Your pet has been a loving member of your family for years. So what do you do when they pass away? This can be just as traumatic as losing a human family member and it is important to treat the process of handling their body with respect and integrity. Talking about the death of your pet may feel taboo but doing so before your pet dies is much easier than making rushed decisions that you may regret later. Whether you have a dog, cat, bird, or horse there are many ways to create a lasting memorial of them. Some are more physical while others are more spiritual.
What happens to the body?
If your pet dies at a veterinarian clinic you can take the body home or they can take care of it for you. They can also arrange for your pet’s body to be cremated and you can have the ashes returned if desired.
When your pet dies at home you can arrange for a vet to collect the body or you may want to bury them in your yard. You’ll need to check local laws first. This may not be an option if you don’t have adequate space or if you live in a rental but there are other options you can consider.
Pet cemeteries and funeral services are becoming quite popular. Having your beloved friend buried in a dedicated cemetery gives you and your family a place to visit them and creating a unique memorial service can help you to deal with your grief. You can order elaborate caskets or simple timber ones that can be decorated and are biodegradable.
Cremation allows you to keep your pet’s ashes in a lovely urn, have a small portion placed into specially designed jewellery or even made into a diamond. You might also like to scatter the ashes in your garden or a favorite park or walking spot.
Other ways to honour their memory
There are countless ways that you can create lovely memorials for your pet. Here are a few ideas that may inspire you.
• Have a stone plaque engraved and place it somewhere special such as under their favorite tree.
• Get their portrait painted by a specialized artist.
• Create a photo album or scrapbook either with real prints or digital ones.
• Create a memorial website and include photos and stories of your pet’s life. Invite your friends to share their memories as comments.
• Make a small bouquet and attach your pet’s photo or maybe a favorite toy and send it down a river. You could even tie a memento to some balloons and release them into the atmosphere.
Some more (slightly creepy) ideas include embalming and freeze-drying which allow you to keep a life-like replica of your pet. You can even have their ashes placed in a special pillow that you can hug.
Whatever option you choose be sure that your whole family is comfortable with it. Your beautiful pet can never be replaced but they deserve to be cherished in your memories forever.
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