Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Baffert.
Hi renee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a pet loss counselor and spiritual director. For me, All Grief Matters. In 2005, I did my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. I began to see the ‘holes’ in my traditional psychology degree only focusing on the psychology of an individual, but not as a holistic being. I kept asking myself, what is driving each individual? There are many folks that just need a place to hash out their self doubts, difficult decisions, and process their hurts and fears. In 2010, I did my masters in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, which is the integration of philosophy, spirituality, and psychology. I became a Spiritual director which focuses on the whole person. As a Spiritual director I offer an integrative approach to growth work. Most of my clients are deconstructing and rebuilding their beliefs. Since 2013, I’ve worked with individuals who lost human loved ones. After my soul dog Eben (rescued French bulldog) got diagnosed with cancer in 2019, I had no idea we’d embark on an almost 5 year journey of fighting cancer. Through my lived experienced, along with my professional training, and years of helping individuals grieve their human loved ones I realized I could help pet parents through the profound loss of saying goodbye to their pets. Since losing my soul dog Eben, it has become my passion to specialize in grief work with individuals with their pets. Pet loss is profound. Sadly, many times it’s a dismissed grief in our society, when it should not be. I have lived through anticipatory grief, becoming a care taker for Eben’s cancer journey, and eventually having to say goodbye. I know how difficult this is.
I decided to make a film that validates how profound our bond is with our pets and how difficult losing them is. The short film is entitled EBEN. Throughout the years, I’d go to the Banff Film Festival. There was always a film about a guy out in nature with his big dog. Eben and I had spent his whole life hiking peaks together. I thought how wonderful it would be to create a short film about a woman and her small dog out in nature? After 3 years, my short film EBEN was released. “There’s a line in the film—I don’t have to be a big dog to do big things,” That’s who Eben was. He wasn’t supposed to be able to do any of this as a french bulldog. But he did.Though French Bulldogs aren’t known for endurance, Eben regularly hiked long distances—sometimes 14 miles or more—even during his years of cancer treatment. EBEN has screened at film festivals across the country and internationally, culminating in one particularly moving honor at the 14th Catalina Film Festival. The film received the Deb Bauer “Unsung Hero” Award, which recognizes individuals whose quiet strength, humility, and love often go unrecognized, but are essential to the heart of a community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There was a lot of pain, feelings of guilt, and fear when my dog Eben got diagnosed with cancer. The journey of walking him home and seeing him pass away was one of the most difficult things my heart has experienced. In making the film about Eben there were a variety of challenges. I needed to find a cinematographer, editor, musician to score the film, animation artist. Personally writing the script, was an emotional process. Submitting my film EBEN to film festivals, I was really sad that it got rejected by all of the ‘outdoor film festivals.’ The festivals, located in the places my dog Eben and i had played in and so much time in nature together. I felt that the film was to inspire people to get outside with those they love, I felt like Eben, although small …had a big heart and story to tell. In making the film, it became a way to process my grief and examine the impermanence of life. Eben kept getting sick, but he just kept going, I had to ask myself, ‘What do I want to do with the time I have with Eben?’ That’s what this film became about.” The film’s message has resonated far beyond the screen. Viewers have reached out with stories of their own—of loss, love, and the desire to live more fully. One woman told me the film reminded her to stop making excuses and start living. That’s what I hoped for,. that people would see Eben’s story and feel something shift—feel inspired to be present, to get outside, to love deeper while they still can.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a Pet loss counselor and Spiritual director. I offer anticipatory grief/loss support to individuals. I have worked in mental health since 2013, working with individuals that have lost their human loved ones. After my rescued French Bulldog had a cancer diagnosis in 2019, I saw how lonely the caretaking was and how so many didn’t understand but dismissed my grief and would say “it’s just a dog.” Eben loved me better than any human. I made a shift in my practice to include and focus on Pet loss support so no one who has a sick pet or had a pet pass has to feel dismissed or walk the journey of grief alone.
I am the writer and producer of the Award-winning documentary short film EBEN and am working on a new documentary about grief. To watch EBEN on Youtube, search #ebenfilm
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
It’s my hope to use Eben’s film to raise funding for pet parents who needs financial support with cancer care for their pets.
Pricing:
- sliding scale $100-125 session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.petloss-journey.com
- Instagram: @allgriefmatters
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bac0xY0hSS8&t=22s
Image Credits
My partner Michael Morse
Instagram @Michaelmorsephotography
https://www.mikemorsephotography.com
