To ask for help? Where in SE london can we hire Dove release?

[mumof2andsurviving]

My MIL died recently. We are all devastated. In talking to one of her dearest friends, she told her "if anything happens to me can you let the family know that I want doves released at my funeral". We have no idea where to start.

Does anyone know of anywhere that releases doves on occasions like this? The need to be able to travel to SE london/Kent borders.

Can you show them some research into how cruel it is? I would want that guilt on top of my grief if it was my mothers funeral.

Sorry for your loss.

I think it would be nicer to name a star after her instead

Wow, what a way to make an impact on funeral guests. Great way to leave a lasting impression of a barbaric person in life as in death. Sorry, it has to be said.

Now I don't know what to do. It isn't UP to me. It's a decision to be made by her children. My mother in law was a very determined women, and she didn't like being told what to do. And my husband is just the same.

Tell them it's cruel? Refuse to have any part in it?

Honestly, the way some people exploit living creatures for their own purposes never fails to shock me. Did anyone see that awful video of the ring-bearing barn owl flying into the groom at a wedding. Huge amounts of hilarity from the wedding guests. The poor owl was clearly disoriented and no doubt terrified.

Champagne that is a lovely idea.

MadameButterfyface I didn't say she was a matriarch

That was me paraphrasi what you said about her being ‘determined’ and what have you, i assumed she was an older women who took charge, hence using the word matriarch

I think you just need to make it very clear that you want no part in it and explain to them just how cruel it is and pull the heart strings about and say that you are sure MIL wouldn't want any part of such cruelty if she really knew what lay behind it.

Don't send them the links let them do it then at least you've had no real part in it.

People think they are like homing pigeons, and they usually are just white pigeons never actual doves, when the reality is the first time they are released is usually when people let them go, that's why they have no survival skills, theyve been bred for a one time let go. I'm sure if most people knew this they wouldn't 'hire' buy them.

Oh no, please gently encourage them not to do it, it's an awful thing to do to a living creature. And as for links to companies who do it, I hope they are removed

So many other lovely ways to remember someone, naming stars, planting a wild meadow, planting trees. Something based on kindness and nature.

Maybe hand out packets of seeds of your MILs favourite flowers and ask people to kindly plant them in their gardens? We did that at my grans funeral.

Anyone else old enough to.remember the doves being burned alive in the Olympic flame in 1988?
Maybe something dove themed as PP suggested?

Naming a star after her is the winner here. Not causing suffering to other creatures. Hope you make the right decision and choose to educate those around you.

Really glad I came across this thread - I had no idea they were released without survival skills. I'd never opt for it knowing this.

My dgpa wanted to be launched out to sea on a flaming raft. My dgma refused to do it because ‘I don’t want that old bugger’s ashes floating in on the next high tide’.

Is there any chance she was joking?

omg that's so funny WhenIwas!

Every practice using animals as entertainment is deplorable. I hope your DHs family rethink this and her funeral is peaceful

I wouldn't use the idea to name a star, it's a load of nonsense and people can get very upset when they realise that. Astronomical objects are officially named by the International Astronomical Union, they have an article on it here: https://www.iau.org/public/themes/buyingstarr_names/ .

Sorry for your loss
Another one saying any gesture apart from one using animals as it seems to be cruel