Adversity, “a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune”. This may very well be the best way to sum up what 2020 has thrown our way so far. This past year has taught many of us a few lessons and the industry, as a whole, how to quickly adapt and overcome. For some of us, we have benefitted. For many others, you have seen the other end of the spectrum with loss of jobs, decreased wages and budgets, and an enormous amount of challenges working through the new social distancing protocols. What have we learned? How have we adapted? What will 2021 look like?
These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself. There is still so much hope as several positive progressions have evolved during these trying times.
As we enter into 2021, we as a Board continue to focus on what our conference can bring to you that will echo these trends while providing increased value to our members. We have introduced several new approaches and programs over the past year and continue to work toward new avenues to increase membership, while diligently adding value to our current members. Our suppliers have been strong during these times and we greatly appreciate their support. Don’t forget to check them out before you make your next industry related purchase.
I wanted to thank the members that took the time to attend our virtual Annual Business Meeting. I know we all wanted to be “in person” but there were items that couldn’t wait a year to be voted on. If you haven’t heard Debra Bjorling, Angie Hansen, and Christine Johnson were all voted to the Board of Directors. I’d like to personally welcome back Debra and Angie and congratulate Christine as she embarks on her first term.
If you were unable to attend the meeting, here are a few of the highlighted goals your Board has accomplished this past year:
- Bylaws restructure - Vote passed to adopt changes
- Terminology for Individual Cremation - Vote passed to change to “Individually Partitioned”
- COVID-19 – Creation of COVID-19 Procedural Guidelines, Announcements, & Templates to use within your businesses
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Government Affairs Committee – Introduction of new committee
- Alkaline Hydrolysis Committee & Accreditation – Introduction of a new committee & program for Accreditation
- International Conference – Australia
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Expansion of our Educational offerings On Line – A new program geared toward educating and certifying your employees: Pet Bereavement Specialist Program On-Line (PBSC).
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National Marketing Platform – attendance at national conference to create awareness of IAOPCC, including; VMX Conferences & CANA Conferences
I encourage everyone to lean on each other for new and helpful information within their business during these trying times. Communication and idea sharing is what makes the IAOPCC members the “Recognized Leaders in Pet Aftercare”
As always - “Never let fear slow you down”
Robert Blosser
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FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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TOGETHER.
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE PET AFTERCARE PROFESSION.
Happy Almost New Year! At the risk of sounding cliché, after 2020, I think we are all ready to “ring in a New Year”!
Normally this time of the year, I am reflecting on the wonderful conference we just finished and listing out the many accomplishments the IAOPCC over the past year. While 2020 was quite the challenge for all of us, I find it reassuring to know that our association was able to host an amazing first international Conference in Australia, and that our Board of Directors far exceeded the goals they set a year ago – all pre-COVID-19! We had many “firsts” this year, including:
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Our first Virtual Members Meeting – a resounding success which included the passing of our Bylaws, new terminology, and new Board Member (welcome Christine Johnson!);
- Our first set of directives for COVID-19 procedures to assist your business success;
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Our first Online Pet Bereavement Specialist Certification Program – we’ve already had more than 30 people go through the program in less than a month! If you have not had your staff certified, please try to make it a priority before the end of the year!
- Our first ONSITE Virtual Re-Accreditations took place in February, and to date we’ve re-accredited more than 10 facilities this year. What a remarkable accomplishment for each of these facilities to be among the top in excellence of standards!
As we enter into 2021, I am looking forward more than ever to seeing everyone at our 50th Annual Conference to be held September 16-18, 2021 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North in Chicago, IL. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be in the “birthplace” of our association for our 50th anniversary. We have many wonderful events planned, so mark your calendars now for an exciting time as we celebrate 50 years of passion, purpose, and excellence with the IAOPCC!
As we look to the coming year, please continue to watch for emails and visit our website to stay abreast of announcements regarding our Conference, registration, events and happenings.
If you have news to share, please be sure to email Kathleen at the Home Office at info@iaopcc.com. We love highlighting our members and their accomplishments, and honestly, we all need to hear GOOD NEWS as much as possible. So please, do share!
