Pets become beloved members of your family who you cannot imagine life without. Although their lifespans are brief, they bring joy and playful companionship that make lasting memories. Parting with a pet is a difficult experience, and it can be painful to watch a close friend go through this.
If you have also experienced pet loss before, you know how upsetting this ordeal is. You may feel useless to console them and unable to bring comfort. Giving a specialized gift that memorializes their lost pet extends the sentiment that you understand their hurt and are present with them in their grief.
Selecting the right gift for a grieving pet owner is a sign of compassion and helps them feel closer to their cherished animal. As you lend a shoulder to them during their bereavement, show that you understand their heartache. Consider conveying your sympathies with these loss of pet gifts.
4 Types of Gifts for Someone Who Lost a Pet
1. Personalized Pet Art
Artwork may be a fitting choice to honor the memory of their deceased dog or cat. Remembering pets through art is not a new practice — cats and dogs have appeared in art from the time of ancient Egypt and have been regularly represented in art since then. Paintings, sculptures and other art mediums bring a vibrant testament to a pet’s life. A visual reminder of your friend’s dear pet will commemorate its time on earth in a creative way.
Pet Portraits
Does your friend or loved one love showing off their furry friend? A unique painting will go a long way with proud pet owners. If you secure a photograph of their pet or already have a high-quality copy of one, you can commission a pet portrait for your bereaved friend.
It’s important to ensure that you’re choosing an artist that can actually capture the nuances of the animal. From unique colorings to their pet’s kind eyes. A portrait is a personal and stately way to show how important a pet was to your friend.
Often, when pets are nearing the end of their lives, it is difficult to watch them suffer and grow old. But a painting will help your friend remember their pet at their best and happiest. Choose a photograph of the pet in the prime of life so your friend can revisit their pleasant memories and celebrate the time they had together. Also, consider if your friend has a prominent place in their home to place a pet portrait.
Glass Art
Glass art is a more abstract form of memorializing a pet, but it can still hold the essence of the pet for the comfort of your friend. Distinct colors of glass sheets are heated and sculpted to form shapes or symbols, and whether you choose a handheld item or a piece to display, these complex objects bring solace. Glass art can be fired to contain a portion of the pet’s cremains. The swirling colors of glass art can encase the treasured pet as a lasting monument.
A Remembrance Sphere Art Glass is a small, round token that seals a pet’s memory and can be held in the palm of the hand. Because a limited quantity of the cremains is needed to incorporate your friend’s pet into the sphere, many spheres can be made. If your friend’s family is also grieving the loss of their pet, each member can receive one and find consolation. These handmade pieces are a touching gift.
A similar option, the Forever Heart Art Glass, holds a loving shape that conveys the special place of that pet. As your loved one keeps their pet’s memory alive, give them a token that symbolizes their love and devotion to their companion.
Another choice besides the sphere and heart is the Eternal Flame Art Glass. This piece is ideal for highlighting on a mantelpiece, as its lighted base makes it a focal point. Your friend could also place this on their nightstand to keep their pet’s memory close during the grieving process. This is a more tangible way to keep a pet nearby when it has passed on.
Decide whether your friend would gain more reassurance from a handheld glass art piece or a small monument to reflect on. If your loved one wishes they could still hold their pet in their arms, this gift is a small way to make that desire a reality.
2. Jewelry and Memorial Beads
Remembering a pet with jewelry is a preference of many pet owners. A necklace or bracelet that contains a specialized pendant or bead to recall the absent pet is a daily memento. Your mourning friend will relish this gesture because jewelry is an easy way to keep a loved one close to their heart in the coming months.
Dog Tags
For canine lovers, the dog tag is a specific jewelry item that keeps the thought of their clinking collar and chipper steps on the mind. Custom dog tags can contain the paw print or nose impression of their beloved animal. These tags can come with a portion of the pet’s cremains mixed into the tag for a complete package of their features enclosed.
This gift is a more masculine option, so consider the pet owner’s taste in jewelry. If your loved one enjoys clean and simple jewelry and wants to place a memento of their pet near their heart, a dog tag on a tasteful chain may be the appropriate gift.
Glass Memorial Beads
Glass Memorial Beads are a colorful and whimsical accessory choice with which to recollect a pet. These tokens of reminiscence can be placed on necklace or bracelet chains to wear daily or clasped in the hand when reminded of the loss. These beads also can hold the cremains of a pet, and the artisan process carefully combines that portion with the glass to form a rare creation.
Observe your loved one’s current jewelry, and if they wear bright and dynamic attire, glass beads will fit their preferences. If handmade goods appeal to the owner, then this option will resonate with them. Artists personally fuse this glass art and carefully take time to handcraft this jewelry. Select the owner’s favorite color for the bead, and choose a size that either reflects the nature of the animal or its significance to the owner. A large bead complements a weighty bond between pet and owner, but a small bead can represent the petite stature of a slight cat.
