Meaningful Ways to Memorialize a Pet

Losing a special dog, cat, or another furry family member you love deeply is devastating. Today I’m sharing some meaningful ways to memorialize a pet.

Our 13-year-old dog passed away suddenly last month while I was away on a work trip. I had just taken him to the vet the week before. After giving him a blood test, he was diagnosed with kidney disease. However, I never thought that he would go so fast. I was so sure I would get home in time to say goodbye. In the past, whenever he got sick, he always rallied and came back around. This time, I suppose it wasn’t meant to be.

My heart was broken by not being home with him, holding him as he took his last breaths, and being there to comfort him. He was more than just our family dog. He was my sweet boy, my sous chef in the kitchen bombing my videos, and my constant companion out in the garden. Sometimes, I would just be outside, doing chores like raking leaves, and I would look up to see him off in the distance, just watching me.

So when Matt called me in Vegas, sobbing his heart out, I sobbed too. As recent empty-nesters, the three of us were thick as thieves. He loved his daily walks, car rides, and just being with us. In our hearts and minds, he was the best dog ever. And to us, that meant we had to find special ways to keep his memory close to us.

A Beautifully Framed Portrait

I turned to Etsy in the hopes of finding a shop that could capture Yosemite’s spirit in a pet portrait, and I was thrilled to come across this one from Emma and the Bean. I loved the personalization they offered and the barn wood frame, which looks great hanging in our fixer-upper farmhouse. They even switched the font style on the saying to be more in line with my love of all things classic. The quality of this framed portrait is also amazing. Having the likeness of your special fur baby captured is definitely one of the most meaningful ways to memorialize a pet.

Cuff Bracelet

Because Yosemite was always by my side, I wanted something special to wear to remind me of him. Again I turned to Etsy and found this lovely, yet affordable thin cuff bracelet. It’s sterling silver and has a special inscription on the inside, and his name on the outside. It’s a bracelet I can wear every day, dressed up or down. I love it!

Carved Stone

One of my very favorite local shops is Carruth Studio. I love just going in their shop to browse, especially around the holidays. They sell their special pieces all over the country and George Carruth even has some pieces in the White House in D.C. So when I saw this special dog memorial stone, it was just perfect. I found it to be a nice reminder that Yosemite’s in a better place where he has no pain. I especially like the wings and stars on it. They also have other styles that you can engrave with your dog or cat’s name and life dates. You can put these memorial stones in your garden or keep them in your home. Ours is currently on a bookshelf where we can see it every day.

Planting a Tree

Now that the temps are getting cooler, it’s the perfect time here in Northwest Ohio to plant a tree. I personally think trees are such beautiful memorials. There’s something about a living and growing tree that somehow takes the edge off the pain of loss. It’s like you can’t be sad when you see a tree grow, bloom, and lose leaves year after year. It lives on and on, year after year. We’re planning to buy a white dogwood and planting it right by our side door, where he would always meet us with a happy tail after a long day at work.

Losing a special furry friend is so, so hard. And if you’re like me, you don’t ever want to forget a pet that was by your side no matter what, fiercely loyal to the very end. I hope these meaningful ways to memorialize a pet give you inspiration when and if your time with your fur baby comes to a close.