The Ray of Hope appeal was launched in February 2011, under the direction of Dawn Murray (Companion Animal Bereavement Counsellor) and her partner Dave Melville. Dawn and Dave have been involved in animal welfare for over 10 years, predominately with regard to rescuing/rehoming Greyhounds.
Just before Christmas 2004, Dawns beloved rescued Greyhound, Kaz, became seriously ill and she had to make the agonising decision to end his suffering. Prior to Kaz being adopted by Dawn, he lived at the Glasgow Veterinary Hospital, where he was a resident blood donor; over the years saving the lives of many pets with this valuable service. Dawn decided to make arrangements for his aftercare by way of an individual cremation and took comfort knowing that when the time came, her faithful, loyal dog would be honoured for the unconditional love he had given her throughout the few short years she had had him. Unfortunately the company that Dawn contacted to carry out this service treated Kaz in an appalling manner.
After doing extensive research into the companies who offered this service to pet carers, Dawns only option to ensure this never happened again to a much loved pet, was to start her own business, and in 2007 she launched the Pet Undertaker offering grieving pet owners the opportunity to say goodbye to their pets with dignity, the dignity Dawn thought that Kaz had deserved.
The Pet Undertaker became so successful due to the respect, care and dignity that Dawn shows towards pets in her care, and many pet carers were so indebted to her for supporting them through their grief, that they donated money to Dawn to pass on to one of her chosen charities.
As a Pet Bereavement Counsellor, Dawn gives her time freely to pet carers throughout the UK, an invaluable service that has helped many pet carers over the years come to terms with their loss. In order to facilitate the volume of requests for Dawn to help pet carers, she started up a website called Living with Pet Bereavement. Living with Pet Bereavement is a non profit making organisation, founded to give pet carers information about pet loss and to offer a forum for them to validate their feelings. All money donated to Living with Pet Bereavement is given to chosen pet charities who work tirelessly offering pallative care or rehoming pets.
In past year, Living with Pet Bereavement has donated over a £1,000 to worthy causes. It is now our pleasure to fund raise for a x-ray machine that will be used by the dedicated staff at the Royal Dick Veterinary Hospital - who's expertise in Veterinary care help save the lives of many sick pets.
