Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Draft Mission Statement And Objectives (please review and comment)

rob treadway — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:56:18 -0400

PLPA Chair Coleen Ellis has developed the following mission statement and objectives based on input from the organizing committee and ICCFA staff. Please take a moment to review and submit input if you are so inclined

Also included are initial program notes for the first annual PLPA Conference, which will take place in conjunction with the 2010 ICCFA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Pet Family Survey

muselton — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:35:59 -0500

We send out family satisfcation surveys to our human side of the business however since the majority of the pet families we serve originate through our veterinarian partners we have little to no contact other than the literature that is returned with the pet cremated remains. Does anyone have a survey that is sent to your pet families that you could share and any feedback on the questions or return rate? This is not intended for any solicitation but to further align these pet families with our core business. Thank you, Mike Uselton

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Pet crematories/pet funeral director--curious, what grief support are you providing/using in conjunction with an at home pick up

luxepets — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:38:10 -0500

Hi everyone,

Would love to hear what grief support are you providing or using in conjunction with an at home visit or your contracts with veterinary offices.

At the NFDA conference, out of the hundreds of funeral directors specializing in pet cremation, only one I met offered any grief support. A few offered a customized paw print, cloth covered urn, pet death certificate.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Helping Pet Parents Cope With Grief

sybil — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:17:15 -0500

www.sybilsage.comThe pain we fell upon losing a beloved pet is almost embarrassing, causing us to realize that we'd always turned to our animals when we needed comforting. A warm lick or some nuzzling was so assuring and helpful. When we lost our dog and were asked at the animal hospital if we were interested in having the remains returned to us, my husband, son and I shrugged. Looking at an urn would put the focus on death and was not what we wanted. Years later, after I'd started designing mosaic items, it occurred to me that

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Pet Parents Sue for Lack of Communication In the Veterinary Clinic

Coleen.Ellis — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:57:49 -0500

Dr. Marty Becker just posted this article on his FaceBook page,... I found it incredibly compelling and wanted to share it with you - as this article should be reproduced and carried in your briefcase. Drop this off at ALL of your clinics for supporting information on WHY it's so important to not only communicate clearly with families on their medical plan - but also when it comes to their final death care arrangements. The time is now to "kick it up a notch" for your educational efforts with the clinics on proper death care processes.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

The PLPA just keeps growing!

Coleen.Ellis — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:43:02 -0400

Hello Fellow PLPA Members! Can you believe that it's been 6 months since we last gathered together in Vegas for the 2nd PLPA Conference! Wow! Where does the time go?! (By the way - there are only 104 shopping days til Christmas, if you were wondering!)

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Certification in October

Jocelyne — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:27:45 -0400

Question: Who gets the designation? Is it necessary to attend the course to get the designation? For those of us that have been doing this for a very long time, I do not see the need to attend the certification in October. Most of what is being covered are not areas that I need help and/or education in. The only area I do not have experience is running a pet cemetery, and I will definitely look into that should the need present itself.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Successful Ads for pet cremation and pet cemetaries

vhendren — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:55:05 -0400

Has anyone ran a successful ad campaign for their pet cremation or pet cemetary business. If so, would you be willing to share them with us. Thank you.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Charter CPLP Course

beyondtherainbow — Sat, 28 May 2011 18:15:12 -0400

Hello fellow PLPA members,

Are you ready for a fabulous time of learning and sharing with your fellow colleagues in the pet loss world? Are you looking for that “sizzle” that will make you and your company stand out from your competition? Are you anxious to be the “best of the best” at what we offer to pet parents every day?

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Introductory Letter to Vets

rob treadway — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:09:19 -0400

In response to a request from a Pet Loss Professionals Alliance member, we are glad to provide a letter for members to send to veterinarians they work with letting them know exactly what the PLPA is all about. It also provides a form they may complete and return if they wish to receive PLPA mailings. You may download this file as a Word document and customize as you wish.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Opening a Pet Cemetery

GardenofMemories — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:40:14 -0400

We are in the process of opening a pet cemetery and are looking for information/advice to help us get started. We are curious about the best way to set up the cemetery. How others have plotted out their cemeteries? What size grave spaces do we need to set up? Do you have different areas with different sizes or are they all the same size?

