUNDATION. WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE A $20 TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO PALS
TO HELP COVER THE COST OF SHIPPING
AND HANDLING FOR EACH CARE PACK.

EACH AGE-SPECIFIC CARE PACKAGE INCLUDES ITEMS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS PRESERVE PRECIOUS MEMORIES AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF THEIR BELOVED BEST FRIEND. PLEASE PROVIDE PALS WITH THE NAME; AGE(IF UNDER 18) OR SPECIFY IF FOR ADULT; AND COMPLETE ADDRESS OF THE RECEIPIENT FOR EACH 'PET LOSS' CARE PACK. ALSO INCLUDE THE ANIMAL FAMILY MEMBER'S NAME AND BREED (SO WE CAN DESIGN THE PACK TO FIT THE NEEDS OF THE RECEIPIENT). PLEASE SPECIFY IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PERSONALIZED GIFT CARD ENCLOSED BEARING THE SENDER'S NAME AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE RECEIPIENT.


"BEST FRIENDS" CARE PACKS

**FRIENDS FOREVER ANIMAL ANGEL 'BEST FRIENDS' CARE PACKAGES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. THESE PACKS CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF THE PRESENT ANIMAL FAMILY MEMBER WITH WHOM AN ADULT OR YOUTH CURRENTLY SHARES THEIR LIFE. PROVIDE SAME INFORMATION AS REQUESTED ABOVE FOR THE 'PET LOSS' CARE PACK.**

***IF YOU ARE ENTERING THE DRAWING FOR A FREE (NO DONATION REQUIRED) FRIENDS FOREVER ADULT AND/OR YOUTH 'PET LOSS' AND/OR 'BEST FRIENDS' ANIMAL ANGEL CARE PACK, PLEASE PROVIDE THE SAME INFORMATION AS ABOVE WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY.***

MAIL YOUR REQUEST TO: PALS FOUNDATION, FRIENDS FOREVER, POST OFFICE BOX 1271, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 9406. QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMED BY PHONE AT (805)544-0984.

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THE PALS FOUNDATION, FOUNDED IN 1980, IS A REGISTERED 501(c)3 INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT TAX-EXEMPT, VOLUNTEER EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE HUMANE ORGANIZATION. IT AFFIRMS ITS DEVOTION IN PRESERVING AND PROTECTING ANIMALKIND, LIVING HABITATS, AND SPIRITUAL UNITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR FEELINGS OF LOSS WHEN YOUR ANIMAL COMPANION DIES The bond that we form with animals is unique. The loss of an animal can have an impact on you that is as great or even greater than the loss of a family member or friend. This bond is what makes our interactions with animals rich and rewarding, but also what makes the grief process so complicated. After your animal has died or been lost, it is natural and normal to feel grief and sorrow. Although grief is an internal and private response, there are certain stages of grief that most people experience. By understanding the process, you will be better prepared to manage your grief and to help other family members and friends who share your sense of loss. THE STAGES OF GRIEF There are many stages of grief, but not everyone experiences them all or in the same order. You may experience denial, anger, guilt, depression, acceptance, and resolution. Your first reaction may be denial—denial that the animal has died or that death is imminent. Denial may begin when you first learn the seriousness of your animal's illness or injuries. Often, the more sudden the death, the more difficult the loss is to accept. Anger and guilt often follow denial. Your anger may be directed toward people you normally love and respect, including your family and your veterinarian. People coping with death will often say things that they do not really mean, perhaps hurting those whom they do not mean to hurt. You may feel guilty or blame others for not recognizing the illness earlier, for not doing something sooner, for not being able to afford other types of or further treatment, or for being careless and allowing the animal to be injured. Depression is also part of the range of emotions experienced after the death of a special animal. The tears flow, there are knots in your stomach, and you feel drained of all your energy. Day-to-day tasks can seem impossible to perform. Sometimes you may even ask yourself if you can go on without the animal. The answer is yes, but there are times when special assistance may be helpful in dealing with your loss. Eventually, you will come to terms with your feelings. You can begin to resolve and accept your animal's death. Even when you have reached resolution and acceptance, feelings of anger, denial, guilt, and depression may reappear. If this does happen, these feelings will usually be less intense, and with time will be replaced with fond memories. Although the stages of grief apply fairly universally, grieving is always a personal process. Some people take longer than others to come to terms with denial, anger, guilt, and depression, and each loss is different. If you understand that these are normal reactions, you will be better prepared to cope with your feelings and to help others face theirs. Family and friends should be reassured that sorrow and grief are normal and natural responses to death. THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND Sometimes well-meaning family and friends may not realize how important your animal was to you or the intensity of your grief. Comments they make may seem cruel and uncaring. Be honest with yourself and others about how you feel. If despair mounts, talk to someone who will listen to your feelings about the loss of your animal. Talk about your sorrow, but also about the fun times you and the animal spent together, the activities you enjoyed, and the memories that are meaningful. THE HURT OS SO DEEP If you or a family member have great difficulty in accepting your animal's death and cannot resolve feelings of grief and sorrow, you may want to discuss these feelings with a person who is trained to understand the grieving process. Your veterinarian certainly understands the relationship you have lost and may be able to suggest support groups and hot lines, grief counselors, clergymen, social workers, physicians, or psychologists who can help. SHOULD I GET ANOTHER ANIMAL? The death of an animal can upset you emotionally, especially when euthanasia is involved. Some people may feel they would never want another animal. For others, a new animal may help them recover from their loss more quickly. Just as grief is a personal experience, the decision of when, if ever, to bring a new animal into your life is a personal one. If a family member is having difficulty accepting the animal's death, getting a new animal before that person has resolved his or her grief may imply that the life of the deceased animal was unworthy of the grief that is still being felt. Family members should agree on the appropriate time to acquire a new animal. Although you can never replace the animal you lost, you can obtain another to share your life. REMEMBERING YOUR COMPANION The period from birth to old age is much shorter for most domestic animals than for people. Death is part of the lifecycle. It cannot be avoided, but understanding and compassion can help you, your family, and your friends manage the grief associated with it. Try to recall and treasure the good times you spent with your animal. You may also wish to establish a memorial of some type or contribute to a charity in honor of your animal. * * *