Some people think about their pets as part of their family and some see their pets as their very own children. Whenever a cherished pet passes away, it can generate just as much a sense of sadness and loss as losing a close family member. And just as we have funerals and grave markers to memorialize our loved ones who have died, the loss of a pet often creates the same desire in us to remember them in some way - to create pet memorial, to point out to us of the joy that pet’s life brought to ours.
For some, it might appear a little odd for someone to go to much difficulty to memorialize their pet. However, people who have never loved a pet don’t understand the effect that pet’s life can have on us. A pet can keep us company when we are all alone and they can perk us up when we are down. Occasionally the simple fact that another creature loves us unconditionally can make all the difference in the globe. Pets make a big difference in our lives and this is the reason why we hold them close to our heart. Therefore, when we lose a pet we find it compelling to find a way to hold a funeral service for our pet. It makes a statement that states, “The life of this pet is meaningful to me. This pet turned my world upside down and absolutely nothing was ever the same again.”
What we should understand is that the pet memorial is not really for our pet’s benefit, but for ours - the same as it is when we have a funeral or memorial service for our deceased loved ones. It is a part of the grieving system, to recount how much their lives have meant to us, and to come to grips with the truth that we must now say good-bye. Absorbing the grief takes many forms with us, and that is why funerals and memorials can be so different - and it is the same for pet memorials. Nevertheless, what is essential is the fact that we are doing one thing that is full of meaning.
Pet memorials can be as simple as a backyard burial ceremony, or sprinkling the pet’s ashes over his favorite dog park. There are pet cemeteries where owners can bury their pet and erect a grave marker at the burial site. At times, you can turn a pet memorial in an art form like making a shadowbox that will contain memorable items like fur clippings, your pet’s favorite toys, a picture of your pet, and of course a plush reproduction. One artist helps owners memorialize their pets by making special tribute paintings for the pet, including the cremated remains into the artwork. What type of memorial we choose, again, is more about what helps us honor the memory of our pet, to recognize the way that pet touched our lives.
There truly are some creative ways to say goodbye to your pet while remembering the memory. There is not a right or wrong way to remember, so choose the innovative pet memorial that work best for you.