For a Dear Friend

It's that time of year: clocks back, darkness, Hallowe'en, the Remembrance of those passed. It is a time of mild melancholy.

It seemed like a good time to speak to Karen Burt and hear her ideas for helping us cope with the loss of our furry friends.

Karen is an embalmer to trade, with years of experience in the funeral industry and knows the grief, pain and bewilderment that death brings.

She understands that the need for a send- off is part of the closure that helps the bereft move forward; she also knows that funerals, of all kinds, come with a heavy burden of anxiety for the spiralling costs.

And as Karen has dealt with anxiety and depression herself, she knows how damaging to life they can be.

Help came to Karen through a series of fortuitous events.

The chain of know someone who knew someone at the right moment, brought Alfie, her beloved dog, into her life.

She said: “Alfie was a wise old soul in a furry body. He and I bonded from the first, he got me.

“Like the very best kind of friend who knows when to talk and when to hug, he didn't need to be told he just knew what would be best at that time: a walk, a snuggle cuddle, or quiet time on the sofa with him... I think he saved my life.

“He brought the sun back.”

So, it was a dreadful blow when Alfie fell ill last year and Karen was advised to let him go.

In the odd way that sometimes happens, having to face the cost of Alfie's cremation gave Karen a new purpose in life: she would try to raise money to help others in West Dunbartonshire facing the same difficulty – paying for a pet cremation.

 This brought Karen's life parts together and resulted in My Only Sunshine, because that's what Alfie was to her.

We've been hearing a little about the loss of independent

Veterinary practices and the overwhelming costs of veterinary care on the news recently. Sadly, this includes cremation and burial costs. Pet cremation starts about £100, rising to over £400 and more.

Karen added: “Of course, I understand the why of rising costs, but that doesn't help people facing an upfront payment at a time of pain and grief. I know how they feel, so I want to help.

“Right now, I make and sell colourful paracord collars to order.

“Crafting is a double benefit, it's good for mental health and, hopefully, for My Only Sunshine. I have lots of other ideas, too.

“In the past Iʼve skydived, trekked the Sahara Desert, and abseiled from the Titan Crane for other charities.

Now, Iʼm fundraising for my own cause.

“I think and hope there will be other people who feel this is a good thing to do, so I've been looking into fundraising possibilities such as a skydive, a psychic night, and a fire-walk event.”

Karen is reaching out to anyone who'd be interested in joining her fundraising journey to help with pet cremations.

“Please contact me through the Facebook page My Only Sunshine. Alternatively, thereʼs a GoFundMe page, if anyone wishes to make a small donation.”