Ceremony at Colorado State University Honors Pets

Note to Editors: Reporters are invited to attend the ceremony. Reporters wishing to attend aer asked to RSVP to Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or dellrae.moellenberg@colostate.edu.

Colorado State University’s Argus Institute will host a ceremony in recognition of pets and the people who care for them. The event honors pets’places in people’s lives as companions and family members. The ceremony is open to anyone and is particularly geared toward those who have pets, have lost a pet or who are in the animal professions.

The ceremony is slated from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 19, in Room 118/120 at the Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The hospital is at 300 W. Drake Road.

The Pet Honoring Ceremony will include a program consisting of musical selections and several readings about pets and their role in people’s lives. Readings are "The Sunday Morning Picture," by Doug Koktavy from the book, "The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer: Lessons on Living and Dying from My Canine Brothers;" a reading by Dr. Kathy Lunn, a Colorado State University veterinarian, from an essay she wrote titled "Veterinary Medicine: the Best of all Possible Worlds;" and "A Brief History of The Best Boy," read by Joannah Merriman in the voice of her beloved golden retriever, Chaucer.

A reception will follow the formal program. A table will be available to display mementos of pets. With regrets, please leave pets at home.

Make a reservation by contacting (970) 297-4143 or argus@colostate.edu.

The Argus Institute offers support to people who are facing challenging decisions surrounding their pet’s healthcare, teaches compassionate communication to veterinary professionals, conducts research in veterinarian-client-patient communication and provides community outreach through the student-run Pet Hospice Program and the Human-Animal Bond Club.

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