[Yours_Truly]

And it was awful. While my brother was handing them to me, I took one glance and was horrified. I told him I didn't want them and said, "They're my cat's dead paw prints. I don't want to see them."

I don't even know why I bothered with it. When they offered at the vet's it kinda took me aback and immediately I said no, but after a second, thought maybe someday in the future I would regret not having them so, I agreed.

I even thought at the time that not enough time will have passed between then and when I receive them in the mail. I was right.

The way I feel right now, I don't know if I'll ever want them. I don't have the paw prints of any of my other pets and many, many cats.
I have pictures of them from when they were alive. That's all I need.

I miss her. I'm still thinking of her everyday. More than once a day.

Btw, my avatar is a blurry photo of her.

[greentires4me]

U could put them in the garden then? Or Berry them like in a memorial ceremony?

[newtus]

This really touched me as my cat is sick with dementia

[*Laurie*]

I'm so sorry that I just now am seeing this post.

I had a vet who did this with 2 of my pets, a cat and rat. No one had asked me either time whether I wanted to receive the paw prints and when each one came in the mail, I opened it and was severely shocked. Like, badly shocked. I tried to keep myself together, but the memory of the moments of opening those pieces of mail (especially the first one, my cat, as I had no idea what was in that envelope) still jam with sharp edges inside my mind.

Maybe I'm weird, but I think sending the paw prints is a horrible idea. Absolutely horrible. Like you posted, pictures of the pets when they were alive is fine. Helpful. The paw prints just seemed like rubbing salt in a wound to me.

I kept the cards in my dresser drawer, but they were stolen when my home was burglarized. I just...I am so, so sorry. Maybe as greentires says, bury the card in a garden?

I'm so sorry, Yours_Truly (((((HUGS)))))

[Out There]

Oh , I'm sorry YT. I lost my beloved companion of 18 years in June last year. I felt sick when his ashes were returned to me. Maybe put them somewhere where you don't see them until you are ready - if we throw things away sometimes we regret doing it. Time is a healer and they do leave their paw prints on our hearts.

I'm sorry for your loss. We just lost our cat too and got her ashes back on the weekend. I opted out of the paw prints. When the time is right we will bury the urn somewhere special and say a last goodbye. Maybe that could wrk for you too.