Options to Consider

“There is sadness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.”
--Washington Irving

The first part of your memorialization decision will be the final arrangements for your pet’s body: cremation or burial? Many factors will play a role in this decision, factors such as religion, living arrangements, county rules, etc. Furthermore, also consider your future living situation. For instance, if you are not going to live in this particular area for the rest of your life, are you comfortable burying your pet at this location? Or, as you move throughout your career and life, will it be more important to have your deceased pet’s ashes with you?
 

After you have made this particular final arrangement decision, you will then want to decide on what types of physical pieces you will want to honor your pet’s life. Items such as:
• Urn
• Artwork
• Jewelry
• Markers
 

Furthermore, many families also want to memorialize their pet’s life with a service or a Celebration of Life event. You can do many things in the privacy of your own home, or with other friends and family members joining in the tribute. However, there may also be rituals you will want to do privately to pay tribute to the times you shared with your pet and the special memories you want to preserve. These events might look like:
• Continue to take the daily walks you did with your friend – use this time to reflect and remember.
• Light a candle at a special time daily in remembrance of your pet.
• Journal.
• Cuddle with the blanket your pet liked to use.
 

In a more public forum, there are rituals you can do with your family and friends to ceremonially acknowledge the life of your pet and the significance this pet had in other’s lives as well. Some questions to ask yourself as you are planning this gathering are:
• What are the things my pet liked to do? Be outside? Curled up by the fire? Running by the creek? Is it important to incorporate these surroundings or activities into the gathering?
• Was there a certain food or treat my pet especially liked? Should I include this as part of the tribute?
• Create a special book for your pet where others can record their favorite memories and leave a tribute.
• As you invite others to the Celebration of Life, encourage them to bring a contribution for a local pet shelter in honor of your pet.
• A bubble release can help symbolically release your pet’s spirit.
• The planting of a tree/shrub/flower in honor of your pet is a nice testimony to the Circle of Life.

Things to Remember