Ways to Memorialize a Pet from Mountain Shawdows Pet Hospital

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Ways to Memorialize a Pet

Dedicated to and in loving memory of Barney by Dr. Leah M. Hertzel,
Class of 1991, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Below are a variety of ideas for memorializing a pet. The ideas were contributed by volunteers of the Pet Loss Support Hotline at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and used with permission: The Human-Animal Bond and Grief, Lagoni, Butler, Hetts, 1994. W.B. Saunders Company, page 268.

Create an obituary for your pet. To place one in the Colorado Springs Gazette, call 719-636-0319. The price depends on the length of the item. The Gazette requests that a written copy be dropped off or faxed to them. They can also print pictures of your pet with the obituary.
Take lots of photographs. Use the photos to fill an album, place them in your pet's favorite spots in the house, make a collage with them, fill a multi-picture frame with them, carry pictures in your wallet.
Write a poem, story, song, etc., about and/or dedicated to your pet.
Write down your special memories of your pet. Add to these stories or anecdotes from friends and family. Alternatively you could make a tape recording of the same thing.
Chronicle your pet's life with photos and/or by keeping a journal of its life.
Write a letter to your pet expressing feelings you may be struggling with.
Videotape your pet doing anything and everything-eating, sleeping, playing, and just sitting there.
Make something that reminds you of your pet, e.g., a drawing, a clay sculpture, a needlework project, etc.
Have a professional portrait, sketch, sculpture done of your pet. This can be done after the pet's death from a photograph.
Keep baby teeth, whiskers, fur (from shaved areas) and place in a locket.
Horses - save shoes, tail, mane hairs from horses.
Have fur spun to make yarn in order to knit/crochet something in memory of your pet. (See article in March 1990, "Dog Fancy"). Pet needs to have medium to long hair.
Keep pet tags. You can place these on your key ring so that you will always be carrying the memory of your special friend with you.
Have a plaque made to honor your pet. Place it in a special place-next to your pet's ashes, on a tree near where your pet was buried, in the hospital where your pet was cared for, etc.
Make a donation in memory of your pet to a special cause.
Volunteer your time at a humane organization and/or help find homes for homeless pets.
Start a pet loss support group in your area.
Plant a bush, shrub, tree, flowers over or near the location where the body or ashes are buried.
Place a bench with an engraved nameplate and/or inscription beside where your pet is buried.
Place ashes in a potted houseplant or scatter ashes in an area that was special to you and your pet.
Place ashes in a locket with your pet's name engraved on the locket. (Ashes need to be sealed in an airtight bag and then placed in the locket, which must be airtight as well.)
Collect pet's collars, tags, bowls, blankets, etc., and place in a special area in honor of your pet. Can also place ashes, sympathy cards, etc., with them.
If the pet is not buried near you, take pictures of the grave and place these in a special spot which you can "visit"

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