Friday, February 27, 2004

By Heather L. VanDyke
CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER




There will be tears, music and a memorial tribute at Clock Funeral Home in Muskegon Saturday.

There also may be a few barks and growls at the funeral for Charlie, Diane Conklin's beloved chocolate Labrador.

In what may be a first in Muskegon, a funeral home that handles the final rites for people will host a canine service.

While conducting a funeral for a pet in a "human" funeral home might be controversial, Clock director Dale Clock said he approved it for a simple reason: "It's a memorial service for a loved one."

The 12 1/2 year-old dog -- who died unexpectedly Jan. 25 -- will be remembered at a funeral service at 2 p.m. at the funeral home on Peck Street in Muskegon. A reception with refreshments at the funeral home's Family Center will follow.

The funeral service will be complete with a minister, guest speakers and a "tribute" video presentation. A burial place has not been determined. Other dog owners are allowed to bring their pets to the service.

Charlie belonged to Conklin, 52, of Muskegon, who says she wanted to hold the $1,200 service as a "final tribute" to her longtime companion.

"To me it's very important and it's helping me to have closure," Conklin said. "I feel he wants me to do this to get the message out there: 'Live each day as though it were a gift, not just something that happened to be.'

"That was Charlie. He lived each day. He always had a smile."

There will be no other services going on inside the funeral home during Charlie's memorial, said a funeral home official.

It is the first request of its kind for the funeral home, but Clock said he considered it and then decided, "Why not?"

"We provide services and we're here to take care of someone when someone they love dies in their life," Clock said. "As I looked at it, it is an important part of her life. I want to honor that part of her life, even if it was Charlie."

Clock said he realizes that agreeing to allow Charlie's service is likely to mean he'll get requests from other bereaved pet owners.

He also recognizes that some people may find the service "offensive."

"We have fine lines here. I considered that, too. This isn't a pet funeral home. But sometimes, when you do things first, you do things different.

"Am I going to do it every week? I don't know. I don't want to offend other people," Clock said.

Charlie's body is currently being kept in a casket in Conklin's garage.

Conklin even attempted to put an obituary in The Muskegon Chronicle for Charlie, but that request was declined.

"We don't have an appropriate place yet to run those," said Chronicle Advertising Director Kevin Newton.

"It would be nice if the Chronicle would create a pet memorial section," Conklin said. "It helps with the grieving."

Conklin -- who has been a nurse for Hackley Visiting Nurse Services and Hospice for 30 years -- said Charlie died while walking up a ramp she set up for him near her bed.

"He was happy right up to the day. But it was hard for me."

While some may think a funeral service for a dog is "over the top," Conklin said it is consistent with the way she cared for Charlie his whole life.

"My friends and family thought the treatment was very special and that (Charlie) was very lucky," Conklin said.

Charlie was always well fed and received plenty of attention, Conklin said. When he began to age, Charlie received appropriate medical care which was covered under a $19-a-month "pet health insurance" policy.

Conklin even took him to her physical therapist at Integrated Health Professionals in Montague when he had "hip problems." The therapist would work on Conklin's back first and then treat Charlie's hip, she said.

And when Charlie had eye cancer four years ago, the two took a trip to a "dog eye doctor" in Grand Rapids, where the bad eye was removed.

"Since that time I had been treating him with natural remedies and natural foods. It was tremendously helpful," she said.

Conklin said Charlie was more than a pet or a companion -- he was the main focus and support in her life for more than eight years.

"He would do 'cheek hugs' with me. If I was sad, he would come up and press his check against mine," Conklin said. "He was something else. He was always a gentleman."

It's for these reasons that Clock agreed to Conklin's request.

"This is a funeral for a loved one," Clock said. "For some people, their pets are very, very important to them."



© 2004 Muskegon Chronicle. http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/in...78985018900.xml