Pet memorials are becoming an important trend in the ever-growing world of memorials in general. It comes as no surprise to note that pets are, for many families, almost as much a part of the family as any human member. So it should also come as no surprise that families have a strong desire to memorialize their pets in very special ways upon their death. Where as in centuries gone by, it was common for pet owners to memorialize a special animal friend by insisting that he or she be buried with his owner – in many cases even if the human died first! – it is now quite common for pets to be granted their own memorials, independent of their owner. This phenomena is a growing trend that is well worth exploring for the uninitiated who may be surprised at how much is available on the standard retail market in the United States alone.
This article starts with a brief overview of some of the more famous, significant, pet memorials of the world, and turns quickly into summary of the many options available for people who want to memorialize a beloved friend.
Famous Pet Memorials
Probably the most interesting of all the famous pet memorials is the War Dogs Memorial, tributes to the hundreds of canine friends who have served the United States Armed Forces over the decades – since at least the Civil War. The present tense “is” in the previous sentence is not necessarily an error in this case even though it does refer to the singular noun “memorial.” See, according to numerous press reports since about 2010, there is but one such memorial. Though each of those reports refers to a separate “first ever” dog memorial. It is interesting that reports say the very first war dog memorial was erected in 1923, shortly after World War I, in Ohio. Then another “first ever” war dog memorial was opened in 2010, also in Ohio. And another in 2012 in California, and yet one more in San Antonio, Texas in 2013. And, as of 2012, yet another “first ever” memorial was in the planning stages in Washington D. C.
So, while there seems to be a great deal of miss-communication regarding the great idea to memorialize these War Dog, who are, arguably, the most important individuals in the history of the canine species, it is certain that these great animals have not been forgotten. Truth be told, there are probably dozens of memorials to the world’s War Dogs and one would be hard pressed to find a more worthy topic for a memorial.
Another famous pet memorial is, perhaps, less patriotic, but it is no less intriguing. In about 2007, the famous television host Oprah Winfrey famously suffered the loss of two beloved dogs in the span of just a few months. Though she made no emotional cries in public, at least one artist emphatically envisioned that such an experience had to be deeply painful, so he created an unsolicited piece intended to offer Oprah (and pet owners everywhere) some comfort for her great loss. His sculpture depicting the two dogs, Sophie and Gracie, perched as one atop the head and bust of Oprah, was panned by some critics as bizarre. But still others found it touching.
It is not clear what Oprah herself thinks of the sculpture – or even if she has ever seen it. But some critics speculated the artist created the piece as a publicity stunt in order to be mentioned – or maybe even appear – on Oprah’s television show. If that was indeed his hope, it never materialized, as of this writing at least.
Whatever the case, at least some who have viewed the piece – which has been placed on display by various art museums across the nation – have said it is a comfort to them and a reminder that loving a pet at every chance is vitally important. Showing the two dogs together calls special attention to the fact that the animals died, unexpectedly, within a few months of one another, and that fact is enough to inspire an eternity of love and appreciation for pets across the globe.
Now, we move on to a brief review of the various types of pet memorials that are readily available for families looking to remember their own faithful friends in a special way.
Pet Cremation Urns
Pet cremation urns are wonderful ways to create a loving, meaningful memorial for any pet, whether it be a dog, cat, bird, reptile or even a horse. Many of these pieces are available in personalized versions that are actually shaped in the form of the animal itself. And still others can be easily customized to include a plaque with the deceased pet’s name, dates, and even a few lines of an inscription. These pieces are available through many retail outlets that operate online and families who have lost a pet would do well to check those sites before ordering a pet cremation urn from a veterinarian’s office. The selection and prices are often much better. Veterinarian offices will usually be glad to put a pets remains directly into an urn provided by the client or, in the event that the new urn arrives after a pets ashes are already returned, transfering the remains is a relatively simple affair that can be done by anyone. (Contrary to what some may believe, there is no law requiring a license to handle pet cremation remains.)