Any recommendations or resources that can be offered to us would be much appreciated!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Know a Vet Interested in Pet Loss Services?

rob treadway — Wed, 11 May 2011 11:23:24 -0400

The ICCFA's Pet Loss Professionals Alliance is building a database of veterinarians and other professionals affiliated with the pet industry as part of our effort to begin educating them about pet loss services and resources available to them.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

CPLP Course Information

beyondtherainbow — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:05:05 -0400

Hello fellow PLPA members,

Well, the dates are set, most of the speakers are set and it is time to mark your calendars for the Charter Certified Pet Loss Professional course !!! October 2-4, 2011 in Fort Worth, Texas will be a fabulous time of education, training and fellowship for all of us that want to become the "best of the best" at what we do.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Pet Columbaria

Premier_Columbaria — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:51:08 -0400

We have been getting more and more inquiries for a pet columbarium. We have since designed several of our most popular columbaria to accomodate pets. We realize that since some larger dogs will require larger size niches while smaller dogs and cats could fit into something smaller. Telephone us at 800-426-5973 and we could send you some designs for your cemetery.

Premier Columbaria

www.premiercolumbaria.com

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Needs Your Help!

Coleen.Ellis — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 09:03:17 -0500

Good morning, PLPA members! I trust everyone is safe and warm in this crazy winter weather that Mother Nature has dealt us!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Grief, Gerbils and an amazing 9 year-old girl

beyondtherainbow — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:13:36 -0500

A large part of what we do with a family is walking with them from the beginning of grief to the other side. Often this journey begins with a hospice evaluation, but sometimes, we only start the walk after the pet has crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge. Our goal is for them to emerge healed and ready to give the love they have to another furry family-member. Never replacing one with another, but rather sharing the love they have in their heart with the next baby to need them.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Showcase you and your services!

Coleen.Ellis — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:56:30 -0500

Good morning to you - from snowy, icey Indiana! Wow! Mother Nature showed up this morning - and she's not happy! Everyone - be safe!

This is a full week of preperation for our upcoming PLPA meeting. And, with every day I get more and more excited with the convention's activities!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA To Honor Pet Grief Therapy Dogs

Coleen.Ellis — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:51:56 -0500

Good Monday Morning! As I look at the very last page in my Daytimer (yep, I'm still using paper!) my schedule continues to remind me that our next PLPA Conference is just around the corner! My, my, my,... where does the time go?

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA to Attend National Veterinary Conferences

Coleen.Ellis — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:08:31 -0500

Just a quick blast message to let you, my fellow PLPA associates, know that PLPA will have a booth at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida, January 16 - 19, 2011. We will be in booth #68. In addition, the PLPA will continue to educate the veterinarians about pet loss and pet services with a booth at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 20 - 23, 2011. We will be in booth #2276 at this conference.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Do you want to take an active part in the upcoming convention?

Coleen.Ellis — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:44:30 -0500

Happy New Year, Fellow PLPA Members! I trust 2010 ended successfully for all of you and that you and your organization is poised for a very exciting 2011!

The year ended on an exciting note for the PLPA group. In an end-of-the-year meeting held with the committee chairs, incredible progress has been made on the projects lined out for the association at the 2010 conference. By the time of the 2011 gathering, I'm sure that you will, too, be excited about the amazing progress that's occurred during these short months.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Seeking Pet Service/Memorial Entries for KIP Awards

rob treadway — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:03:32 -0500

The ICCFA is seeking entries for the newly-created pet category for the 2010 Keeping It Personal (KIP) Awards.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Greetings! ^-^

anya@ashesonthesea.com — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:05:12 -0400

Well, it seems as though these forums are not getting used much. But anyway....

Hello. Just introducing ourselves.

We are Ashes on the Sea - pet division.

We are a husband and wife team who love people and their pets :)

We can assist with the disposition of ashes, whether individual or bulk, about 3 miles off the coast of San Diego. We are directly off the coast of "Dog Beach" which is located in Ocean Beach, San Diego CA.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Preparing for the next PLPA Meeting

Coleen.Ellis — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:20:44 -0400

Hello Fellow PLPA members! The summer has passed us by - and we are moving into the final months of 2010. While I could say "My oh my, where has the time gone," I KNOW where it's gone - it's gone into hard work by the PLPA committee chairs to continue to lay the foundation for our association! Much progress has been made with more updates to follow on the work that has been done! You are going to be incredibly pleased and excited with what's going on - and what the next steps look like! Stay tuned!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

A PLPA Update

Coleen.Ellis — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:44:04 -0400

With the July 4th holiday behind us, it now seems that summer is almost over. Where has this year gone!?

