BALTIMORE — When Richard Thompson's wife of 40 years was nearing the end of her life at a Baltimore County hospital, he couldn't fathom living alone. His two beagles had died unexpectedly earlier this year, but a new rescue beagle named Tucker was the godsend he needed.
People are also reading… The 5-year-old heavyset beagle appeared tuckered out as he waddled into the Dulaney Valley Pet Loss Center, a new pet funeral home that opened in September. The pair came to check out Dulaney because Thompson plans to use it for Tucker one day. People who consider themselves pet parents, as opposed to pet owners, often believe that if it's good enough for people, then it's absolutely perfect for pets, Ellis said.
Purchasing something to memorialize a pet upon its death is something more pet owners say they plan to do, according to the APPA National Pet Owners Survey. The APPA reported, for example, that 52% of dog owners in 2018 said they would purchase something upon the death of their pet, while 2020 saw 61% and, for cat owners, 42% to 57% for the same years.
Changes in pet death care trendsPet death care options were on full display at the National Funeral Directors Association International Convention & Expo in Baltimore in October.