Here are questions that are commonly asked about our
artificial rock pet memorials, exact replicas of natural boulders:

How are the pet memorials manufactured and shipped?
The rugged castings are hollow, approx. one-inch thick, and open at the bottom. They weigh between 40-60 lbs. (but are exact replicas of rocks that weigh 400-500 lbs.) and are manufactured from construction-grade GFRC cast stone to resist freeze-thaw conditions and 9,000 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure. They are shipped via FedEx Ground in 350-lb. test, double-walled corrugated boxes using an industrial foam-in-place packaging system to ensure maximum protection.

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How many years will the memorials last?
Due to modern high-performance polymers and other scientifically-developed, construction-grade admixtures, our GFRC cast stone reproductions are designed to last for generations--even in freeze-thaw conditions and in the face of mowers, watering and trimming--and typically wear in the same manner as, or superior to, natural rock.

The pet memorials are actually one of the few products that will look better with age as the elements (i.e., rain, sun and snow) give them an even more lifelike, weathered appearance with each passing year.

It's important to note that a national expert in the restoration of historical monuments made from marble and granite such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (who represents the firm that did most of the artifact restoration for the HMS Titanic) has estimated GFRC cast stone products will last 100-150 years before requiring any restoration work. In fact, he said that is about the same duration after which monuments made from other materials such as marble and granite need work.

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Do the memorials require special care?
The only special care required is in climates with freeze-thaw conditions. Our cast stone formula includes moisture-proof admixtures and an industrial sealer has been applied to all surfaces. However, we strongly recommend purchasing from your local hardware or home improvement store a penetrating concrete sealer and applying it to the boulder (after gently washing it with mild, soapy water to remove dust) every 5-6 years for best protection against moisture intrusion and freeze-thaw cycles.

No chemicals or cleaning solvents should ever be used to clean the products. Care should be taken when unpacking, moving and installing the boulder(s), but if one should be accidentally scratched or chipped, the mark will likely disappear from view as natural weathering takes place over several months, similar to natural stone. However, easy-to-use scratch "kits" are available upon request.

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Is there a manufacturer's product guarantee?
A 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is offered for the lifetime of each pet memorial if the craftsmanship is found to be defective in any way (with the exception of naturally-occurring adjustments in color). Customers with a valid defective craftsmanship claim will receive an immediate replacement with an identical product once the product is returned and/or the claim is confirmed.

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How are the pet memorials colored?
Since detailed molds for the pet memorials are tediously taken from actual rocks found in nature, our customers expect that the color process used for them match the realism of the replica castings.

Their demand for quality is met by skilled craftsmen who enhance the GFRC cast stone with permanent natural shades using a proprietary coloring process which requires no special maintenance in the future. (In fact, as previously mentioned, customers are usually pleased to learn the three basic colors of the memorial rocks will actually appear more lifelike over the years with the helpful affects of the natural elements such as the sun, snow and rain).

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What choice of natural colors are available?
There are three natural colors to choose: Slate Gray (popular in the Midwest and East Coast areas of the United States), Sandstone and Red Rock. Examples of these colors are available elsewhere on the website.

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Can the pet memorials be ordered with an urn to hold cremated remains?
Our pet memorials already include a 250-cubic-inch moisture-resistant internal receptacle for cremated remains and/or keepsakes already manufactured into it. The thick, industrial-grade polyvinyl chloride urn and threaded cap are accessed from under each model and opened-closed by hand so the cremated remains and/or keepsakes can be placed in the urn.

Note: The rule of thumb is for every pound of a pet's weight one cubic inch of space is required for cremated remains (one cubic inch=one pound of a pet's weight). So a pet weighing 80 pounds normally needs 80 cubic inches of space in an urn after cremation. Any additional space in the urn can be used for another pet's ashes or keepsakes such as a favorite toy, grooming brush, ID tags, leash or written expressions of love.

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Do the pet memorial prices include the custom bronze plaque?
Absolutely. All pet memorials include a handsome bronze plaque sized 7 1/2" (W) x 3 1/2" (H) which feature your choice of up to six lines of text with as many as 46 characters per line (typically a pet's name, date of birth-death, and special verse or quote). Although six lines are potentially available, it's not necessary that all lines be used if you prefer to have less text appear on the plaque.

Remember, the maximum number of characters per line is 46 (each letter, number, space and punctuation is a character that should be counted in this per-line total). The more characters and words on each line, the more the individual characters must be reduced in size to fit the final layout. Once the plaque is received from the bronze foundry (usually 15-20 business days), it is pre-installed by Valley Monuments into a chiseled recess in the memorial rock before being shipped to its final destination.

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Who determines the plaque layout? What if a mistake on the plaque is our fault?
We reserve the right to determine the style, size, capitalization and layout of the text provided according to the plaque space available to ensure the most professional appearance possible unless a specific request is received from a customer for a particular layout at the time of ordering. Most importantly, we are not responsible or liable in any way for misspellings or errors in fact contained in the information submitted by customers.

