When someone loses their pet, you know that they’re going to be sad and miss their companion for quite a while.
You might want to do something to try to help them remember their pet, but what are some things that you can do in the pet’s memory?
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Gifts for someone who lost a pet.
Depending on what the friend’s style is, you might want to get them something that can serve as a low-key reminder of their dog or cat, or something that can be displayed more prominently.
Some good gifts for a friend whose pet died range from memorial stones that can be displayed in the garden to custom jewelry that has the pet’s name or picture on it.
A lot of Artisan Shopping Directory members have products that would be appropriate for pet memorial gifts, so read on to see some of them.
Pet memorial stones.
Memorial or sympathy gifts for pet loss are a thoughtful way to show the pet owner that you’re thinking of them. One of the most versatile gifts is a pet memorial stone.
These stones can be used outside in a memorial garden, or as a single focal point in your landscaping. You can also use them inside as a doorstop or on a shelf as part of a memorial display for your pet.
Kelly of Kimmer and Company
says “A pet memorial stone is a charming and thoughtful pet loss gift for a friend or family member mourning the loss of their best friend.”
Memorial stones come in many designs and fonts so you can choose one that you like.
Custom jewelry with the pet’s name or photo.
There are many options for jewelry keepsakes that have the pet’s name and a special message or photo added to them. Click here to see some choices on Etsy.
There’s also cremation jewelry, which we have another article about here: Is Cremation Jewelry Creepy? Ask An Artist.
Custom pet portraits.
A custom portrait of the pet is a nice remembrance gift. Choose an artist whose style matches the pet owner’s aesthetic to match their decor. Most artists will need photos of the pet to work from, but contact them to see what kind of information they need.
Home decor and accessories with a pet theme.
There are a lot of home decor items that are available that incorporate a pet theme or a custom portrait. These can be as subtle as a pawprint window cling like this one from Lil Fox Designs, or something more personalized with the animal’s portrait.
Sunanda Fine Arts Hand-painted stones with custom pet portraits.
Love at First Bark Pet-themed gifts including pet portraits, mugs, and tshirts.
To see the full directory of all of our verified members, click here.
Unique pet portrait
Mariella Felts creates custom pet portraits using the unique art of 2D needle felting. All custom portraits are created using a submitted photo. These are perfect for a thoughtful pet memorial gift.
Gifts themed with specific breeds.
There are also gifts that are themed to specific breeds…These cork dachshunds are made by Corkies by Steph.
Pillows with the pet’s photo.
You can also get personalized pillows with the animal’s portrait, like these from Lucy Lin Designs.
Christmas ornaments.
Christmas ornaments are another nice option to give as a pet memorial gift. It’s an annual reminder of the pet that the owner can use as part of their family traditions. These can also be used year-round if the owner wants to hang it somewhere else after the tree is taken down.
Donations to an animal charity.
Not linked to the Artisan Shopping blog, but something that I think is worth suggesting as a memorial gift, is a donation to a local animal charity in honor of the pet. Most places have local groups that act to rescue and foster animals, and they can always use financial help.
Big national organizations like the ASPCA get a lot of press and donations (I’m a monthly donor to that one) but giving to a local group will help animals in your area. Making a memorial donation in honor of the pet who died will mean a lot to the owner.