On Sunday, September 11th at 11 a.m., the fifth annual Pet Memorial Sunday Ceremony will be held by Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park in observance of National Pet Memorial Day. The free ceremony is for anyone who has experienced the loss of a beloved pet, no matter when or where the loss occurred. You do NOT need to have a pet buried at the Memorial Park or adopted from Baltimore Humane Society to attend.

The sense of grief when a pet passes can be overwhelming, but seldom is there opportunity to mourn and express that grief. Baltimore Humane Society takes the loss of a pet seriously and is inviting the public to the fifth annual Pet Memorial Sunday ceremony that will honor and express gratitude to all companion pets that have passed away.

Matt Wilson, Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park Director, will lead the ceremony and speak on the “Lessons Learned: How our pets continue to help us and others.” “Grief Response to Pet Loss” will be addressed by Carol Williamson Jenkins, Bereavement Counselor from The Counseling Center at Stella Maris, Inc. Dr. Ayrika White-Mfoudi, DVM, Peaceful Passage, will speak on "Guilt and Euthanasia." Members from Dulaney Flute Ensemble will play during the flower ceremony.

All our pets create lasting memories. This ceremony will be an opportunity to remember and celebrate those loving bonds. It is part of the mission of Baltimore Humane Society to treat all beings with compassion and to treat the passing of pets with the same respect given to any family member.

Friends and family are also welcome. Anyone attending is asked to bring a photo of their pet to put on display during the ceremony and a flower to place in their honor. They are also being asked to RSVP with the name or names of pets they’d like read aloud at the ceremony. RSVP to 410-833-8848 ext. 219 or [email protected]/

About Baltimore Humane Society

The Baltimore Humane Society, founded in 1927 by Mrs. Elsie Seeger Barton, is an independent, non-profit, no-kill animal shelter, which offers low-cost veterinary care to the public, and a pet cemetery with grief support services. We receive no operational funding from the local or federal governments, or any national animal welfare organizations. For more information about BHS, and how you can contribute, volunteer, adopt, or foster, please visit www.bmorehumane.org or call 410-833-8848.