Pets are such a special part of the family, and saying goodbye to them can be extremely painful. However, some beautiful pet memorial ideas can bring peace and comfort to such challenging times.
We’ve explored ten pet memorial ideas to pay tribute to the happy memories and the unique bond between person and pet.
- Pet memorial service to say goodbye
Some people choose to have a funeral or a memorial service for their pets. A pet funeral is a beautiful way for you and your loved ones to openly express feelings in a safe and caring environment while offering a chance to say goodbye. This pet memorial service could be held at your home, your pet’s favourite park, or a spot on their favourite walk. If you choose to scatter your pet’s ashes, this might also be the right occasion. Alternatively, you might prefer to choose a different location, or do it at a time when you’re on your own and can say goodbye privately.
- Pet memorial quotes
Some touching pet memorial quotes beautifully summarise that unique bond with our pets. If you plan to hold a pet memorial service to say goodbye, you might want to say them during the service, or you could even print a couple out and frame them with a photo of your beloved pet to always remember them.
“Everyone is taught that angels have wings. The lucky ones of us find that they have four paws.” – Jury Nel
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras
“Our animal friends teach us more than we could have expected, and love us more than we could have hoped. That’s why we miss them more than we could have imagined.” – Unknown
“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” – M.K. Clinton
“They bring us love and happiness and comfort without end. It’s hard to face such sadness without your furry friend.” – Unknown
- Create a memory box
A memory box is a wonderful way to create a lasting memory. You could include their collar, lead, toys, blanket, and photos. This can also be a lovely way to get children involved and help them through the grieving process by remembering their pet positively.
- Pet memorial jewellery
Pet memorial jewellery is an amazing way to create a lasting memory of your pet. At Hand on Heart, our specialist designers can design a beautiful piece of jewellery using the true pawprint of your beloved pet. Our expert jewellery designers will work carefully with the image, removing any marks from fur and miniaturing the print, keeping all the unique detail to fit on your chosen necklace, charm or bracelet.
- Pet memorial frames and plaques
Pet memorial frames are specially designed to hold a photo of your furry loved one alongside heartfelt sentiment or memorabilia, like a paw print or your pet’s collar, for a beautiful display. Plaques might feature your pet’s name and an inscription of your choosing.
- Pet memorial in the garden
If your pet adored spending time in the garden, crafting an outdoor pet memorial would be fitting. You could even create personalised stones and arrange a small tribute area, or even make a wind chime, then you’ll think of your special friend every time the wind blows through them.
Planting a tree or flowers in memory of your pet is another wonderful way to remember them. It could be their favourite spot in the garden, or somewhere they always loved digging and sniffing around. You could even use their food or water bowl as the planter. Another lovely idea is to have their name etched onto a chair or bench in the garden.
- Pet cremation ashes jewellery
Our beautiful pet ashes jewellery is created for families looking for a way to keep a part of their precious pet with them forever. Available in various designs, we also offer a choice of colours to create a beautiful piece of jewellery made from your pet’s cremation ashes.
While dogs and cats are generally the most common pets, we can use cremation ashes from any animal, including horses and rabbits. We can also use your pet’s fur or hair instead of cremation ashes in most of our jewellery designs. Each of our ashes designs have an icon on their product page showing their suitability for hair. We also have a dedicated memorial hair jewellery range which is designed specifically to make the hair within the jewellery more visible.
Our other range of jewellery made from ashes is the self-fill ashes collection. These pieces are designed to hold a small token of cremation ashes – the ideal way to keep a pet close in a beautiful piece of memorial jewellery. All our urn necklaces are made from sterling silver and come with the equipment and instructions needed to transfer a small amount of ashes into the necklace. You can also choose to have your ashes necklace personalised with text, like the name of your pet or a date.
- Do good in their memory
An uplifting way to mark a pet’s anniversary or birthday is to volunteer at a local animal shelter or donate to an animal charity in their memory. If you miss your walking routine with your special friend, many animal shelters also really appreciate local dog walkers who are happy to take the pooches out for their daily walks before they go on to find their forever homes. If you choose to remove your pet’s belongings permanently, many animal shelters will accept donations of beds, toys and sealed food – which could be a nice gesture in your pet’s memory.
- Your pet’s possessions
You might want to keep hold of your pet’s possessions as a memory of them. Or if you decide you want to remove them, be sure to do it gradually. The first step can be to move them to a different location, easing the transition. Then when you feel ready, you could store them away in a safe place (in a garage, loft or a memory box).
- A reminder around the house
There are some beautiful ways to keep a reminder of your pet around the house. You could have their blanket embroidered with their initials and keep it nearby when you want to sit and remember them. You could also commission a drawing or painting of your four-legged friend to hang in your home. Or, create a framed print featuring a comforting quote and a photo of the two of you together to serve as a tribute to the wonderful bond you and your pet shared.
We understand how devastating it is to lose a pet, and these are just some beautiful ways to remember those special memories shared with them. Pet grief is extremely difficult, so if you’ve been affected by this and would like to speak to somebody, Blue Cross offers a free and confidential Pet Bereavement Support Service (PBSS).
Leave a comment