What do you say at a pet funeral?

The loss of a pet is an emotionally trying time for a pet parent. They have been your companion, your best friend and a cherished part of the family. When the sad day comes, you would want to know how to prepare your pet’s funeral so you can give them a loving tribute that they truly deserve.

Remembering your pet with a ceremony or a final send-off can provide you with some solace and an opportunity to reminisce on the happy times and say goodbye to your treasured animal friend.

Pet Cremation

Pet cremation is a popular choice for many pet owners who what to keep the ashes of their furry family members close by. This is part of how to prepare your pet’s funeral.

At this difficult time, you can arrange the collection of your cherished pet from your home or a chosen veterinary clinic. Your pet’s ashes are then returned to you in either a scatter box or pet urn.

Hire the services of a funeral home like Pet Angel to do the complete cremation service. Funeral homes are staffed with people who understand the grief that a pet loss can bring. You pets are guaranteed to be handled with care and compassion.

At Pet Angel, we offer additional services such as giving all customers the option of having a paw print and lock of fur at no additional cost. We also allow you to provide your own urn or if you do not wish to have your pet’s ashes returned to you, we will scatter them in a dignified manner on your behalf.

What To Do With Your Pet’s Ashes

Once the ashes have been returned to you in a scatter box or urn, you may wish to keep them in a special spot in your home. Some people prefer to have their pet’s remains close by as this gives them a sense that their pet is with them. Put up beautiful photos of your pet around the urn or box so you can remember all the happy memories you’ve shared.

Some people prefer to scatter the ashes in a dedicated urn garden or in their favourite spot in your garden.

How To Prepare Your Pet’s Funeral Ceremony

When the ashes are returned to you, commemorate your beloved pet with a pet funeral ceremony. There’s no hard rule to follow for a pet funeral, but here are some ideas on how to prepare your pet’s funeral ceremony. A ceremony can be a loving send-off at home or in another special place.

Invite Family and Friends: Ask those who have been a significant part of your pet’s life to join you and participate in parts of the ceremony.
Light Candles: Light candles and allow some time for reflection.
Read Poems / Sing Songs / Play Music: This a comforting way to express grief and good-byes.
Share Memories: Tell stories about your pet and consider asking others to do the same. This will lighten the mood especially when funny stories are shared.
Display Photos / Play Videos: Show how happy, active and sweet your pet was with photos and videos. These are also great conversation openers with your guests as you tell them the story behind every image.

Coming to terms with the passing of your pet takes time and a lot of tears. Take it one day a time. Talk to people you trust and love to find comfort. Over time, remembering your furry friend will be less painful and will only be filled with happy memories that you made together.

If you would like more information about our services, please feel free to contact us.

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The death of a beloved pet affects a family deeply. A funeral can help you come to terms with the loss. Make a decision about what to do with the pet's body. If you can bury it in your backyard, look into that. You can also get your pet cremated or bury it at a local pet cemetery. Add decorations for the funeral, such as old pictures of your pet. Conduct a ceremony where you read poetry, share memories, and get a chance to say goodbye.

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Inquire about home burial. It can be nice to have your animal's remains buried in your own backyard. This way, you and your family can visit your pet's grave easily whenever you want. However, you need to make sure to look into the legality of this. Call a local courthouse to see if there are regulations on burying animals in your backyard in your area.[1] X Research source Go to source
- Make sure you have room to bury you pet if you choose home burial. Find a spot away from hazards, like underground wiring.
- Think about whether this option is right for you. Some people find it comforting to have a pet buried so near to them, while others find the reminder difficult.
2
Talk to your vet about cremation. Most veterinarian's offices provide cremation services for grieving owners. If you have no room for a home burial, or would prefer to live without the reminder, cremation can be a good option. You can put your pet's ashes on display or scatter them in an area that was important to you and your pet.[2] X Research source Go to source
3
See if there is a pet cemetery nearby. Conduct an internet search to see if there are pet cemeteries near you. For a price, you can have your pet buried in a cemetery alongside other lost pets. This is a good option if you want a burial for your pet, but would prefer not to have a grave in your backyard. Pet cemeteries are also convenient, as your pet's body will be taken care of for you and the grave will be cared for.[3] X Research source Go to source
- The major downside to pet cemeteries is the price. The cost of space and any related services can get high, so get a cost estimate before deciding to go this route.

