Saying Goodbye With Tears & Joy
Funeral attendees release biodegradeable balloons at the end of the eulogy for Gizmoe, a Lhasa/Westie mix that died at age 18 in November of 2011.
Tanya Scotece drops rose petals into the gravesite of her departed pet.
Circus performer Luciano Anastasini and his mixed Terrier Mio brought their act to the funeral. The Anastasini family of entertainers have performed internationally and are based in Englewood.
Sarasota-based horse trainer Heidi Herriott and her 8-year-old miniature horse, Lucky Star, use a car to transport the departed dog's casket during the first animal funeral held at the Venice Memorial Gardens Pet Cemetery.
Chucko the Clown uses a picture frame to pose for photos.
Maryla Trimarco, a friend of the Scotece family, sits at the funeral with her pit bull mix, Chloe.
Three generations of the women who had Gizmoe as a pet show their emotions during the pet's funeral. The women are (l-r) Tanya Scotece, her mother Elaine Scotece and Tanya's daughter, Shayna Forgetta.
Sian Espana, 14, performs his act with the German wheel at the pet cemetery grand opening.
In a somewhat unique ceremony that saw laughter and entertainment mixed with tears of sadness — all at a pet funeral — Venice Memorial Gardens Pet Cemetery & Funeral Home debuted its pet cemetery in a way those attending will not forget.
Venice Memorial Gardens held the grand opening for its pet cemetery at noon on Saturday, Feb. 16 but a half-hour prior to that, the cemetery’s first funeral was held.
