What to Do When Your Pet Dies

A Gentle Guide for Saying Goodbye

Losing a pet is one of the most emotional experiences we face. They’re not just pets, they’re our companions, our family, and often our greatest source of comfort. When they pass, it can leave an enormous space in our lives. If you’re going through this right now, we’re truly sorry. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and it’s okay not to know what to do next.

This guide offers gentle suggestions for what comes after your pet’s passing, from immediate steps to longer-term ways to honour their memory, including options like cremation, burial, and meaningful keepsakes.

Take the Time You Need to Say Goodbye

Before anything else, let yourself grieve. Whether your pet passed at home or at the vet, give yourself and your loved ones a moment to say goodbye in whatever way feels right.

Some people wrap their pet in a favorite blanket, light a candle, or just sit quietly with them. Others play soft music or share stories. If you have kids, involving them can help too, they might want to draw a picture, write a note, or simply be there. These small rituals can be surprisingly comforting.

Thinking About Burial or Cremation

After those first quiet moments, you’ll need to decide what to do with your pet’s body. This is never an easy decision, but knowing your options is the first step.

Burial: Creating a Peaceful Resting Place

If you prefer something close and personal, a home burial might feel right (just make sure to check your local regulations). You might choose a spot under a tree, in a garden, or somewhere your pet loved to be. Adding a stone, flowers, or a little marker can turn it into a comforting place to return to.

Alternatively, a pet cemetery offers a formal resting place with professional care. These often include engraved markers and peaceful surroundings where you can visit whenever you like.

Cremation: Keeping Them Close or Letting Them Go

Cremation is another common choice. You’ll typically choose between:

• Private cremation: Your pet is cremated individually, and the ashes are returned to you.
• Communal cremation: Multiple pets are cremated together, and the ashes aren’t returned.

If you choose cremation, there are many thoughtful ways to honour the ashes, whether you keep them close, release them in a meaningful place, or both.

Ways to Remember Them with Love

Once you’ve decided on burial or cremation, you may want to create or find a tribute that reflects your pet’s spirit and the bond you shared. Here are a few ideas:

Keep Their Ashes in a Memorial Urn

If you’d like to keep your pet’s ashes, a memorial urn can be a quiet, beautiful reminder of their presence. Many people place the urn alongside a photo, a collar, or a favorite toy, whatever makes it feel like home.

At urn studios pets, we offer artistic pet urns handmade with care, each one designed to hold both memories and meaning.

Scatter the Ashes Somewhere Special

You might also choose to scatter some or all your pet’s ashes in a place they loved, maybe a forest path, the beach, or your own backyard. It can be a peaceful, healing moment. Some people bring flowers, say a few words, or simply take a breath and remember.

Plant a Tree or Garden in Their Memory

Turning grief into something that grows can be incredibly powerful. Planting a tree, a flower bed, or even a single rose bush in your pet’s memory creates a living tribute that changes with the seasons, and carries their memory forward.

Create a Keepsake or Piece of Jewellery

If you are looking for something you can carry with you, keepsakes like pendants, charms, or tiny urns can hold a small amount of ashes, fur, or a paw print. These pieces are subtle, personal reminders that can bring comfort on tough days.

Share the Ashes with Loved Ones

If your pet was loved by more than one person, you can divide their ashes into small keepsake urns so that everyone has a piece of remembrance. It’s a way to honour both your shared loss and your individual connection.

Consider a Pet Columbarium or Cemetery Plot

If you’d prefer not to keep the ashes at home, placing them in a pet columbarium (a space dedicated to pet memorials) or in a cemetery plot provides a dignified place to visit and remember.

There’s No Wrong Way to Say Goodbye

This part is so important: everyone grieves differently, and every pet is unique. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to saying goodbye. What matters most is that it feels true to you and your relationship with your pet.

Whether you choose a quiet garden burial, a handmade urn on your shelf, or a tree that grows in their honour, trust yourself. Give yourself permission to grieve, to remember, and to heal at your own pace.

And if a handmade urn feels like the right tribute, we’re here to help, and would be honoured to be part of your final farewell.