August 13th, 2010 by Jenny

For several people, their pet is part of the family; some people even view their pets as their children. The loss of a pet is as hurtful as the loss of a loved one. We hold funerals and use grave stones to indicate and remember our departed loved ones and pet memorials can be done in order to remember and our pets  and how they touched our lives. 

Some individuals might find it strange for others to go through all the hassle of executing a memorial service for their pets. Unfortunately, those who never experienced having a pet will never comprehend how a pet affects one’s life. Occasionally a pet helps us through a lonely time, or makes us laugh when our circumstances are anything but joyful. Furthermore, the mere fact that these pets of ours are in a position of loving us without question is sufficient to make our world a whole lot better. Pets make a difference in our lives and this is the reason why we keep them close to our heart. Consequently, when we lose a pet we find it gripping to find a way to hold a memorial service for our pet. It makes a statement that states, “The life of this pet is meaningful to me. Owning this pet made a difference.‚Äù

What we should understand is that the pet memorials are not really for our pet’s benefit, but for ours - the same as it is when we have a funeral or memorial service for our deceased loved ones. Recounting and reminiscing is part of the grieving process along with the fact that we already need to bid goodbye to them. The grieving system can be vary from one person to another this is the reason why no two funerals and memorial services are the same and this is also relevant for pet memorials. The important thing is that we perform something meaningful. 

Pet memorials can be as simple as a backyard burial ceremony, or sprinkling the pet’s ashes over his favorite park. There are pet cemeteries where owners can bury their pet and erect a grave marker at the burial site. Often pet memorials can be a kind of art, like a shadowbox containing sentimental items like fur clippings or the pet’s favorite toys, a pet portrait, or even a plush replica. There is one artist that makes artworks like unique tribute paintings helping owners memorialize their domestic pets. A pet memorial, no matter what type it is, is about what allows us pet owners remember and treasure our pets memory and to accept the fact that one way or another our pets touched our existence. 

There really are some creative ways to say goodbye to your pet while remembering the memory. There is not a right or wrong way to remember, so choose the creative pet memorials that work best for you.