The death of a pet can be a devastating experience. The reality is that for many people a pet is a family member. If you’ve lost a pet, there are 11 ways to honor your deceased furry family member you might want to consider.
Urn
If you’re pet’s remains have been cremated, an urn is an ideal way to memorialize your loved one. Urns come in variety of materials, including wood, marble, metal, or ceramic. There are also eco-friendly urns that are designed to be biodegradable. You can even have an urn custom made, if you so desire.
Headstone
A headstone represents another way in which you can memorialize your beloved pet after death. Headstones are made from a number of different materials, including granite, marble, or stone. They are quite like headstones used for humans. They can be used to memorialize a pet in a lovely garden, whether or not that is the location of the internment of a pet’s remains.
Engraved Plaques
Engraved plaques are similar to headstones. However, they are designed for placement at any number of different types of locations. Plagues can be custom engraved and can include an image of your pet taken from a photo
Window Decals
Window decals represent another option when it comes to memorializing your deceased pet. Decals are made from heavy duty material and can be placed on a variety of surfaces, including windows.
Photo Album or Book
If you are like many people, you undoubtedly have innumerable photos of your pet. When your pet passes on, you can take a selection of these images and convert them into a hardcopy album of book. This will be a collection you will treasure for a long time to come.
Paintings or Portraits
Another idea to bear in mind is to have a painting or portrait commissioned of your pet. This can be undertaken using a photo or photos of your pet. Perhaps consider a painting that includes you with your beloved furry family member.
Jewelry
You can have a piece of jewelry designed in honor of your pet. You might want to consider pendants or charms that feature your pet’s image. Another idea is to commission a piece of jewelry that features of pet’s paw print.
Memorial Service
A memorial service is another way in which you can honor your pet’s life. You don’t need to go overboard when it comes to holding a memorial service for your pet. For example, you can do something as simple as planting a tree in your pet’s honor. In the alternative, you can invite people who knew your pet to gather for a tasteful memorial to commemorate your pet. An increasing number of people are holding some type of memorial for their pets, understanding the important role companion animals play in a human’s life.
In this day and age, there are people who provide memorial services for pets. The work with a pet owner to come up with a perfect memorial service for a deceased pet.
Video
You can pull together existing videos and images of your pet and create a memorial video. You can add a music track and other features. There are professionals who can assist you in creating this type of video. With little effort, you are likely to find a professional who can create an ideal video to honor your pet at a reasonable price.
Think about having family members (or others) make comments about the deceased pet on the video. This would include remarks from you as well.
Your Own Ideas
In the end, when it comes to honoring your beloved pet, in many ways you are only constrained by your own creativity. For example, if you have the propensity to do so, you can create a children’s book to honor your pet which you can share with others. You might design your own tattoo to commemorate your pet.
And … Taxidermy?
A very small number of people seek out the services of a taxidermist when a pet dies. These are people who cannot bear to bury or cremate their pet’s remains.
If this thought has entered your mind, keep in mind that many taxidermists will say “no” when requested to preserve a pet. In addition, you need to understand that displaying a preserved deceased pet in your residence might cause negative reactions on the part if family and friends.
In the end, it’s your decision. With that said, you need to understand the special, unique challenges associated with taking this course to memorialize a pet.
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Jessica Kane is a writer for Handicapped Pets, your most trusted source for dog wheelchairs and harnesses.
