Ex-Gardai from Cork launches ‘RIP.ie for pets’

Rest Easy Friend is a memorial site for pets

Originally from Tipperary, but now Clonakilty-based, Mick Hanly served as a Guard in Cork City and West Cork for years.

Since retiring from the force in 2010, he's been very active in his local Clonakilty community.

It was during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many people struggled with isolation and became very dependent on their pets for companionship, that Hanly got the idea for a memorial site for animals.

Rest Easy Friend (resteasyfriend.com) allows its members to post online tributes to their pets through a digital memorial space that allows sharing photos, stories, and videos. Apart from that, it also allows animal lovers to connect and offer support through the tough grieving period.

Mick says that during the pandemic, when physical contact was limited, he drew inspiration from the website RIP.ie, where people shared and received condolences for loved ones or people in the local community.

He said: "I noticed there weren’t many similar online spaces for those grieving a pet, even though they’re often just as much a part of the family.

"Over the years, I’ve lost several dogs, some to old age, some to accidents, and I know the grief doesn’t just go away.

"Our culture doesn’t always permit people to grieve for animals the way we do for humans. Rest Easy Friend was created to change that, to honour the deep bond we have with our pets," Mick explained.

"We offer a personalised online memorial that demonstrates the natural grieving process. By fostering open sharing and connection, we help normalise pet grief and reduce the stigma around mourning an animal companion," he added.

People can choose to pay €25 for an annual membership, which allows them to upload photos, videos and stories about their pets. Visitors to the site can also leave messages of sympathy, offering comfort to others who are dealing with the loss of a pet.

He concluded: "We’re surprised and humbled by the feedback already. People have told us how healing it is to simply write their pet’s story and how comforting it is to know others understand. The goal is simple, to say, your love mattered and your grief is valid," per CorkBeo.