Pet grief gifts can be difficult. It’s a tough task to show that you care about a grieving pet parent. Like any grieving person, you don’t want to say or do the wrong thing. We are going to help you since we have experienced this several times.
Pets give us unconditional and uncomplicated love. So, when a pet passes away, it’s natural for us to feel deep grief. Even the best of us can feel down when our furry friend leaves us.
Top 12 Best Pet Grief Gifts: Our Top Picks
And while it’s not important to give a grieving loved one a gift, it sure is a thoughtful gesture! It helps them remember their pet with fondness—and may make them feel better.
In this blog post, we’re sharing the best pet grief gifts that can help your loved one commemorate their lost animal.
Self-Care Basket
One of the most underrated pet sympathy gifts is a custom care basket. Similar to when a family member passes, many people bring comfort food to the home of the grieving. We cannot tell you how thoughtful it is for someone to just take care of your meal, or bring coffee when it seems too difficult to even do it yourself.
Often, those grieving cannot present themselves to think about their self-care, so bringing over baked goods and easy-to-access foods in a care basket is truly one of the most thoughtful sympathy gifts.
Some ideas for sympathy gift baskets: a candle, cozy socks, a blanket, comfort snacks, or food. A kind gesture would be to include a custom coffee mug with their cherished pet on it. You can also include coffee (already ground). Taking the effort out of taking care of themselves seems simple, but it is a unique pet grief gift.
Customized Memorial Candle
Consider giving the grieving one a forever flame. You can DIY a homemade candle, purchase a handmade soy candle, and add a photo of your beloved pet as well as a heartwarming quote. If you’re not in the mood for doing it yourself, contact Southern Oak Artisan where they will create a custom candle for you.
There are plenty of pet grief quotes that show a lot of care and comfort for anyone on their pet loss grief journey. Pet grief gifts are great when they integrate into the daily life of the grieving person.
A Memory Book
This one will elicit good memories for years to come. A pet memory book for the pet can make for a comprehensive gift. As the owner reads through the book, they feel just how this gift keeps giving.
As you collect pictures of the pet, navigate layouts, and finalize the details, you’ll realize how the effort that goes into putting it together makes it such a thoughtful present for a grieving one.
Pet Memorial Jewelry
Help your loved one memorialize their pet by gifting them jewelry, like a bracelet that has the pet’s name engraved in it.
Memorial jewelry is a heartfelt accessory that helps the owner keep their pet’s memory close every day. Plus, it gives them a gentle reminder of the sweet memory of their furry friend, wherever they go.
I (shannon) have a heart charm with a rainbow on it, that also serves as a memory jewelry urn. I have a bit of my pets’ ashes in it and it remains close to my heart.
Memorial jewelry is such an understated gift. Definitely one of our favorites!
Pet Sympathy Plant
Plants bring us joy, just as pets do. This means you can bring happiness to the life of a grieving loved one by gifting them a potted plant—bonus points if it celebrates the memory of their beloved pet. One such plant variety to use is a Gardenia; these plants promote clarity and hope, so they can have a good impact on the owner.
Some brands, such as the one shown above, also allow you to add personalized keepsakes. Think of it as an ornament with a customized symbol and message in the loving memory of the lost pet.
Pet Memorial Tree
Similar to the plant, pet memorial gift trees are a great way to keep the memory of a pet alive for the pet parent. They can plant the tree in their pet’s favorite spot outside, and watch it grow through the years.
We know a cat lover who was gifted one of these, and he then scattered his pet’s ashes around the tree. It has become a spot of solace for him when he wants to spend time with his past kitty.
You can also have a memorial tree gift named after the pet at a local park. Check to see if this is an option. If it doesn’t exist, the local park may consider it as a great way to help raise funds for certain projects for the town/city.
A Memorial Stone/Plaque
Depending on how close you are to the gift recipient, a love piece of comfort is by helping to create a nature garden area. If that is not an option, take a look at these memorial plaques that can be placed in a garden. You can create your own, or purchase one with a personalized message, photo, and the name of the pet.
We have one for Betty White and for Echo, both in our flower garden, where we can spend time there, memorializing them.
Memorial plaques make a beautiful presentation of your sympathy for the recipient.
Memorial Wind Chime
There is something about nature that is the best gift. Perhaps it is the special way it lures us outside, which can be healing in itself. One of the best pet memorial keepsakes is a windchime.
Since a pet is a member of the family, a sweet way to feel like they are still around is to have a signal, a sound, that takes us back to our precious memories. Consider a windchime that is personalized with the pet’s name or image on it.
A Pet Portrait
There’s nothing better than having a customized pet portrait hung in one’s home. If you would like to test your artistic skills, we’d say give it a go and paint a picture of your loved one’s pet.