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas, the Happiest of Holidays, and Many Blessings in the New Year! Take care, stay safe, and healthy and know that your IAOPCC association and Board are here to help you in any way we can.
Warmly,
Donna Shugart-Bethune, IAOPCC Executive Director
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SAVE THE DATE - IAOPCC 50th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
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Save the date for the IAOPCC 50th Annual Conference to be held September 16-18, 2021:
Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North
350 West Mart Center Drive
Chicago, IL
Come and celebrate 50 years of Commitment to Excellence.
Look for registration information in the Spring.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
with Martin Hopp, IAOPCC Board Member
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The world is getting smaller and smaller, but even during this COVID-19 pandemic the pet cremation industry all around the world is growing and developing into a very strong stand-alone industry.
When my wife, Bev, and I started our first pet crematorium in September 1999, we classified the business we were starting as buying a job. I hoped that one day I might be able to employ someone to give Bev and I some time off. Now some 21 years later, the Pets in Peace team has grown to 44 employees. It was a service we felt we would like our pets to be able to use but I never thought it would become the industry it is today.
I remember friends and even people in the vet industry laughing at us for starting a business like this one. They would say things like “why would people ever pay for a service like this, families just do not have that sort of money to spend when their pets pass away.”
The pet industry worldwide has changed since the 90’s and I am so pleased to say that the pet cremation industry worldwide has grown with, and even, faster than other sections of the pet service industries. We now have a pet cremation service available in every country in the world.
Our industry is not a mum and dad family business anymore. We now have pet crematoriums around the world that have facilities close to matching the best human funeral homes and crematoriums.
I think this is one of our biggest challenges - to keep growing our business as more and more families use a pet cremation service and more pet cremation businesses are opening. Competition from new pet crematoriums means we need to keep improving our services and our facilities.
The IAOPCC now has members in 11 countries outside of the United States and our International Membership is growing from word of mouth within the pet cremation industry. We have International Members in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland, Serbia, Hongkong, Singapore and Mexico.
We should all be proud that the Association has the resources and the ability to reach out to help members from so many different countries. We can also learn and grow our industry from the knowledge we receive from such a broad membership base.
I know that by talking with members in other countries, my business is better for the information I have received. I encourage any member of the IAOPCC to talk with other members to see how they are doing and what they can do to help you.
The sad thing about COVID-19 is that we had to cancel our conference this year. Our International Members always get so much from the IAOPCC Conference. I encourage all members International and local, to mark the date of our next conference to be held in Chicago, in September 2021, in their calendars because it is going to be the biggest and best conference we have ever held. It is the Association's 50th conference and if by September 2021 we can fly around the world again there will be more International Members attending than ever before.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the amazing work that Donna, Rob, and Kathleen, at our head office, have been doing over the last 10 months. COVID-19 has put a real strain on the Association, yet they have managed to keep things going at a board level through some difficult times.
Our Annual Business Meeting, held via Zoom, enabled us to meet the Associations Bylaws was a huge success and a lot of work was involved to make this happen.
The IAOPCC is in a very strong position to ride out the pandemic that has rocked the world and we, like the pet cremation industry we represent, will come out stronger and wiser.
Thank you everyone for your support and let’s make 2021 the best year for our businesses ever.
If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact Martin on +61 407964092 or email him at marhopp@gmail.com.
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New! Pet Bereavement Specialist Online Certification Course!
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We are excited to roll out our newest Online Program with the introduction of our first Pet Bereavement Specialist Certification! This is the first in a series of three online certifications for Pet Bereavement. CLICK HERE for Promotional Video!
CLICK HERE for information on the course and how to register.
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Congratulations to the facilities and IAOPCC Members that have been awarded five year visual Reaccreditation:
A Beloved Friends Pet Crematory of Northern Nevada
Gateway Pet Memorial Services
Hartsdale Crematory, LLC
Midwest Cremation Services of WI
Paws & Cherish Pet Cremations, LLC
Pets in Peace - Australia
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We would like to welcome the newest IAOPCC members:
Affiliate Members
Glenn Gorden, Yarmouth, ME
Regular Members
Aqua Transitions Dunwoody, Dunwoody, GA
Forever Faithful Pet Cremation & Funeral Care, Woodbine, MD
Heavenly Pet Memorials, Topeka, KS
Maryland Pet Crematory, Bowie, MD
Monarch Pet Memorial Services, Boynton Beach, FL
Peaceful Waters Aquamation, San Diego, CA
Pet Haven, LLC, Ooltewah, TN
Pet Meadow of Carlstadt, Carlstadt, NJ
Pet to Nature, Hong Kong
Vansant-Mills Funeral Services LLC, Clinton, MO
Supplier Members
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A membership vote was taken on October 6, 2020 following the IAOPCC Annual Membership Meeting.
