Onyx was one of Puerto Rico´s most loved dogs

Losing a pet can be like losing a family member. During such a heart-breaking time, many people seek out options open to them to keep their beloved pet close to home. This is how many discover the Bios Urn for pets.

Our pets show us unconditional love. And although we don’t speak the same language, there is an unbreakable trust between a pet and his or her family.

This was the case for wonderful Onyx, one of Puerto Rico´ most-loved dogs. Read about Onyx´s special story here and how they came to discover the Bios Urn for pets.

How Onyx joined his family

The Rivera-Navarro family did a drastic return to the island of Puerto Rico to set up a restaurant business in the quaint town of Cabo Rojo. The dog they had rescued in Miami, and who had travelled the States with them, of course returned to spend his last years basking in the sun.

When their beloved Holmes passed away in August of 2007, their nephew and wife brought them a pure black lab, just a couple of months old, to be his replacement.  Some mighty big shoes to fill. Meet Onyx!

What he did along the years was establish his own spot, his own presence within his new family. Quietly, slowly his energy was felt. He became a gorgeous black hunk of a lab who protected their home first with Canela as a partner, and then with Leiah, who was beside him until his death, and still mourning his absence.

A member of the family

Onyx was part of the whole life of the family´s grandkids.  For all their short lives Onyx was there. He knew how far to let the ball go during their up-bringing, and never was the one to tire first. They cannot count the number of tennis balls that rolled down their front home entrance that the kids ran after, for hours!

“We thought we would loose him to heart parasites in April of 2016. Our old, knowledgeable, passionate vet in Mayagüez told us not to give up on him. Told us then that he had the stamina to survive the horrible and painful treatment and that with a lot of tender loving care, he would give us a few more years. The grandkids were the ones that made him eat during the process, that is how special their bond was.”

So when the lovely Onyx started to go slow, not being able to follow Leiah up the hill, the family knew the end was near. They also knew they wanted to keep him close. They pre ordered the Bios Urn for pets, and started to search for a perfect spot for Onyx to be close.  They selected the corner of the entrance of their house, where they always sit as a family for visit and conversations, because it is open and always has a cool breeze.

Their granddaughter selected a big pot, with the perfect color for him and the right size for the Bios Urn for pets.  And they started conversations with one of the very few sites on the island of Puerto Rico that do pet cremations. It is apparenty not a common practice there. The family were glad to find Crem del Caribe, a totally emphatic, professional group of people.

The plantation of the Bios Urn for pets like Onyx

Onyx sadly passed away on July the 5th. “I was on the other side os the Island, but Leiah was with him” explains Velma. Crem del Caribe picked him up and did the cremation then transferred the ashes to the Bios Urn for pets. The next few days they arranged a celebration with their neighbors and family in order to go through the process of “mixing his body and soul”.  It was a very enlightening experience for them all they recount.  “It was of utmost importance that our grandkids go through the process because our intent is that they are the ones handling it for us, their grandparents.”

It was a beautiful celebration for Onyx and his spot in our balcony just got more comfy and beautiful. They read out their granddaughter´s note and The Rainbow Bridge Poem given to them by Crem del Caribe.

They then planted their Bios Urn for pets which contained Onyx´s ash and chose to plant a colorful bougainvillea. Their grandson made sure his name tag was pasted straight and made sure his tennis ball was there too.  Now, the question that the kids ask is: “Papa, did you water Onyx?”

They continue to have some great family conversations in their balcony. Someone is always sitting on the floor with their arm somewhere around or with their backs against… Onyx.  Velma says that she plans to be there with him someday. She has asked her grandkids to make sure of that. “What interesting conversations I will be listening to someday! Did you hear that Onyx?”

Each Bios Urn planting is unique

Each planting, each location, is specific to the individual and family, and no two Bios Urns for pets in the world are the same. That´s the beauty of these stories, there is a sense of autonomy and choice. Dealing with loss is always hard, and tends to send life in an unknown and often confusing direction. One thing we believe at Bios Urn, is that people see the beauty of life expressed in nature, and in trees. How we connect with these cycles and these stages is personal into and of itself, but the important thing is that we all connect. Our only hope is to provide comfort and a positive alternative to those who have experienced loss, and to provide a voice for those willing to share their unique stories.