Saying goodbye to a beloved pet can be traumatic and heartbreaking, and after experiencing this grief firsthand, Nambour nurse, Katie Lone decided to start a unique pet cremation business to support sick or ageing pets and their owners through the process.

“After my first dog died in 2016, a clairvoyant told me she could see me in the pet cremation business,” Katie said.

“At the time I procrastinated and never did anything about it. I am also an energy therapy practitioner for animals, and as I was only just getting into energy practice, I figured that maybe I had to develop that first. I then lost my favourite dog, and my sadness was too overwhelming to seriously think about starting a business.

“In February this year my third dog died and the heartache and trauma it caused lingered. I knew I could help people going through the same hurt as I was, and it pushed me to finally start my business, so here I am,” she said.

Pet Cremation & Twilight Care Sunshine Coast (incorporating Pet Send Off To Rainbow Bridge) offers cremation services and energy therapy with essential oils to promote calmness, which helps to relieve stress and anxiety in a dying pet.

“We work with a physiological response and our energy treatments are a relaxation technique,” said Katie. “Energy therapy and essential oils help the pet and the pet parent to experience less stress. We can support the pet parent through the grieving process before and after the pet is gone if necessary as well.”

“We offer a doula service or support person when euthanasia is to take place either in the home or a vet clinic. We try to make the event less clinical for both the pet parent and the pet, with energy therapy and essential oils. We have found that creating this peaceful and less clinical atmosphere really supports people in their sadness,” she said.

“When it comes to the cremation, each pet is cremated individually. We have a wide range of scatter or keepsake urns, jewellery urns and key ring urns, photo albums and frames to choose from. We then return the ashes to the pet parent in whatever package they choose.”

Energy Therapy sessions are also available for animals in pain with arthritis or chronic illness, anxiety or stress, especially during their twilight years.

Katie’s daughter Carly is a trained vet nurse who assists Katie in the business.

“We are both trained in nursing and we bring compassion and empathy to our clients,” said Katie.

“At the end of the day, we are there to help your furbaby have the best quality of life in their twilight years and when the time comes, to pass peacefully. We also help you (the pet parent) with the emotional journey that comes with the loss of a pet and for those that have already experienced it, you will know, it can be devastating.”

• You can call Carly on 0468 934 864, or Katie on 0408 827 965, or visit www.petsendofftorainbowbridge.com.au or visit Facebook to view packages. If you know what you want and want to purchase those packages online visit www.petcremationandtwilightcaresunshinecoast.com.au. Please note: Bookings are essential for energy sessions. Please call them directly.