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New Board Member Election: Debra Bjorling, Angie Hansen, Christine Johnson
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Terminology for Individual Cremation: Changed to “Individually Partitioned”
- Bylaws Restructure
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I'M SAD TOO - AN ANIMAL COMPANION'S GRIEF
by Christine Ogorsolda Johnson, IAOPCC Board Member
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In the time of grief, we are focused on our emotions and the feelings of our friends/family, who may be also going through a difficult time. But what about our companion animals--don’t they grieve also? Many of our beloved furry friends are pack animals and being a part of a family living in the home or barn ensure a natural bond with one another. So when death occurs, it’s a natural occurrence to have one animal grieving for another. Just as you are dealing with grief, so are they. How can we help them grieve? What are the signs to look for? How do we know if they are suffering? These are all important questions and concerns. I have experienced much grief in my life, in addition to being owner of Eden Memorial Pet Care, Inc., we assist clients in their time of loss everyday. The most eye-opening experience for me recently was experiencing grief of one incredible horse.
The story starts over 4 years ago, when I met Elena, who was my daughter’s horse trainer for a short while. Although my daughter later discovered a larger passion in swim team, I had already become great friends with Elena. I had taken a 15-year hiatus from horse riding/showing and Elena helped me rediscover my confidence in riding again. Four years later, I’m her “once a week helper”, trading work for riding and my “horse therapy”. I have never known a more caring, considerate, experienced, amazing horsewoman than Elena. Due to the mutual respect between her and each one of her horses, they will do anything for her! I’m in constant awe of her abilities.
Enter Tessa, an amazing mare, who in the barn was the “Queen”. Everyone knew Tessa-- the ruler of all. She would walk through the barn and horses would whiney. Tessa was so proud like a beauty queen waving to her fans. It was an honor and thing of beauty not only to watch but to ride her, each gait smooth and effortless. Elena and “Queen” would “dance” or “Piaffe”. They were quite the pair and were honored with the United States Dressage Federation Gold Medal (Intermediate 1, A, B and II and Grand Prix) and the Silver Medal (Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges).
Tragedy came one winter morning last December. Queen was found in her paddock with a shattered Pastern Bone. No one knows how it happened. No trauma, no sign of injury, nothing—it just seemed to have “imploded” the veterinarian reported. There was nothing any doctor could do. It was the most difficult decision but Queen was euthanized immediately.
When I arrived, the silence was deafening. The barn doors shut up tight. The quiet stillness of the cold air and a blanket where Queen had taken her last breath. I cried. There was a heaviness in the air like one of those lead aprons you wear during x-rays at the dentist. That weighted blanket covered the whole property and each creature under it. Two horses in their paddocks weren’t themselves. The usual knickers were not heard. Geo, the gelding closest to Queen, not only in proximity but he truly loved her was pacing- back and forth. The other matriarch of the barn, Lola, hung her head in the corner--quiet and solemn. I entered the barn and visited each stall. I cried again. I took a deep breath and got to work. It would be the best for everyone to stay in the normal routine. I started to clean and feed lunch. I went to Queen’s stall, picking up her halter and wrapping it up so gently and hanging it up like a Queen’s crown. I folded her blanket and hood probably five times before it was just right.
Over the next months, a beautiful memorial filled her paddock. But as months passed, the barn still felt “heavy”. But one thing I noticed was how some horses were stepping into new roles. Stella, one older mare, just had a new presence about her. As if she knew it was her time to get this barn back on track. Then there was Geo, the gelding who was closest to Queen. He was still anxious, sad and would continue to look across his paddock and whiney. It’s been almost a year, Queen’s presence is continually felt and we all can feel her watching over everyone, especially Elena.
