9 Creative and Comforting Ways to Honor Your Pet After They’re Gone

Losing a pet can feel like losing a member of your family. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen endless videos of pet parents showing different ways to honor their late pups and kitties. With so many ideas out there, it can be hard to know where to start or what might feel meaningful for you.

To help make sense of it all, Kinship spoke with Julie Austin, a clinical psychologist and full-time pet bereavement coach who supports pet parents through one-on-one sessions, group work, and even texting support.

“Sometimes our relationship with our pets can be more intimate than many of our human relationships,” Austin says. “So, it’s a very valid and normal experience to feel grief.” Her biggest advice? Take however long you need. There’s no timetable for losing someone who’s been such a constant companion.

Read on for guidance on navigating pet loss — plus meaningful, personal ways to pay tribute to your pet.

How to find the best ways to pay tribute to your pet

Austin encourages pet parents to customize memorials to reflect their pet’s personality and what their relationship looked like with their pet. Think about what your pet loved, what made them unique, and the experiences you shared.

“It’s for the passed being and the living being,” she says. For example, if you and your dog ran together often, you might place a painted stone near the trail you frequented. 

Think about your pet’s character, personality, favorite things, and favorite experiences. Maybe you had a cat who loved to curl up and nap on the bookshelf — you could put a clay imprint of their paw print there. Over time, your needs and ways of honoring your pet may change. “It doesn’t change the memory or the relationship. It's just where you are in your own time of healing,” Austin says.

Ideas for paying tribute to your pet

There are countless ideas to honor your pet after they pass. Here’s a short list of some common options you can try.

Commission artwork.

A custom portrait keeps your pet’s memory alive. Oil paintings, watercolors, digital art, sketches, or even wood carvings or clay sculptures can make a lasting tribute. Some pet parents choose tattoos as a permanent reminder; there is even the option of getting the tattoo ink mixed with their pets’ ashes so their animal is literally always with them.

Plant a memorial garden.

Planting flowers, shrubs, or trees in honor of your pet creates a living tribute. 

“It’s a pretty common thing to do to plant something on behalf of your animal,” Austin says. “Whether or not it’s very common, it still can be very meaningful and personal.” 

Some pet parents even incorporate a bit of their pet’s ashes into the soil, allowing the garden to grow as an ongoing symbol of love.

Create a memory box.

Collect collars, toys, photos, or paw prints in a special box. A memory box lets you interact with your pet’s memory whenever you need comfort.

Build a memorial shrine.

“For a lot of us, our animals are everywhere,” Austin says. “When they’re gone, there’s an energy that goes missing.” 

Consider dedicating a physical space to your pet by keeping a corner of a room for items that remind you of your pet — like toys or photos. Lighting a candle on anniversaries can be a gentle ritual of remembrance.

Keep them close with wearable reminders.

Having a tactile memory can be deeply comforting. Austin says, “When our animals are gone, that physical relationship is gone, and so having an object to touch or hold… can feel really healing.” Many pet parents put ashes into rings, pendants, or bracelets to keep their companion close. Not quite as permanent as mixing them into tattoo ink, but pretty close.

Repurpose dog tags.

Transform your pet’s tag into a keychain, rearview mirror charm, or another small object you’ll see daily. It’s a simple, meaningful reminder of the bond you shared.

Create a digital memorial.

Share photos, stories, and memories online. Digital tributes allow friends and family to celebrate your pet’s life alongside you. You could also create an AI-generated video or image in their likeness, make a slideshow, or build a social media tribute page. Austin suggests checking out their Pawprints gallery as an example of a digital memorial space.

Honor your pet through an activity you both loved.

Think about the things you used to love doing with your pet. If you and your cat loved watching the sunset from the window together, you might plant a small flower box near that space. These actions tie your memories to the world in a personal way.

Consider another pet carefully.

Welcoming another pet can fill your home with love, but Austin advises reflection first: “Check in with yourself: Is this the right time for me? Am I considering it because I’m trying to avoid grief?” You might also consider any surviving animals in the home who might miss having other animals around.

Finding comfort and support

Honoring your pet is about remembering and celebrating the bond you shared. There’s no right or wrong way to do it — what matters is that it feels meaningful to you. 

“There’s nothing that’s going to take away the pain of the loss,” Austin reminds us. “There’s nothing that anyone’s going to say, there’s nothing that you’re going to do that’s going to remove that. So accept that it’s there, and think about what you need to support yourself through it.”