Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery
Pine Ridge’s Anat Sagi: Exciting Initiatives at Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery
Recently Anat Sagi, Cemetery Liaison for Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery discussed the new initiatives being implemented at Pine Ridge as well as her special role in dealing with clients. Here’s what she had to say.
Q. Pine Ridge is progressing with some exciting initiatives.
Sagi: Yes. Since last summer a group of us have been hard at work in our attempts to update the Cemetery in the categories of marketing, sales, organization and consistency within the League records as well as with our clients. We are pleased to say that we are moving forward in all directions.
First and foremost we’re letting people know we exist! We now have brochures that tell our story and what we offer to our clients. These are being distributed by vets, departments of public works, sanctuaries and, of course, from one friend to another.
We’ve also finally received our biodegradable wooden boxes to be used to return ashes to owners. These are unfinished, pine boxes meant for a person or a family to decorate as they wish. In addition we are offering a self adhesive plaque for $10. It is similar to a trophy plaque (3" x 1"), silver, and you can have up to 3 lines engraved with 22 characters each.
We are now working on having our wood caskets made by a vocational school or a working jail so that we may involve the community - more to come when the details are finalized.
Q. What do you do as Cemetery Liaison?
Sagi: As the Cemetery is growing I assist in providing organization for the office itself as well as being the go between for anything that affects the cemetery to and from the Animal Rescue League of Boston – I’m the eyes, ears and mouthpiece. I’m also, in most cases, people’s first contact with the cemetery, which includes explaining what services are available, greeting them when they come in to bring pets, bury pets or pick up ashes.
Q. What kind of customer services does Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery provide – for example, someone calls and says “My dog just died.”?
Sagi: You’ve got to realize that it’s a very confusing and emotional time for them. The first thing is to listen and take in the information, what they’re saying, where they’re coming from. Everyone has their own story. From there I try to tailor-make arrangements for that person – be a source of comfort, offer options, describe in full detail all the options available - from burial, cremations, picking up a pet’s body from a veterinarian or home, delivery of a pet’s ashes. There are times that this requires us to “step outside the box” to fulfill the client’s needs. We like to go there if possible. I think that’s what makes the League so special.
Q. Your office has a wall with photos of some of the pets.
Sagi: I call it my spirit wall. I like to tell people that we though we didn’t get a chance to know them while they were alive, now we have a chance to have them with us. We feel honored and blessed to take care of them – as well as their human companions - at this point in their lives.
For more information about Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery, click here.
Photo courtesy of Amelia Hughes
