How to Commemorate the Anniversary of a Pet’s Death

Losing a pet is a difficult experience, no matter how many times you go through it. For a while, nothing feels quite right. It takes time to readjust to a new reality. And when, after a whole year passes, your furry friend’s death anniversary comes around…sometimes it can set you back to square one.

As the date comes closer, it’s common to relive the trauma of your pet’s passing. Many of the same feelings resurface, which can be hard for any pet lover. Because we loved them so much and made lots of great memories with them, it’s normal to feel melancholy as you sort through those thoughts.

Grief affects everyone differently. At Tranquil Tides, in addition to our aquamation services, we’re here to help with the entire process. We’ve been through it ourselves and know what you’re going through.

Broken with grief man dog owner is grieving sitting on a bench with the lovely pet collar and deep weeping about animal loss.

Why Do We Celebrate a Pet’s Death Anniversary?

Special occasions of any kind can be difficult. Anniversaries too, especially if it’s the anniversary of your pet’s passing. The first time, it’s hard to know what to do. How do you celebrate? How do you commemorate?

It’s ok to feel this way. You’re entitled to a little grace. Do what feels right to honor the bond you had—and still have—with your pet. Sometimes, your activities can even become a tradition that helps you get through, year after year. And the great thing about traditions is that they help ease the pain of loss.

 

Ways to Memorialize Your Pet

Frame with picture of dog and burning candle on wooden table indoors. Pet funeral

Visit Their Grave

One thing you can do on the death anniversary is visit your pet’s grave. This may be the first time you’ve done so. It’s likely to be an emotional experience. Inviting friends and family to come along often makes things a little easier, and it can give you a shoulder to cry on.

Were your pet’s ashes scattered? If so, you can visit that location to honor their passing. It might help the healing process to start a new tradition…leaving flowers or even their favorite treats at the site. If your friends and family come along, ask them to share memories of your pet. Those stories and the smiles that come with them will help everyone feel better.

 

Visit Their Favorite Place

Another way to celebrate an anniversary is to visit your pet’s favorite places. A local park where you went for walks, a dog-friendly brewery where you liked to go, or a local stream they loved to run in. Even a beach closeby. All these places, if they were special to your pet, are special to you, too. You can strengthen your connection with them and start to heal more fully by visiting them again.

 

Make and Share A Memorial Video

Modern tech makes creating videos fairly easy. What better way to use all the photos and videos you already have of your buddy? You can also pepper the video with testimonials from friends who loved your pet, too. The best thing is, once it’s done, you can share it with others—it’s a great way to keep your pet’s spirit alive and well, close to your heart.

 

Have a Memorial Diamond Made

If your pet was cremated instead of buried, there’s another meaningful way to keep them close—a memorial diamond. These diamonds are fashioned from the cremated remains of your pet. Setting the precious stone in a ring or other type of jewelry allows us to keep them close and feel a sense of connection again.

 

Plant a Living Memorial

Do you love gardening? If so, planting a memorial garden on your pet’s death anniversary can be a healing activity. There are lots of things to like about a garden as a memorial. First, it’s alive, and that helps reestablish the feeling of connection you’ve lost. Second, since it’s a living memorial, it can grow and change. Many pet lovers find it comforting to plant a new flower, plant, or tree to commemorate your pet. Nurturing a tree planted with your pet’s ashes can be a healing experience.

 

Donate Time to a Local Animal Shelter

Pet shelters always need help. Donating your time to one can be a great way to help your community while helping yourself. Helping animals who need love and care is a healing experience in itself. If you’re lucky, you might even find a new friend to bring home…and that’s ok. Sometimes we feel guilty about moving on and adopting a new furry friend. But it’s important to remember that change happens, life goes on, and there are always animals needing a good home.

 

Host a Memory Sharing Dinner

If you enjoy hosting, one idea is to have a dinner in your pet’s honor. Invite friends and family, your pet’s veterinarian, and even neighbors who knew and loved them. Bringing everyone who knew your pet together helps create new connections as you relive favorite memories.

 

Make a Keepsake Quilt

Are you a quiltmaker? If so, consider gathering old blankets, sweaters, or pet beds—anything you can turn into the pieces of a keepsake quilt. One of the cool things about the quilt is that every patch represents a different part of your lives together. Warm and comforting, a pet quilt is a unique piece of art with a story in every stitch.

 

Create a Short Storybook of Their Life

Another creative way to lovingly remember your pet is to create a storybook. With pictures and phrases you choose, you can tell a story of your pet’s life that’s full of color and emotion. Not only will the book comfort you, but it’s a wonderful way to talk about them with younger family members who didn’t know them, keeping their memory alive for generations to come.

 

Managing Your Grief

  • Give Yourself to Grieve: Feeling sad, angry, or confused is normal. Allow yourself time to process, and give yourself grace as you work through it.
  • Find Support: Sharing your feelings with friends, family, or pet loss support groups offers the comfort only a community of like-minded folks can provide.
  • Create A New Tradition: Rituals bring comfort. Repeating them regularly does, too. Creating a new tradition that lives on past your pet is a great way to honor their life and express your love.
  • Preserve Memories: Activities like making a photobook, compiling a memory box, and writing a story about your pet can be therapeutic.

 

Supporting Other Pets Who May Be Grieving

If you have other pets, be aware that they may be grieving, too. Watch for changes, maintain routines, monitor their health, and give them a little extra love.

 

Resources that Can Help on Your Pet’s Death Anniversary

If your pet’s death anniversary feels overwhelming, and doing the activities described above seems like too much, don’t lose hope. Discover more options for grief resources here:

 

Life Springs Eternal

The first year after your pet’s passing is the hardest. But once their first death anniversary passes, things do get a little easier. And if you’ve planted a garden, created a photobook, or had a memorial diamond made in their honor, you’re taking important steps in dealing with your grief.

For you and your friends and family—and maybe for a new four-legged friend—life springs eternal. We can find joy in the pets and people in our lives today, while still honoring the memories of those we’ve lost.

Please explore our website further to find out more about how we can help in the Springfield/Nixa, Missouri area.