Pendants
Glass pendants, embossed hearts or simple circular or heart-shaped pendants are a few of the options you can give to your loved one. Select the shape and material of the pendant based on the pet owner’s style. If they prefer classic jewelry, the circular charm will suit them and be a constant accessory choice that holds significance. The Paws Forever Urn Pendant is a choice for owners who may want to hold their pet’s cremains without incorporating them into the metal or other pendant material. This water- and air-tight ring encloses the cremains in an original way.
Determine if the pet owner would like an imprint of their pet’s features, the incorporation of their cremains or their encased cremains for customized jewelry. Recall their favorite thing about their pet to gain insight into their taste. You may need to ask them or a family member about their preference to select the right option.
3. Custom Keychains
Customized pet keychains allow a pet owner to carry their favorite feline or canine with them through life. Whether stored in their pocket or purse, their beloved animal will travel with them. If you are looking for a way to lend a subtle and practical memorial to ease their sorrowful experience, a keychain will honor their loss. Practical gifts are preferred by recipients more than we tend to think. Communicate your condolences to your loved one with a memento that they glance at throughout the day.
Photo Keychains
The 3D Laser Photo Keychain transforms a photograph of a cherished pet into a rectangular glass piece. Through laser etching, the image of their animal is brought to life on a small scale. The pet’s name can be inscribed to accent the elegant etch-work. This keychain will stand out on their keyring’s assortment of fixtures because it is filled with meaning and an intimate accessory. If your loved one appreciates refined accessories, this gift can add a chic depiction of their pet to their key collection. Also, owners who want to admire their dog or cat’s 3D form can see it for years to come.
Capsule Keychains
The Paw Print Keychain is a chance for your loved one to hold a capsule that transports them to times with their passed-on playmate. The keychain functions as a small urn for some of the pet’s cremains or an alternate token of their pet, like fur. This option can be a more present reminder of their treasured friend rather than an immobile urn. Conversely, the Paw Print Keychain can act in addition to a pet urn and extend their remembrance to other areas of life. The keychain is engravable for an outward indication of the cherished inside contents.
Keychains that stir up fond reflections of their walks in the park or lounges on the couch will be appreciated. A portable memento of their faithful friend is the right gift for owners who want to hold their pet without toting jewelry. Consider giving your loved one who is mourning a pet a keychain if they prefer functional gifts that also retain sentiment in a graceful presentation.
4. Keepsakes
A relic to pay tribute to a pet can come in many forms to suit tastes and situations. When you are contemplating how to support a loved one who is distressed from a pet’s passing, you may wonder how to pay homage to the special connection between owner and animal. Keepsakes can be any object that represents the value of someone or that signifies a treasured time, so plaques, framed goods and testimonial decorations can commemorate the esteem of a pet.
Framed Clay Paw or Nose Imprints
The paw or nose of a pet that is about to pass away or has just left this world can be placed on exhibit in clay form. An imprint of the recently deceased dog or cat’s nose can be constructed before cremation and framed. Remind an owner of the nuzzling nose of their pet by recreating it in this mold. The indentation of the paw can also be done to signify the times when the pet extended their paw to their owner in mischievous play or beckoning to be pet.
The personal engraving plate and framed gift fix the memory of the playmate and allow the owner something to grasp onto in the void their pet left behind. They will miss their pet and move through the grieving process more easily with a respectful memorial gift like this. If your loved one needs a noble keepsake to lean on, give a framed clay imprint.
Raised Clay Paw or Nose Prints
A gift for a grieving pet owner that will demonstrate great regard for the adored animal can be a 3D Clay Print of the Paw or Nose. Slightly different from the framed imprint, this clay product is placed on a raised wooden platform with a brass nameplate. The nose or paw is convex, creating a 3D effect for viewers. The elevated print is round instead of the rectangular imprint, but both items feature the nose or paw.
Pick this product for a noteworthy embellishment for your loved one’s home to recognize the bond between the pet and its family. The wooden base and engraved plate are sophisticated gifts that will console the owner and produce encouragement even in the absence of the beloved pet.
Laser-Etched Photo Diamonds
In the same style as the laser-etched keychain, this 3D Laser Photo Diamond has a precisely cut copy of a missed pet featured above a custom inscription. A favorite moment of your dog panting or your cat peacefully posing can be transferred to this memorial piece. The crystalline structure is an ornate option to show your deepest sympathies for your friend’s loss.
Your loved one who appreciates dignified plaques will be comforted by these keepsakes and able to display them around their office or home to remember their distinct bond. Choose a keepsake that captures their pet’s best moments or features to make sure they will cherish the piece.
Cremation Support & Memorials at Agape
During your loved one’s time of grief and during the memorial, offer plenty of support and sympathies. They must learn to cope and live without a pet who impacted them in countless ways. It is not uncommon to experience these reactions after a pet has died. Communicating your understanding and love will help your friend to mourn and come to terms with their pet’s death.
At any pet memorial service, show your friend that they are not alone during their grief. Sympathy gifts are a thoughtful way to extend an offer of comfort without rushing them through the passing of their treasured animal.
Agape Pet Services provides private pet cremation, private attended cremation and group cremation, as well as pet bereavement references. Our products, care and professionalism can help you and your loved ones move through the grieving process after a pet has passed away. Contact us with any questions about creating a personalized gift.
