The day Mook passed away
The reason we do this work (creating original pet goods) is because of our beloved dog Mook.
Today, I’d like to share with you the day Mook passed away and some of the life in our home since then.
Mook appeared in my dream on his last day
Mook passed away in September 2007, one month before his seventh birthday.
He passed away in this article, which I wrote about at the time. Please take a look.
On the morning of the day he passed away, I had a dream about Mook.
I remember having the dream, but don’t remember what it was about.
Perhaps he came to tell me about his final days.
Even after that (even now, many years later), Mook sometimes appears in my dreams.
He doesn’t appear when I’m lonely or worried, but when I feel at ease or fulfilled.
I wonder if Mook is happy to come and play?
Pet Cremation
It was our first experience to cremate a pet.
When I was a child, I had a mixed breed dog named Koro, and when he died, I asked my parents,
“Where did Koro go?”
They told me,
“My dad built a grave for him in the mountains.”
Now that I think about it, I think he was actually taken in by a health center or some other disposal facility.
It seems to be common to cremate pets nowadays, so I took Mook to the crematorium.
Mook died on a Saturday, so I had the day off from work, and I was able to mourn him that evening. I was told that there would be a joint memorial service the next day.
The joint memorial service was a once-yearly memorial service held at the crematorium.
I casually attended, and there were several hundred people gathered, a stark contrast to the cremation day the day before.
80% of the people were wearing mourning clothes and holding prayer beads, and about half of them were crying as they attended.
I was a little surprised that it was okay to express my sadness so openly.
Days without Mook
After the cremation, I went home and spent the next few days sorting through Mook’s belongings.
I couldn’t get anything done, and when I heard Mook’s cries and went out into the hallway, there was no one there, so the days of loneliness continued.
No matter how many times I cleaned, Mook’s hair loss is found, and his toys and leashes would come out from all over the house.
My sister was the one who was most upset, but fortunately, our family runs a family business and my parents are the president and factory manager, so she understood how I felt. Also, I work in a pet-related job (making memorial goods), so I was able to take breaks to sort out my feelings while I was working.
However, I feel so lonely now that I no longer have the doghouse where I used to drag my beloved dog Mook, who rarely walks, to work, and the doghouse where I used to check on him during every break.
Sorting out belongings
As I wrote on the page about sorting through pet belongings, I got rid of almost all of Mook’s belongings.
All that’s left are some photos and some scratches in the hallway.
I spent my days simply sorting through his belongings.
Once things were pretty much tidy, we renovated the house to repair the scratches Mook had made throughout the house, and started our new life.
From that point on, I gradually became more positive, and I was able to talk about Mook with a smile.
It was a few months after Mook had passed away.
Visiting the Grave
For a few years after he passed away, I visited his grave several times a year.
On the anniversary of his death, his birthday, or when I was feeling down, I would go to his grave and have Mook listen to me.
Strangely enough, doing so made me feel much better.
This is the joint memorial for pets, and Mook rests inside.
I still pop in when I’m passing by, or when I have some free time, I stop by on a drive.
Various flowers bloom throughout the seasons, so it’s a pleasant place to visit any time of the year.
From then until now
Our shop also creates original pet goods, so I still keep Mook in my mind as I work.
When I hear from customers that they have lost a pet, I remember Mook, and I’m prepared for the two cats I have now to eventually pass away as well.
And so Mook will continue to live on in my heart.
I think working hard is a way to repay Mook.
About this site
This site features experiences shared by customers and advice for people who are currently struggling.
Because we make original goods using photos of pets, we sometimes receive orders from people who have lost a pet, as well as their family and friends.
When listening to people’s stories, we’ve come to realize that there are a lot of people who suffer alone.
If possible, don’t suffer alone, but try talking to someone you can trust, like a family member or friend, about how you’re feeling.
This will make it easier to sort out your feelings and you’ll probably recover more quickly.