Recognizing animal companion’s grief:
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Sadness
- Anxiety, pacing, feelings of displacement
- Howling, yowling, whining, whinnying excessively
- Searching for deceased companion
- Lack of sleep
What can we do to help?
- Keep your routine—same feeding schedules, walks, riding
- Don’t reward bad behavior –if your animal companion is acting out (growling, biting, not listening) don’t allow it just because they are sad. They need boundaries and to behave.
- Individual/quality time with each animal
- Let them say goodbye. This is controversial. Some people don’t feel it’s a good idea to allow animals to say goodbye. Smelling or lying next to the deceased animal are all typical behaviors if an animal sees or experiences the passing. The important thing to ask yourself: Will this help them or is this for me to feel better? For some animals, it may be traumatizing to watch euthanasia or death; but for others who have been bonded, having them close by will comfort the dying companion.
My hope is to bring some understanding to animals and how they grieve; and that in sharing this story it will help one person in a similar situation. Grief can be an extremely lonely time but it doesn’t have to be that way. Talk to people, reach out, and certainly take your own time to grieve. Also recognize that you aren’t alone and that your animal companions are going through the same process. Understanding one another and being there for each other is the best way to heal.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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We want to hear from YOU! Please share your news with your IAOPCC peers! Send updates, articles and award announcements to info@iaopc.com.
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Pet burials let traditional cemeteries tap into the $95 billion Americans spend each year on their furry and feathered friends
WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When Jim LaMar's border collie, KC, died in 2012, he had her cremated and kept the remains with him in his California home.
At the time, he had few other options in the area around Bakersfield - there had been a pet cemetery years earlier, but it had fallen into disrepair.
But in his job as president of Greenlawn Funeral Homes, which runs two human cemeteries in the area, LaMar said he kept meeting other people who also wanted somewhere local to bury their pets.
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IAOPCC ACCREDITATION WORKBOOK
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The 2018 Accreditation Workbook available.
Being an accredited facility allows you to demonstrate to your community and your clients your ongoing commitment to excellence. Request your Accreditation Workbook today!
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ASK THE PET CHAPLAIN WITH JOE DWYER
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Compassion
The word compassion literally means to suffer together. The people who come to us in their grief after the loss of a beloved pet are truly suffering emotionally. It is also very possible that their pet also experienced a degree of suffering. There are many theories on how we can “make sense” of suffering, most notably for future events. However, in order to get to this point, it is important to remain in the moment and recognize how we need to proceed with the suffering before us.
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First, I suggest focusing 100% on the situation before you. Put away your cell phones, and other distractions.
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What is our intent? Eliminate thoughts of what we will make financially on this situation before us, and really be there for the right reasons.
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We need to respect each situation without judgement. Make sure we are not concerned with any aspect of the loss other than the fact that there is emotional suffering before us.
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Empathy is the ability to share and understand the feelings of others. Empathy occurs when all we have previously discussed happens on a consistent basis.
This is the FIRE we need to burn within us, providing a light of faith and hope in those who are suffering a loss.
Thank you for all you do to help people during a very difficult time in their life
Joe Dwyer
Joe Dwyer's professional career began as a Chemical engineer at Schering Plough, having earned a degree in chemistry from Rutgers University. His career took a turn in 2000 when he joined the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. He was instrumental in reshaping the administration within the Archdiocese and spent seven years as Vice Chancellor for Administration where he led the activities of the major departmental groups of the Archdiocese. Joe is a graduate of the Emerson Theological Institute certified as an Animal Chaplain.
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Our goal is to provide a list of resources that you can draw from to provide to your staff and clients for educational and informational services. If you have a resource that you would like to submit for consideration, please email us info@iaopc.com.
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ATTENTION SUPPLIERS:
ADVERTISE WITH THE IAOPCC
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The eNews & Views is distributed to members three times a year along with a special printed Conference edition of the News & Views each Summer. The IAOPCC offers several advertising options to fit every budget!
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The International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC) is an organization dedicated to advancing the standards, ethics, and professionalism of pet cemeteries and crematories around the world. With Members in more than 10 countries, we are the Recognized Leader in the Pet Aftercare Profession!
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