Meaningful Ways to Honor a Pet's Memory

Write a letter to your pet expressing your feelings.
Create a scrapbook, journal or collage about you, your family and your pet.
Plant a tree, bush, shrub, garden or flower bed as a permanent growing memorial to your pet.
Place your pet's identification tags on a key ring.
Create a memory box. Use an old shoe box, decorate it and put special things that remind you of your pet such as collar tags, photos, special toys, leash, etc. You may choose to write a poem or story about your pet and keep it in the box as well.
Volunteer at a pet grief support service, animal shelter or local humane organization.
Make a donation in your pet's name to a local veterinary hospital, favorite animal charity or humane organization.
Have a portrait of your pet drawn from a favorite photo.
Purchase a book, perhaps a children's book, on coping with the loss of a pet and donate it to your local library or school. Ask the librarian to place a label inside the front cover inscribed "In memory of (your pet's name)."
Decorate a candle and light it in memory of your cherished pet.
Observe National Pet Memorial Day on the second Sunday in September.
Participate in the "Monday Candle Ceremony", a healing ritual begun on the internet that, with a simple lighting of candles at the same time all across the country (9 pm central time) brings grieving pet owners together in love and in spirit.
Allow yourself to express your grief in whatever creative way comes to mind; whatever feels right to you.