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Is it possible to see a proof of the plaque layout before it is cast?
Absolutely! It is standard procedure for us to fax or e-mail a proof of the text layout for the plaque before sending it to the bronze foundry for casting after we receive approval.

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What advice do you have for the plaque epitaph?
As much as a pets are loved, recalling what made them special and summarizing those feelings after their death into a maximum of six lines of text can be challenging. However it needs to be done and experts say that the process of writing a pet's epitaph can often actually be comforting and essential to a normal grieving process.

Even today, many individuals will still simply put a pet's name and date of birth and/or death on a plaque or monument. However the generous amount of space on the pet memorial's 7 1/2" (W) x 3 1/2" (H) plaque allows for a more detailed, meaningful expression of remembrance and we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to let those viewing it in future years to gain a better sense of the pet's personality and what he or she meant to surviving friends and family.

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How many days before we receive my order? How will it be shipped?
Once your order is received, please allow 15-20 business days for production and pre-installation of the bronze plaque and 3-5 business days for shipping depending on its final destination in the United States (longer if elsewhere).

Since they can weigh between 40-60 lbs., all pet memorials are carefully packaged in 350-lb. test double-wall corrugated boxes using an industrial foam-in-place system to protect them during transit. They are then shipped via FedEx Ground.

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Once the pet memorial arrives, what's the best way to unpack it?
First, whether the memorial is sent to a veterinarian hospital, pet cemetery or directly to a pet's owner, it is the customer's responsibility to check for damage in the unlikely event something happened to it during shipping. (On the rare occasion there is damage, the customer must contact us so we can make a claim with FedEx who will pick up the monument--in its original packaging--the next business day and return it to us for inspection and replacement with an identical model).

Once the package is opened, the industrial foam-in-place packaging system material can be removed by lifting, breaking off or carefully cutting it away from the memorial piece-by-piece and disposing of it. (Note: Traditional bubble-wrap or "peanut shell" material isn't suitable for shipping products as heavy as our monuments). Cutting and tearing off parts of the corrugated box often make it easier to access the hardened foam for removal.

Please remember, the manufacturer is not responsible for any damage to the memorials when customers unpack or place them. Every pet memorial includes an internal urn for cremated remains and/or keepsakes. It can be found wrapped and placed among the packaging foam.

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How do we place our pet's ashes inside the urn?
Before placing the cremated remains and/or keepsakes in the urn, be sure that they are enclosed in a bag similar to what most pet crematories provide. Next, place the memorial on a soft surface such as carpet, towel or other padding. (Please remember, the manufacturer is not responsible for any damage to the memorials caused when unpacking or placing them).

The memorial should then be gently turned over to access the urn receptacle underneath it. Next, as added protection against any moisture getting inside the urn, the role of Teflon Threaded Seal Tape that is shipped with every memorial should be wrapped four or five times in a clockwise direction (while looking at the urn opening) over itself on the threads located at the bottom of the cremation urn near the hollow opening.

Once the cremated remains and/or keepsakes have been placed inside the urn, the white threaded cap can be hand-tightened onto the end of the urn. (Note: If a family is concerned about complete security of the urn's contents, a tube of epoxy adhesive can be purchased in advance from a hardware or home improvement store and applied to the threads of the cap which will make it nearly impossible to unscrew the cap again without uncommon and destructive force).

Depending on the memorial chosen, once the urn is tightened together it is normal for it to extend out from the bottom of the rock which simply requires that a small circular hole be excavated in the soil directly underneath where it is going to be finally placed so that the urn rests easily inside it.

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Should we worry about possible theft of our memorial?
Once families see how realistic the 40-60 lb. pet monuments look, they often agree it's unlikely anyone is going to bother with what appears to be a 500 lb. natural rock that would require incredible effort to move.

However, if they feel it's necessary in their neighborhood, we will suggest the use of the heavy-duty metal eye bolts manufactured underneath each memorial for anti-theft purposes. To use this feature, a customer should purchase four items from a local hardware or home improvement store: 1). An inexpensive key or combination lock, 2). A small sack of "just-add-water" quick-drying cement, 3). A five-gallon plastic bucket if they don't have one, and 4). A three-foot-long piece of sturdy 2/0 or 3/0 straight link chain (75 cents-$1 per foot).

They then dig a hole directly below where the memorial will be finally placed, use the lock to secure one end of the chain onto the metal eye bolt, mix the cement in a bucket, fill the hole with the cement slurry, push as much of the remaining length of chain into the cement, and rest the memorial over the hole where the chain can dry in the cement and serve as an anchor.

If they move from the residence in future years, the memorial can be relocated with relatively minimal effort.

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