And if you’re not so good at art, just send in a photo of your pet to the owner of the brand linked in our image above. She’ll send a charming hand-painted custom pet portrait that captures the animal’s spirit—and have it delivered to your loved one. A work of art that captures a beloved animal that was loved so deeply can be a great source of comfort.
We received this as a gift when our sweet Betty White passed and it has been the best thing for our home. It’s a lovely piece of artwork, greeting us each day with Betty’s radiant smile.
Blanket or Pillow Made of Pet’s Clothing
When our Pharrell passed away, I kept a great deal of his clothing in hopes that I could make some kind of item that I would use that would bring me comfort. I kept them for a number of years and decided to donate the clothing, except for a special sweater that he wore that says, “Mom.”
Now that Betty White has passed, I have a sweater that she wore and we loved her in. I am in the process of making a pillow with both sweaters together.
This made us think of how wonderful of a gift it would be to receive an item that would come into everyday use, leaving years of life to something that your pet cherished.
If you are looking through dog sympathy gifts and are close to the person you want to give the gift to, give some of their clothing or even a blanket a new life. Either sew it yourself or take it to someone who can do it for you.
Donations at a Local Rescue or Shelter
Each time we have lost a pet, we create an obituary. At the end of the obituary, we ask that anyone who may be moved to memorialize our pets, please donate, volunteer, or adopt from their local rescue group or shelter. It has been one of the most rewarding things for us to receive a sympathy card from a rescue and/or shelter informing us that someone donated in honor of our passed pet.
Consider donating to the local shelter in the recipient’s area. You can always donate to the Best Friends Animal Society. The non-profit has the goal of making the United States no-kill by 2025. Your donation in honor of a pet can help this happen!
Framed Photo of Pet
Your gesture does not have to be a high-quality gift. Some of the best pet grief gifts are simply due to the thought that went into them. Look for a favorite photo of the passed pet and match it to a picture frame, perhaps the coloring of the pet.
You can find custom picture frames on Etsy. Include a custom message or even a personalized note with it, letting the recipient know that you are thinking of them during this time of loss. It’s simple, easy, and goes farther than you can know.
Another thoughtful option is a personalized pet memorial photo block from Shiner Photo. These custom keepsakes include the pet’s photo, name, and memorial dates, creating a simple way to keep their memory visible in everyday life. We also appreciate that they can be shipped directly to grieving pet parents with a handwritten note included.
Christmas Tree Ornament
Holiday seasons are extremely difficult for many people. Grieving pet parents are no different. Custom ornaments make great pet remembrance gifts. We received a Christmas ornament with our passed pup, Pharrell, and Betty White when she was still living, from our sister-in-law.
This gift meant so much because she spent a wonderful amount of attention on making it herself. It captures some of the best times we had with them both, camping in the mountains.
Pet Grief Book
Something that we struggled with during the grieving process of our pets is wondering if we will see them again. Whether you believe in Heaven, and the afterlife, or nothing at all, it can be something that is a struggle for many grieving pet parents.
We found the book, I Will See You in Heaven, by Friar Jack Wintz to be comforting. We have given it to other pet owners as pet grief gifts. The book captures the unconditional love that we as pet parents have.
There is No Perfect Way to Comfort a Grieving Pet Parent
The loss of a pet can be one of the most difficult things to go through. You offering a thoughtful gift is not only a sign of comfort during a dark time, but it shows pet owners that you are empathetic and care about their feelings.
There is no such thing as the right pet loss gifts list, but having gone through this ourselves, we know what kinds of things make a difference. Pet memorial gifts are a beautiful way to keep the memory of the pet parent’s furbaby going, even after they have crossed the rainbow bridge.
Remember, the perfect pet grief gift for people experiencing grief is often showing that you are there for them during the grieving process, no matter what. Even if you don’t understand pet loss what someone is going through, a great way to show comfort is just being there. People experience grief in different ways. There are going to be good times and really bad times. Be patient, as the loss of a dog or cat, or any pet, can be traumatic, just as losing a child is.
There are all types of pet parents out there. Be respectful and know that everyone is going through something. Offering a simple, caring word or text during a difficult time means more than you know.
Be a Support
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, we urge you to seek help from a mental health professional or a helpline. In the United States, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) for immediate assistance. Or you can use the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741
*Disclaimer- We are not medical professionals. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website. Please also review terms & conditions. We are simply sharing our experiences, and what we learned by seeking professional help.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
While this is something that a pet parent will treasure, the veterinary staff or pet hospital staff usually gift this to members of the family when their pet passes away.
If someone is in need of therapy or someone to talk to, they can utilize Mental Health Match to find someone who specializes in grief. It is how we both found our therapists. We go over some of our grief resources in our FAQs for Arner Adventures.
Stay away from anything that downplays their loss. While you may not understand the depth of loss someone is experiencing, your pet bereavement gift should only show respect and thoughtfulness. Remember, a pet grief gift is not required. Your support means a great deal and is a gift in itself.