1
Encourage family members to make art. Making art can be especially helpful for young children, if you have them. If you enjoy art, you can make some with adults or other household members. Get out some art supplies, like paper and paint, and encourage family members to make their own decorations. Everyone can make something personal that helps them remember the lost pet. You can hang up art pieces around where you're having the memorial.[4] X Research source Go to source
- If you have a lot of old pictures of your pet, you can have your kids make collages with these pictures. If most of your pictures are electronic, transfer them to a flash drive or other portable device. You can print your pictures out at most print shops or drugstores like Walgreens.
- For those so inclined you could write a poem or a song that you might like to be read at the funeral.
2
Create a viewing area. In a viewing area, you can place photographs and other mementos of your lost pet. If you have your pet's ashes in an urn, or its body in a small coffin, place the urn or coffin near the viewing area and decorate around it. You can, for example, place the urn on a small table and then add mementos around it.[5] X Research source Go to source
- Things like old toys, beds, and collars are great mementos for the viewing area.
- Put out any photos you have here.
3
Frame a large photo of your pet. Frame a large photograph of your pet. At the service, have this photo sitting out near your pet's ashes or urn. You can also have it sitting out in place of ashes or an urn if you had your pet's body disposed of or sent to a pet funeral home.[6] X Research source Go to source
4
Set up candles. People who knew your pet may wish to light a candle for it. Set a few lines of candles out on a table somewhere with a lighter nearby. Invite guests to light a candle for your pet if they so choose.[7] X Research source Go to source
- Choose candles that reflect something about your pet. If you're grieving a calico cat, for example, put out black, orange, and white candles.
- If you have young children, it's a good idea to keep the lighter out of reach. Have children ask you first if they want to light a candle for your pet.
- Remember to practice basic fire safety. Put out the candles when you're done using them, keep them away from flammable objects, and do not leave lit candles unattended.
5
Prepare a grave stone saying its name and how long you had it. If you have decided on a home burial you might want to mark the location of your pet using this stone.

1
Choose a date and time. Let your guests know when the funeral will be. For a pet funeral, it's usually easy to have it in your home. You should also find a time that works for everyone. If your children want to invite their friends, for example, have the funeral on a weekend afternoon or early evening during a weeknight.[8] X Research source Go to source
2
Begin with some opening words. When the funeral begins, someone should say a few words memorializing your pet. Announce why everyone is gathering and mention a few quick things about your pet's personality.[9] X Research source Go to source
- For example, start off with something like, "We are gathered here today to say goodbye to our beloved Labrador retriever Rocky."
- From there, mention a little something about your lost pet. For example, say, "Rocky was a very loving pet and we enjoyed his company for over 12 years. We will miss taking him on hikes and swims at the local lake."
3
Let people share stories. Sharing stories can help people learn to treasure their memories of a lost pet. This can help people say goodbye and learn to value their memories. You can have a preset order, determined before the ceremony, or simply invite people to take turns sharing stories.[10] X Research source Go to source
- If people are unsure how to come up with stories, offer some guidance. For example, say something like, "Would anyone like to share their first memory of Rocky?"
4
Show videos. If you have any videos of your pet, you can compile a video reel before the ceremony. Use simple editing software on your computer to compile some video footage of your pet over time.[11] X Research source Go to source
- The video does not need to be long. About five minutes of footage can help people remember your pet.
5
Read a poem. There are many poems you can find online about mourning a lost pet. Have someone read a poem at the ceremony as a way of wrapping things up. One popular poem for lost pets is "The Rainbow Bridge," which is appropriate for young children. A young child may want to read this poem.[12] X Research source Go to source

1
Cry. Let those gallons of tears out on the bed.
2
Take the kennel, fish tank, or whatever might remind you of the pet out of your room. An empty room they had doesn't help.
3
Get a new pet if you desire to.

How do you honor a dead pet?

Remembering all of the good things and people your pet brought into your life is a good way to honor them.

Co-authored by:

Licensed Psychologist & TEDx Speaker

This article was co-authored by Adam Dorsay, PsyD. Dr. Adam Dorsay is a licensed psychologist in private practice in San Jose, CA, and the co-creator of Project Reciprocity, an international program at Facebook's Headquarters, and a consultant with Digital Ocean’s Safety Team. He specializes in assisting high-achieving adults with relationship issues, stress reduction, anxiety, and attaining more happiness in their lives. In 2016 he gave a well-watched TEDx talk about men and emotions. Dr. Dorsay has a M.A. in Counseling from Santa Clara University and received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2008. This article has been viewed 110,412 times.

Co-authors: 31

Updated: March 11, 2022

Article Rating: 72% - 5 votes

Categories: General Pet Health

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