Not too many months ago, we came together for the first time as an association. An association of members who were committed to changing the industry and to bringing the standards and ethics in pet loss to the level that it should. It's been an exciting few months as a vast amount of work has been done with each respective committee as well as behind the scenes between the committee chairs.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Preneed for pets?

rob treadway — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:30:07 -0400

Hello there! I was wondering if there are companies who handle preneed services for pets. If so, do you have an example as to how the services and pricing compare to human services?

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Committees for the PLPA

Coleen.Ellis — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:49:21 -0500

As preparation continues for the upcoming conference in San Antonio, thanks to all of you that are actively reaching out and inquiring about serving on a committee within the PLPA! As we are certainly going to have some large tasks at hand - your willingness to participate in wanting to move the PLPA into the future is greatly appreciated!

There's still time to take an active role in YOUR association - please let me know if you'd like to participate in a larger role - and we'll discuss details in San Antonio!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

The PLPA To Discuss a Certification Program

Coleen.Ellis — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:25:13 -0500

Hello My Friends,... the time is quickly approaching for our first inaugral meeting of the PLPA! I'm anxious to see and meet all of you in San Antonio and to begin our business and working relatationships within this beautiful industry of pet loss professionals.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

The Inaugral PLPA Meeting is Right Around the Corner!

Coleen.Ellis — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:37:24 -0500

Hello Fellow PLPA Members! As I look at my calendar, and my task list for the upcoming PLPA conference, the time is quickly drawing near! The next few weeks are going to be busy in preparation for our gathering in San Antonio! I don't know about you but I am jumping out of my skin with excitement at just the thought of a room full of professionals, all together for the same mission of dignified and respectful death care of pets! Yes, an exciting time it will be in edcuational meetings, riveting presentations, spirited discussions, and friendly networking. If yo

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Texas Pet Funeral Home and Hospice Care Organization Makes the News!

Coleen.Ellis — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:36:35 -0500

Congratulations to PLPA members, Kate Moore and Terry Branson, for their story that made the news in Fort Worth, TX! A beautiful piece that will certainly let other pet parents and pet lovers in their community know of their services! Again, Congratulations!

View their wonderful TV news coverage here,... http://cbs11tv.com/local/pet.hospice.Beyond.2.1407497.html

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

A Happy Holidays to All!

Coleen.Ellis — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:26:02 -0500

Hello to All PLPA Members! And a Happy Holidays to you! I don't know where the time has gone in 2009 - but here we are at the brink of seeing Father Time running even faster and faster! Wow!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Communication Update

Coleen.Ellis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:55:33 -0500

Hello Friends,... I just wanted to take an opportunity to give a quick update on the PLPA happenings! In preparation for the upcoming conference, there are many "balls in the air!" The conference is coming together beautifully and I know that you will all find this inaugral meeting to be not only exciting but also incredibly valuable with the information that will be presented! Quite the dynamic line-up!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Continues to Grow!

Coleen.Ellis — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:54:58 -0500

Hello Fellow PLPA Members! The PLPA just launched a major membership campaign to notify everyone in the pet death care profession of our wonderful organization! A mailer has just been sent to every pet loss organization in the United States to let them know about the association - and to promote membership! For those of you who have colleagues in the industry - spread the word to others so that this awesome group of professionals can continue to grow! Thanks for your help and support!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Segregated cremations

Jocelyne — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:07:19 -0500

Hi all - back to the 'segregated' question. I am about to upload the PLPA logo to my site and brochures and I am looking to put a 'blurb' detailing what the PLPA is all about, and why it is 'THE' authority and/or governing organization that any upstanding pet crematorium would want to belong to. Am I correct in assuming that we will allow our members to offer 'communal with ash-separation' cremations? And are we calling it what it is - communal? More than one, means more than one.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Dr. Jane Shaw to Address The PLPA Members!

Coleen.Ellis — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:15:47 -0500

Hello Fellow PLPA Members! Here on a Monday - another exciting update to report on the PLPA conference in San Antonio! Dr. Jane Shaw from the Argus Institute at Colorado State University will be presenting to the PLPA members with some very enlightening and educational information! This will certainly be a meeting that every pet loss professional will want to be a part of! Make sure to get your reservations in - and if you know of any other pet loss business that we should reach out to for membership and attendance, please let us know!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Poul Lemasters to Address The PLPA!

