Losing a pet is one of the hardest things I’ve had to endure, and I’ve gone through it three times during the last three years.

What made it a little easier each time with our pups was having Heaven’s Pets take care of them after they passed. It provides a wonderful service during such an incredibly sad time. The team at Heaven’s Pets is compassionate and caring, and this makes all the difference.

This year marks the 15-year anniversary of Heaven’s Pets, and to celebrate, it’s holding a fun day of festivities for pets and their families on Oct. 24, beginning at 10 a.m. We all know it’s important to not only honor, but also celebrate, our loved ones when they pass away. That goes for pets as well.

In New Orleans, we do it with a second line, of course! And who says the pups can’t join in on the fun.

We don’t need to wait until our beloved furry family members are gone to celebrate them, however. I cherish every single day I have with my two senior pups, as I know all too well that their time with us is much too short.

Heaven’s Pets is inviting the public to bring the whole family, including the four-legged furry members, to partake in this event honoring and celebrating all pets — both past and present.

“We wish to celebrate all pets and honor those that have left paw prints on our hearts,” said Patrick McCausland, president of Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie.

Festivities will include Heaven’s Pets 10th annual Blessing of the Pets with the Rev. Jeff Millican of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, followed by the Red Wolf Brass Band leading a second line for pets and their humans through Metairie Cemetery.

Even if you don’t have a pet, you can enjoy the festivities and you just may find a new best friend as rescue groups and shelters such as Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), JPAWS, Jefferson SPCA and the Inner Pup will be on-site with information and adoptable pets. Nola Snow sno-balls and other treats will be available for humans and furry friends alike.

Heaven’s Pets is a family-owned pet-dedicated facility located on the grounds of Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery. It provides cremation  and memorialization, along with monthly grief counseling sessions for those who have lost a pet. These are free support groups led by one of their certified grief counselors.</…….

Source: https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/article_3507da5c-2b78-11ec-8a64-0f21274cdcc3.html