Helen Davies has made it her business to help people with losing a pet
Such is the impact of the loss of a dog can have on a family that Helen Davies built her business around it. In June 2015, Helen launched her keepsakes website and by far the most popular collection for personalised keepsakes is for pets that have passed away.
Demand grew so much that three years ago the company launched a brand-new retail range, Oh So Precious, that is now available nationwide. Helen said, “Sadly, the reality is that by inviting a dog into our lives, we inevitably invite in grief, sometime in the future. We completely understand the positive impact a dog has on a family and the even greater impact the loss of that dog can have on family members.
Helen said: “Sharing customers’ love for their dogs and providing comfort with keepsake boxes, personalised urns, or pawprint gifts, when they need it most, is a privilege. It can often be a child’s first bereavement or the loss of a person’s only companion and we know the dynamic of a whole family can be blown apart, so to be able to provide something tangible that they can focus on to bring comfort is hugely rewarding.
One of the challenges the Oh So Precious team face is trying to change the narrative on the timing of creating pet keepsakes as Helen explains: “When we have babies, we immediately take hand and footprints and it’s common to save teeth and a first curl. Yet for fur babies, we tend to only associate pawprints and keepsakes with death. Too many people tell us they regret not having a pawprint of their deceased dog, but show them a kit for the dog they have now and they’ll say they can’t bear to think about it!”
Helen wants to bring attention to the importance of keepsakes and of creating them in happier times. “Encouraging dog owners to keep fur from a regular groom, take pawprints of puppies, or make paw impressions after a joyful day out is my absolute priority. Create keepsakes you want to cherish today, don’t delay, so that when the time does come, you already have something special to bring you comfort.
Visit ohsoprecious.co.uk