Coleen.Ellis — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:02:34 -0500

Hello Fellow PLPA Members! As your committee chair - I am so excited to announce that Poul Lemasters will be speaking at our upcoming conference in SanAntonio! An attorney and funeral director by trade - Poul has been instrumental in the ICCFA organization as a guide in the maze of legal issues! His educational session will certainly be THE information that you will want in your pet death care operation. Stay tuned for many more details and announcements!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

NFDA In Boston

Coleen.Ellis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:13:57 -0400

Hello Fellow PLPA Members. Just a note to let you know that Joe Budzinski and myself will be attending the NFDA conference in Boston. Should you know of someone who is interested in joining the PLPA and has some questions, please have them come by the ICCFA booth. Our membership drive is on!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Member Hits The News!

Coleen.Ellis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:25:26 -0400

A new PLPA member recently hit the news in their local community! Congratulations Vandemore Pet Cremations for the awesome press you received on your new services! Read all about their business opening! www.geneseorepublic.com/news/x927266317/Vandemore-now-offering-pet-cremations

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Progress continues!

Coleen.Ellis — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:52:15 -0400

Hello Friends,... a couple of quick items of interest for the PLPA group - the PLPA logo is ready for your use to include on your website and other marketing materials. As we continue to build brand and strength for the PLPA group, the use of the logo to signify your company's participation in this group will help us to continue to be THE association for pet death care professionals and our process partners to look towards as a leader. As our association grows in our initiative of pet death care professionalism, we will clearly become a respected leader for all!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA logo

rob treadway — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:39:08 -0400

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Excitement Continues

Coleen.Ellis — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:56:17 -0400

Hello Fellow PLPA members,…

Whew! There is so much going on within PLPA and behind the scenes in anticipation of our upcoming “official” rollout at the San Antonio conference in March! In the spirit of communication, and as your committee chair – I am going to make a commitment to send out weekly updates to everyone. Updates to keep you advised of the progress the team is making – as well as information to keep the excitement going for this dynamic group!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Group Communications Choices

rob treadway — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:46:58 -0400

PLPA Members:

Having completed most of the fine-tuning, the PLPA Web site now has two main communications vehicles that should suffice going forward.

First is the PLPA Discussion Forum, which some of you have dabbled with already. The Forum allows for extended discussion on any number of topics, and also offers a nice mode of display which allows quick perusal of available topics.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Conference Program

newtestuser — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:34:28 -0400

This is a heads up that PLPA Chair Coleen Ellis will be circulating some information regarding the March 10-13 PLPA Conference in San Antonio. Some of the major pieces of the program are starting to come together, but please be thinking about what kind of material you would most like to see covered at the Conference.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Misc documents for review

rob treadway — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:10:58 -0400

These were forwarded by Jocelyne Monette for your review - I think there is some very good material here, no use reinventing the wheel.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

PLPA Draft Mission Statement and Objectives

rob treadway — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:31:53 -0400

Also included are initial program notes for the first annual PLPA Conference, which will take place in conjunction with the 2010 ICCFA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Information sent,.

Coleen.Ellis — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:40:39 -0400

I am so excited about the formation of the PLPA group. What an exciting group to begin forming a resource for those that are dealing in the pet death care side of the funeral business. We are ready for the learning, resources and guidance into how to be the very best that we can be!

Stay tuned for more to come! We will certainly become the trusted resource for professionals to turn to for their pet loss and death care needs!

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Request for Resources

rob treadway — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:16:54 -0400

As the PLPA Web site comes together I will be looking for online resources - educational, informative, etc - that might be of use to members. If you know of any useful Web sites, please comment here to add to our Web resources list.

Pet Loss Professionals Alliance

Welcome!

rob treadway — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:10:55 -0400

The Pet Loss Professionals Alliance is coming to fruition and in the coming weeks the main page of the Web site will be completed.

Relatively soon, we will begin inviting members to join and participate in this Discussion Forum.

Those of you who have joined should find it easy to create new Forum topics here.

Also, please be sure to mark your calendar for March 10-13, 2010 - the PLPA will hold its first educational program and membership meeting in conjunction with the ICCFA Convention in San Antonio.