Pet Cremation Jewelry
Pet Cremation Jewelry may seem a bit strange at first glance, but it is a growing trend that has been bringing comfort to pet owners for at least two decades and promises to grow as a practice in the years to come. These beautiful necklaces, pendants or bracelets are all specially designed with compartments that hold a tiny amount of a pet’s cremation ashes. These pieces can be easily filled by anyone. As with cremation urns, there is no requirement that a licensed person fill the ashes. And many of the cremation jewelry pieces are shipped with written instructions, and even small funnels, for filling them. The nature of the compartments vary according to the manufacturer’s design. Some take on the aura of a secret hidden place, while others make no bones about the fact they are storing ashes. This is in keeping with the varied tastes and interests of those who would buy cremation jewelry in honor of a pet. For some, it is important to be able to hide the fact that the piece is in, fact, a storage place for cremains. Others will be happy and proud to wear the ashes openly and publicly. Either way, the pieces may be worn under clothing, in an effort to keep a beloved pet’s memory always close by without falling victim to any stigma that may accompany such an attachment to a pet. Many families have been known to order a supply of pet cremation jewelry and offer them as gifts to people who may attend a memorial ceremony in honor of the pet. This memorialization idea, of course, should be practiced with caution, of course. Some people are not all that excited about the idea of wearing even a tiny bit of a lost pet’s ashes in a piece of jewelry. Care should be taken so as not to inadvertently offend a friend or family member with these pieces.
Pet Headstones
While it’s true that most headstones intended for humans can be easily remodeled to be appropriate for pets, many companies these days offer a wide selection of headstones designed, specifically, for pets. These pieces tend to be smaller than human headstones – though not always, such as in the case of horses – and they are often outfitted with special features that make them perfect for pets. In many cases, the headstones feature pictures, or sayings, that directly relate to the type of pet that will be honored. This can be helpful for families that wish to honor their beloved friend with a marker of a special type, but are unsure of the right thing to say or the right picture to include on the marker. Pet headstone manufactures have, in many cases, taken the guess work out of establishing a grave marker.
It is worth noting that a pet grave marker can be placed atop a traditional grave in, say, a private back yard or even a pet cemetery. But it also can be displayed in some public (or semi-public) place that it not necessarily a burial ground. Many families, in fact, have taken well to the idea of cremating a pet, scatting the ashes over some special place (such as, say, a special beach where a dog loved to frolic) and then installing a pet headstone in some permanent place at a home – or maybe even a public spot, with the landowner’s permission, of course.
Pet Keepsakes
Besides all of the other pet memorial products mentioned above, the memorial industry has developed a number of other pet memorial keepsakes that will help any family to honor the memory of a beloved furry friend. These can include a huge variety of things such as memory books in which pictures and other clippings related to the pet can be stored, to special sculptures that can be installed in honor of the pet’s memory, to online memorial pages that can be visited through the ages by those who may have known the pet or the family it belonged too. Also included in this category could be pet caskets. We have not discussed these interesting pet keepsakes previously in this article because, once buried, they may no longer be considered a good keepsake. Nevertheless, they remain a memorial option for anyone interesting taking full advantage of all that the memorial products industry has to offer for pets.
Pet Memorial Rocks
Pet memorial rocks are a popular trend in memorializing a pet. These realistic pieces bear great resemblance to real rocks, but they have one key difference – they are hollow, allowing for relatively easy installation just about anywhere. The inside caverns often have built in crevices that include a spot for a cremation urn. No matter whether yours has this feature (or whether you use it), memorial rocks can be outfitted with a very specially designed bronze plaque that honors the life of the pet in a very detailed way – even including a pictorial portrait. These plaques are a big part of what set pet memorial rocks apart from traditional headstones. The relatively large printable area of the plaque gives a family plenty of room to poetically memorialize its pet. In fact, many pet owners have been known to have entire poems engraved on a pet memorial rock’s bronze plaque. This is much more than will fit on just about any pet headstone.
Memorial Plaques
The same memorial plaques mentioned above do not necessarily have to be attached to memorial rocks. Many families simply order an engraved plaque and install them in some special part of a structure that will be seen by many people. One family, for example, decided to memorialize its beloved dog George by turning his dog house into a permanent memorial. The family shored up the house so that it would withstand the elements for a long time, and, right outside the door, they installed a special bronze plaque that was a tremendous memorial to the lost dog. The family did allow two or three more generations of dogs to use the house over the next 25 years or so, but the new tenants, assuming they learned to read, were all thoroughly exposed to the precious memory of the original inhabitant in the house.
This is just one idea for how a memorial plaque can be used to capture, and externalize, the special feelings that come about when a family recalls its fond memories of a beloved pet lost to them.