If you've made it to my article, I assume it's because you have, or will soon have, a beloved furry family member cross the rainbow bridge.
I am so incredibly sorry you are going through this; I know this pain very well.
While nothing can take the grief away completely, I can tell you that finding a way (or many ways) to memorialize your pet can be very therapeutic, especially its impact over time.
Eventually, the smiles and laughs will outnumber the tears because you found a way to always keep their spirit with you.
Below, you'll find a variety of creative ways to pay tribute to your pet and my hope is that something will speak to you or give you inspiration as a starting off point. Some are big tributes while others are quiet check-ins.
When my soul dog, Marshall, passed in May of 2020 (almost exactly 5 years ago from the day I am writing this) I learned why "Broken Heart Syndrome" is a real clinical term. I literally popped a blood vessel in my eye from crying too hard.
He was my family and the closest thing I'll ever get to having a child. If I'm being completely honest, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to move through life the same way ever again.
It did take a while, but the ways our family has been able to keep his memory alive have really helped get me to where I'm at now.
You don't have to spend a lot, or any, money to honor your loved one in a meaningful way.
Sometimes things you already have from before they've passed can be the perfect keepsake. Sometimes all you need is yourself. One of our newsletter readers, Martha, started a meditation practice in remembrance of her late cat. "My cat Argyle was my courage and joy. She passed too soon. The day after, I started a daily meditation practice to honor her gifts and our relationship. It’s been over a thousand days. In this way, she is always with me."
Memorializing Your Pet in Nature
Memory Stones
Nature is healing on its own, which makes it an especially powerful way to celebrate someone's memory. Something as simple as going for a walk and collecting a cool rock that you find while thinking about your pet can be a tangible memento you can keep in your pocket and hold on to when needed. You can also paint it, etch their name onto it, have it as the centerpiece of a sculpture you make of them, there are no limits.
One of my favorite Instagram accounts, who I've become friendly with, is A Pug, a Frenchie, and Brian. They've gone through a few very difficult losses in the last few years, the most recent being their sweet French bulldog, Dottie. One of their friends had a memory stone made for her.
Memorial Gardens and Trees
After Marshall passed, I needed a project to keep my mind occupied, my hands busy, and my body off the floor. It was the peak of 2020 quarantine, and we had nothing but time at home. So, we decided to transform the grassy weeds taking over our front yard into a raised garden bed area.
As a gift, my colleagues (friends), gifted us with a beautiful weeping cedar tree to plant in his memory and it was the first permanent resident in our revamped yard.
When Marshall's ashes arrived, there was a packet of "Remembrance" mix flower seeds included. I was hesitant because it would be my first time trying to grow flowers from seed and I was very anxious that nothing would grow.
A single cornflower seedling survived and quickly turned into a large section of stunning blue flowers. They are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring and some of the last to bloom at the end of the season. We've pressed and framed them alongside other flowers growing in our yard, too.
A few years later, when our sweet and spicy pug, Mabel, passed, we planted a Japanese Maple "Mabel" tree in her honor.
Members of the Preventive Vet team bought this really nice memorial stone for neighbors when their beloved pit bull, Jackson, passed.
If a garden or tree isn't feasible, indoor plants make great tributes. We have a list of our favorite, (mostly) easy-to-care-for, pet-safe houseplants. There are several Etsy shops that sell personalized memorial planters — but another idea is to use your pet's water bowl as a planter or place to keep your keys/jewelry. If it's the right size, you can clasp your dog or cat's collar around it.
Get Involved with Your Favorite Pet Charity
Donating money to a great cause is a wonderful way to honor your loved one's legacy. If you're up for it, you can even look for a 5k in your area (you can run or walk) and participate in their honor.
Volunteering at your local shelter can also be a great way to give back and, depending on how you're feeling, may bring you comfort.
Memorializing a Pet Around Your Home
Our home decor style could probably be described as "Smushy Chic." Our dogs and cat have all had smushy faces and we have them displayed in various ways, all over our house.
