Coleen, I heard you talk in your first article about “why” I should start a pet loss operation. You sold me! I’m ready to start my program. What do I do?
Coleen, I’ve been thinking about adding pet loss services to my existing funeral home operation. Of course I still hear some of the naysayers out there that say this kind of business expansion might have others feeling like I’m “going to the dogs.”
The back-to-school items are out in stores. With no rain in Indiana, fall will be here early. And, as my husband puts it, we are getting closer and closer to the time of year where “all’s right with the world again.” Yes, football season.
He was an amazing employee. In fact, the owner of the funeral home said that he was one of the best team members that he’d ever had. He worked tirelessly, never complaining. He always knew that families needed him and he gave everything he had to provide a bit of comfort during those families dark days at the funeral home. So, when he died in December, the emptiness at the funeral home was almost unbearable. Word spread quickly of his death. In fact, it was the newspaper that proactively reached out to the funeral home, wanting to put not only an obituary in the paper but a story and tribute to a giving being and of a wonderful life lived. Oh, they also wanted to make sure they let the community know when the memorial service would be. Yes, he was an amazing team member to the funeral home and an amazing servant to others.
It was just another week in a hotel. After awhile, they all do seem to run together. Not counting the hotels that are a part of a travel…
For 10 years, veterinarians have been supporting the Pet Stop cremation service outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. A veterinary clinic owned by Dr. Susan Strain and Dr. Mike Strain of New Orleans was the drop off point for clinics across the city. From there, pets would be taken to the Pet Stop for “cremation.”
Apparently, not once during those ten years did a veterinarian, a family, or another pet care professional do their due diligence to see what kind of business the Pet Stop cremation service was operating. Furthermore, Dr. Mike Strain, who also happens to be the State’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, wasn’t aware of these practices going on at Pet Stop either.
Guest article provided by: Coleen Ellis
Forbes released their Bleacher Report this week,… and, guess who tops the list of the “most disliked athlete?” Philadelphia Eagles ex-quarterback Michael Vick, edging out Tiger Woods, Kris Humphries, Alex Rodriguez, and Kurt Busch.
According to the Bleacher Report, Vick is still dealing with the backlash from a federal conviction on dog fighting charges. Interestingly enough, about 60 percent of fans polled disliked Vick, tying him with Woods, but more people expressed a strong dislike for Vick compared to Woods.
Guest Article By: Coleen Ellis
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” Futurist, Alvin Toffler
So, are YOU going into the 21st century illiterate? Or worse yet, is your staff illiterate?
2012 is here. A time to step back, take a look at your business, and see where you and your team need to unlearn and relearn those areas that will truly allow you and your operation to rise above the competition in your market. Yes, it’s a time to re-tool your existing operations.
As business owners, we should never be too proud to say “we’re here.” We’ve arrived. “Our business is doing everything they can for our families and providing ALL of the services that they need and find valuable.” Family’s needs are constantly changing. Needs that they might not even know that they have but when you give it to them, it’s the best thing that could’ve been done.
Once again, I heard another sad voice say “I didn’t know that there were unethical pet loss services out there – and now I find out that one of those businesses is who took care of my beloved dog.” It just breaks my heart when a precious pet dies and the pet parent does not know what their options are to honor the life that was shared.
However, I can’t shame the pet parents that say that. I, too, was one of those pet parents. I shame myself because I had been in the industry for 18 years when my dog died. I was in the preneed industry, spending time educating people on the benefits of planning ahead and I did not heed my own advice. When she died I didn’t know what my options were.
It was a beautiful day in Fort Worth – when 63 people gathered to earn their Certified Pet Loss Professional pins from the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance. Not sure what to expect as this was the first course of its kind, the attendees showed up, full of anticipation, ready to learn and ready to network with others that wanted to
raise the standard of pet loss services in the United States and Canada.
The session started with the quote by Wayne Gretzky – to stand out and be the best that you can be, one must “skate to where the puck is going, not where the puck is.” Yes, it’s time in the field of pet loss services to make a change, to raise the standards, and to begin to see where the puck is going.
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