Pet memorial gifts to remember your furry friend by

Losing a furry friend is one of the most difficult things any pet owner will go through, so when it comes to honouring their memory, pet memorial gifts will give you something to cherish. As you navigate through all the emotions that grief brings, these pet gifts will serve as a reminder of the special bond you shared with your beloved fluffy bestie.

The death of a pet can feel as difficult as the passing of any human loved one, after all, they’re a member of your family, too. Even though you know that passing over the rainbow bridge means that your pet is at peace and free from pain and suffering, it doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye. There’s no wrong or right way to grieve the loss of your pet, but once you find room in your heart for healing and remembrance, pet memorial gifts can help to keep the memory of your four-legged friend alive.

Best pet memorial gifts at a glance:

• Best pet memorial photo frame: Pearhead Pet Keepsake Frame Collar – View on Amazon UK
• Best pet memorial marker: Personalised Dog Cat Memorial Grave Marker – View on Not On The Highstreet
• Best pet memorial portrait: MASTERSCreative Personalised Watercolour Pet Portrait – View on Etsy UK

From personalised gifts like photo frames and engraved keepsakes to pet portraits and meaningful jewellery, there are many different gifts available that serve to commemorate your furry friend and the special bond you had together. Even if you personally haven’t lost a pet, giving one of these gifts to a friend or loved one, who is going through a tough time since their little ball of fluff passed away, will show them that you care. Here are some of the best pet memorial gifts we’ve found to cherish in memory of your paw-fect pal.

Best pet memorial gifts

FAQs

How do you honour a pet after death?

After your pet has passed away, saying a final goodbye and planning ways on how you can remember your furry friend can be comforting and helpful for starting to process grief for both adults and children. The Blue Cross suggests a couple of ways that you can involve all members of your family to honour your beloved four-legged companion after they’ve crossed over the rainbow bridge.

Rituals and burial: Holding a funeral for your pet can help you and your family openly express how you are feeling. This can be particularly helpful for children to process the loss – but only include little ones in the ceremony if they want to be involved.  If you bury your dog or cat in your garden, you may want to plant a tree or place a plaque in the spot to give you something visual to look at when you come out to pay your respects.

Cremation: Remember, it is your decision if you decide on cremation as to who you instruct to carry out your wishes. Never feel rushed as it is an important decision that has to be right for you and your pet. You may want to keep the ashes in a special casket or bury them in a special place. Ashes can be scattered on favourite walks and special places in the garden.

Memorials: Memorialising our pets is an important part of the grieving process. Here are some popular ways to remember and celebrate their lives by: writing poems or letters to your pet, painting pictures and making models, making a scrapbook with photographs or a memory box, and volunteering or sponsoring an animal in your pet’s memory. You can also get cat gifts or dog gifts as a token of your love for them.

How to cope with the loss of a pet:

Everyone experiences grief in different ways so there's no right or wrong way to cope with the loss of a pet. It can feel hard to deal with the feelings that loss leaves behind, which is why we've got some tips from the Blue Cross to help you process the emotions that come with saying goodbye to your furry bestie.

You are normal: Some may not understand how upsetting the loss of a pet can be and can make you feel you’re overreacting. You should not feel ashamed of your emotions, and the grieving process can’t be forced or sped along. Be patient with yourself. Understand that what and how you are feeling is perfectly normal.

Don’t ignore pain: Bottling up your feelings will only make matters worse in the long run. To heal, you need to actively face your grief. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions. It’s okay to cry or feel angry, after all, you have lost someone very special and dear to you. Don’t be hard on yourself if some days are more difficult than others. There will be events that trigger your grief. These can be places you often went to, or the date of your pet’s arrival or their birthday. Support from others will help, and when you are ready, make these days a celebration of that unconditional love you shared.

Open up: Talking about your feelings and your pet can really help. Don’t be afraid to speak to family and friends, especially if they knew your pet, as they can support you. You may also find putting pen to paper provides comfort. If a pet is lost or stolen, then there is often no closure and this can be very difficult. One thing we suggest is writing down how you feel and what you would have said to your pet before they left. This can work for any form of loss.

Practice self-care: Losing a beloved pet can be very stressful, often throwing your normal routine into havoc. It is important to make sure you continue to care for any other animals in your home and of course, yourself. Look after yourself physically as well as emotionally. Make sure you eat, sleep and spend time with those who care about you. If you can, try exercising regularly too, as this will release endorphins that will help boost your mood.

Fill your time with activities you enjoy: A change to your daily routine can help – it’s a good idea to try to fill your time with activities you enjoy. Picking up a long-neglected hobby, taking a class, helping friends, rescue groups or animal charities to care for their animals can all help.

Seek professional help: If you find that your grief is severely impacting your ability to function in day-to-day life, seek professional help as you might be suffering from depression.

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.