Pet Memorial Ideas | Gift Ideas & Remembrance For Passing

If you, your family, or someone you care about just lost a pet, we want to extend our condolences. Losing a pet is never easy, as they hold a special place in our hearts and lives.

In this blog, we will explore meaningful ways to memorialize a pet, helping you cherish their memory and celebrate the joy they brought to your life. There a lot of good ideas out there, so we tried to compile them in one place.

Create A Shrine

Creating a shrine for your pet after they pass away is a heartfelt way to honor their memory and keep their spirit alive in your home. This sacred space can serve as a place of comfort, reflection, and connection to the beloved companion you’ve lost.

Choose a quiet, peaceful spot in your home, like a corner shelf or small table.

Shrine Ideas:

1. If you have your pet’s ashes, place them in a special urn and pair them with a memorial plant or tree that grows in their memory.
2. A memory box of items like their collar, favorite toys, or a piece of their bedding.
3. A candle you can light in moments of remembrance.
4. Dedicate a wall or a large frame to a collage of your favorite photos with your pet.

“Honor your grief and the pain you feel when you lose a beloved pet. It is the first step toward healing.” 

– Karen A. Anderson

Get An Urn

If you have your pet’s ashes, place them in a special urn and pair them with a memorial plant or tree that grows in their memory. Their urn can be the centerpiece of the shrine. You may find an urn to be a bit too… depressing. If that’s the case, you can always use something like an antique teapot or cookie jar.

Etsy has a lot of beautiful, custom-made urns.

Bury Them With Their Belongings

To get closure and close the chapter on an amazing life, you may want to bury them with their belongings. Find a nice place to legally bury your beloved, or do so in your backyard.

Paw Print Memorial

A paw print memorial is a heartfelt way to keep your pet’s memory close. With a simple plaster pawprint, you can create a cherished keepsake that can be used in various ways. If you want a kit or DIY instructions, Google “paw print memorial” to find a plaster pawprint.

If you can’t create a pet’s paw imprint, you can, you can use food coloring.
A third option is to ask your vet or crematorium if they offer this service.

Walking Path

If you have a garden or backyard, we love these customizable pet memorial stones from perfect memorials.

This article from Instructables show you how to create a DIY pet memorial walking path (photo’d below)

Collar Leash Bracelet

If your pet had a nylon or leather collar, you can turn it into a bracelet. With Mimi Green’s engraved dog collars, you can keep our engraved name plates as a way to remember your beloved, forever.

Dog Leash Keychain

It’s hard getting used to your pet not being there anymore. You can keep their memory alive by turning part of their dog leash into a keychain.

Here’s an example we found online:

Wrap Their Custom Collar Around A Candle

Create a heartfelt DIY pet memorial by wrapping your dog’s collar around a candle. This simple yet meaningful gesture keeps your beloved pet close, preserving their memory in a warm, glowing tribute. Place the candle in a special spot, and let it symbolize the everlasting bond you shared.

“The bond between a pet and a human is a sacred one, and when a pet is gone, a part of us goes with them.” 

– James Herriot