Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:

Learn More

12 Ways To Remember A Beloved Dog

| Published on February 25, 2015

Losing a pet is one of the hardest things we have to endure in our lives. They just do not live long enough. When we do have to say goodbye, many of us want a want a way to keep them alive in our heart and minds. Here are 12 ways to remember your best friend long after he is gone.

#1 –  Plant a Tree

Have a dog who loved trees? When her dog Ollie passed away, Gina LaGuardia planted a tree in his name via the Arbor Day Foundation. “It made us feel like we were commemorating him with something he loved,” LaGuardia says.

Image source: @PaulMorris via Flickr
Image source: @PaulMorris via Flickr

#2 –  ID Tag Keychain

Alyson Lex’s dog passed away in 2007 and she wanted a way to keep her dog with her always. So, she turned her ID tags into her keychain. “I can see them every single day,” she explains. “It’s a simple way to remember her that still brings me comfort.”

Image source: Alyson Lex, Rock Your Marketing
Image source: Alyson Lex, Rock Your Marketing

#3 – Sponsorship

Sarah Miller sponsored a cat room at the Auburn Valley Humane Society in Auburn, Washington in memory of her lost kitty. There is a plaque in the room with her cat’s photo along with a tagline she got to choose. Sponsoring a dog room or a play area at your local shelter is a great way to immortalize your beloved dog.

Image source: Auburn Valley Humane Society
Image source: Auburn Valley Humane Society

Click page 2 below for the next ways!

#4 – Coffee Table Scrapbook

Luz Donahue takes your stories, photos, sketches, etc., of your pet and turns them into a coffee table book so you can cherish your pet’s memory forever.  She also creates portraits from your images in your choice of medium.

Image source: Pet Portraits with Love
Image source: Pet Portraits with Love

#5 – Ornament

For many, the Christmas tree is more than a decoration—it’s a memory of events, people, places and things, all symbolized by the beautiful ornaments that hang on each bough. Chris Herath, owner of Atlantic Pet Sitting, creates ornaments for people who have lost a pet. “It’s always great to remember the good times with your pet when your family is setting up the Christmas tree,” Herath says. This is a simple way to do that.

Image source: Chris Herath, Atlantic Pet Sitting
Image source: Chris Herath, Atlantic Pet Sitting

#6 – Personalized Jewelry

Kennebug makes personalized, hand stamped jewelry that serve as a great remembrance of your lost dog. Your dog’s name can be added to any of their designs, including a bangle bracelet, key chain and beaded bracelet.

Image source: Kennebug
Image source: Kennebug

#7 – Custom Pillow

UPPERCASES will make you a pillow you can snuggle nightly with your dog’s name and photo on it. “The pup featured [on] the pillowcase photo on our website is my own dog Artie, who died a few years ago and was the inspiration for this design, which I printed to comfort my daughter,” says Ursula Roberston-Moore of UPPERCASES.

Image source: UPPERCASES
Image source: UPPERCASES

#8 – Write

Something you can actually start before your dog passes is a blog or book telling your dog’s tails. Lenore Hirsch has both a blog (reflecting her dog Foxy’s perceptions of his life from his point of view) and a book written from his perspective that encourages pet rescue. Now that he is gone, both are lasting tributes to her amazing friend.

Image source: Lenore Hirsch
Image source: Lenore Hirsch

#9 – Slate Portrait Pendants

There are a lot of pet portraits out there, even for necklaces. But Nancy J.Bailey’s are unique because they are not made of any type of metal, but slate! Not only are they stunning, they are great for those with metal allergies that still wish to wear something that reminds them of their beloved dog.

Image source: Nancy J. Bailey
Image source: Nancy J. Bailey

#10 – Shadow Boxes

A shadow box is a great, easy way to remember your best friend. There are many sizes of boxes – small ones that will just hold a collar and ID Tags, to large ones that can hold her ashes, paw print, collar, and even favorite toys. Something like this can hang on the wall forever and keep your faithful friend alive in your heart and home.

Image source: A Fairytail House
Image source: A Fairytail House

#11 – Donation

Another great way to remember your dog is to make a donation in his name to an animal charity. For example, Operation Kindness, the largest no-kill shelter in North Texas, has many levels of gifts you can give to someone who lost a pet, or to honor your own lost friend. One unique thing they do is offer engraved pave stones for a gift of $150-250, your dog’s name will be engraved on a stone in there Memorial Garden.

Image Source: Operation Kindness
Image Source: Operation Kindness

#12 –  Sterling Silver Pawprints

Jewel.re has beautiful pieces made of pure silver and created with your pet’s real paw prints. It’s an amazing way to keep your pet with you always. Nose prints will be available soon, contact them to ask about those items.

Image source: Jewel.re
Image source: Jewel.re

Recent Articles

Interested in learning even more about all things dogs? Get your paws on more great content from iHeartDogs!

Read the Blog