Pet memorial ideas: ways to remember them at home

In the first few days

• Write down the stories while they are fresh: the time they stole the turkey, the way they greeted you at the door.
• Keep the collar and tag somewhere you will see them.
• Ask the vet or crematorium for a paw print if one is offered.
• Hold a small goodbye at home, even just the family around the bed they slept in.

Something in the garden

• Plant a tree, shrub or bulbs where they liked to lie.
• Place a stone painted or engraved with their name.
• Hang a wind chime or bird feeder near their favourite window.

Photo projects

Going through photos is one of the most comforting things people describe doing. Pick the best ten or twenty for a small photo book, frame one for the hallway, or make one into something you will wear. Our shirts turn one photo into a design with their name, in looks like golden angel wings, a rainbow over a meadow or a sunlit forest path; you see it before you buy.

Helping other animals

• Donate their unopened food, toys and bedding to a local shelter.
• Give in their name to a rescue on the anniversary each year.
• Volunteer a few hours walking shelter dogs or socialising cats.

For the years after

Anniversaries and birthdays can be hard. Some families light a candle, take the walk the pet loved, or wear a shirt with the pet’s picture on the day. Small rituals keep the memory easy to visit.

Questions

How do I help a child remember a pet?

Let them draw a picture, choose a photo for the fridge, or plant something with you. Keeping the pet’s name in everyday conversation helps too.

Is it strange to wear a shirt with my pet on it?

Not at all. Many people wear a pet shirt on walks, at the dog park or on the pet’s birthday; it often starts conversations about them.