The ones that bring a smile to my face every time I see them, and that capture their personalities so well, are the portraits we had done through one of the services that puts your pet's head on different bodies. There are several shops on Etsy that have different style and printing options, so take a look around to find the one that captures them best.
We'll need to redo our bulldog Maevis' portrait. The neck is just a little off.
The accessories that have probably brought the most comfort to us, have been the pillows that were made years before they passed. Hugging those pillows really does help. It's also sweet when we catch our dog or cat cuddling with one of them.
Mabel the pug was dog reactive on earth, so it always gives me a chuckle when I see Maevis snuggling with her pillow.
Memorializing Your Pet's Ashes
There are many ways to honor your pet's ashes, and you don't have to choose one. We haven't done anything big with Marshall and Mabel's ashes yet, but we do have them on display in the room we spend the most time in.
Some people have turned ashes into sand art. Others have created jewelry or stained glass with their pet's ashes.
Some tattoo artists will let you incorporate their ashes into the ink used for the tattoo.
Someone in a Facebook group I'm in was able to find a glass blower that was willing to incorporate her late pug's ashes into a piece and also allowed them to participate in the creation.
I'm a huge music lover and have several "Marshall songs" — so pressing his ashes into vinyl records is on my list for the future.
Memorializing Your Pet Through Hand-Crafted Art
If you have an idea, chances are you can find an artist that will be able to do their magic with it. Instagram and Etsy are treasure troves of creativity and inspiration.
After Mabel crossed the rainbow bridge, my sweet sister had these beautiful sun catchers made for us. You can't see it in the photo, but it has her and Marshall's names on them and I look at them every day. In fact, I am looking at them now.
Pet Memorial Tattoos
If you are a tattoo person, chances are you've already thought about this. Maybe you already have a tattoo of your pet(s). I've seen everything from paw and nose prints to ear outlines and portraits. My wife and I went to the same artist to get our memorial tattoos done as realistic portraits. Yes, Mabel really sat like that.
As a tattooed person and someone who used to write a tattoo blog for the Chicago Tribune, the best advice I can give you is to not rush it and to do your research when it comes to your artist. Find someone who really enjoys working in the style you are looking for. Look through their portfolio (usually on their shop's website and Instagram) and ask questions. Find an artist who is genuinely excited to help with your tribute.
Here are ways some of our Preventive Vet community members have paid tribute to their cherished pets:
I keep the ashes of my soul cat, Shadow, in a special place in my home.
I have my Nuzzles' collar on my gear shift in the car so he is always going for the ride.
I painted memorial rocks depicting my precious Linus in some of his favorite places and left them in the place on the rock.
I made a donation to local shelter.
Since I was a kid, when a cat passed away we would always bury them under a tree in the garden. I've continued this tradition when I lost the first cat I had as an adult. It's lovely to visit a flourishing tree and remember all the sweet memories.
Their urns are used as bookends which are used daily, and a display tribute.
I've lost quite a few over the years...I simply think of them and talk about them (they live on in my heart and mind).
We adopted our beloved dog Boris, an Italian Greyhound mix, when he was 7 years old from a shelter in Ohio. We had since moved to Wisconsin and had a beautiful life with him. A week before he turned 16, Boris needed to go to dog heaven. After he was gone, we contacted the shelter in Ohio where we originally adopted him to see if we could donate in his memory. We were able to sponsor a "memorial tile" with his photo and a saying of our choice: "The toughest little three-legged wonder dog around." The proceeds go toward medical issues for incoming dogs, and the tile is displayed on the wall of their shelter with other beloved pets. It helps us to know that his photo/memory tile is on the shelter wall there, and we plan to go see it someday in the future.
Please know that I am holding you in my heart and in my thoughts. You wanting to honor your pet is a true testament of your love and I hope you've found some ideas that will bring you comfort.
Do you have a pet memorial idea to share with others?
Please let us know in the comments!
