Condolence gifts?

[Jax08]

Any ideas?

[lucymom]

Are you referring someone who has lost a dog?

When Lucy died, a friend of mine made a donation to a canine cancer awareness group. I got a certificate with Lucy's name and photo and it helped me feel like something good had come from the bad. I also like the idea of any kind of personalized item--a bracelet, or household item, with my dog's name engraved on it. Anything that honors the pet can be wonderfully helpful.

Another thing that my wonderful coworkers did was get me a salon/spa certificate. After months of dealing with cancer, I had not been taking care of myself. If somebody is grieving, it may help to have just a little time just for them.

I hope I'm not off course here about assuming it's for a dog person.

Jennifer

[Fodder]

this is in the dog section, so i assume the loss is over a dog - but i'll answer in general just to give you ideas...

flowers (which is a given), a houseplant, a wind chime, candle, book (healing type, affirmations, workbook - whichever applies), a journal, photo frame, a fruit basket, tea assortment, wisdom pebbles or something similar with a quote, etc...

depends on the individual loss in my opinion.

[Jax08]

A friend called me at work today, sobbing, her long time best friend died quickly this morning with very little warning. On Sunday she was running around with my shoe in her mouth like a pup and today's she's gone. A year ago last week my friend lost another very special animal. Today was the third animal she's lost in less than a year. It's been a terrible time for her. She would like the cancer donation. I wonder if there is one for Cushing's.

[Fodder]

...or if not, then a donation in the pets name to a breed rescue. or if you visit the rescues website and there is a dog dealing with the same illness, etc - you can request that the donation go towards that particular dogs care.

[Jax08]

oh what a wonderful idea. She would like that too.

[middleofnowhere]

One of my vets gave a donation to a rescue, as well as one heck of a discount & paying for the cremation, another sent a nice small statue.
I like the idea of a donation to rescue. I send donations to my humane society when a human dies too.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

http://www.imom.org may have a pet with Cushing's receiving assistance. They used to. I like to give to a pet in need there, similar in some way to the lost pet, or the Magic Bullet Fund for pets with cancer.

Shelters and rescues are also great ideas.

A friend donated to Cornell for FIP research when my cat passed from that.

A special photo framed is also nice, or piece of artwork.

When Nina passed the vet office got me a memorial stone and for Kramer they are getting me a tree when it's time to plant.

I have found that any gesture is such a comfort-a card, email, making you laugh, anything. It's so nice to know that someone else cares about something so important to you. Nice of you to do.

This might be a good sticky-the ideas so far are great.

[Skye'sMom]

When I lost my Solo, the Mechanicsburg Library made me a photo book. It was captioned "for the dog that started it all" (I helped set up the program and Solo was the fist dog.)

It has pictures of Solo with kids through the years, with me, posing by the Paws for Reading signs, etc.

The last picture was was just titled "Good Dog."

I will treasure it forever.

If you have pictures your friend may cherish them. Donations are always great, also.

I am sorry for your friend's loss.

[doggonefool]

When we lost Whimsey, the vet made a donation to Canine Kidney Disease at UC Davis in her name. That was very touching and of some comfort.