Pet loss gifts: what to give and what to say

Say something first

A gift takes days to arrive, and a message takes a minute. Send one today, and use the pet’s name. Saying I’m so sorry about Cooper means more than I’m sorry for your loss, because it shows you remember who this was.

What to give

People tend to hold on to the things that carry the pet’s face, name or daily routine. The collar stays on a hook, and the favorite photo goes on the mantel. Good gifts sit alongside those things. You don’t need to spend much, and the first few ideas here cost very little.

• A handwritten note with one specific memory. If you have ever looked after this pet, say so.
• A photo you took that they may not have. Print it and put it in a simple frame.
• A donation to a local shelter or rescue in the pet’s name, with a note saying so.
• A plant for the spot in the yard where the dog liked to lie.
• Dinner dropped off, with no need to come to the door.

A keepsake with their face on it

Our memorial ornaments carry your pet’s photo and name on the front. On the back, you can choose a line and add their years. There is a dog memorial ornament and a cat memorial ornament, with the same eight lines on each:

If you aren’t sure, Thank you for the happy years is hard to get wrong. You can also choose no extra line and leave just the name and years.

Memorial ornaments

Dog Memorial Photo Ornament

Your dog’s photo and name on the front, and on the back a line you choose.

from $23.95See it on Etsy

Cat Memorial Photo Ornament

Your cat’s photo and name on the front, and on the back a line you choose.

from $23.95See it on Etsy

If one photo isn’t enough, our dog memorial blanket and cat memorial blanket hold four or six around a big heart.

Memorial blankets

Dog Memorial Blanket with Photos

Four or six of your dog’s photos around a big heart, with the name, the years and a quote you choose, on a soft velveteen or sherpa throw.

from $44.99See it on Etsy

Cat Memorial Blanket with Photos

Four or six of your cat’s photos around a big heart, with the name, the years and a quote you choose, on a soft velveteen or sherpa throw.

from $44.99See it on Etsy

For Christmas delivery in the US, order the memorial ornaments and blankets by December 1.

When to give it

There is no deadline. A gift that arrives a month later can mean more, because the first wave of messages has stopped and the house is still quiet. The first Christmas without them, or the date they came home, are also good times to say you remember.

If the loss was very recent and the person is struggling to look at photos, hold on to a photo gift for a while, or start with a handwritten note and a donation.

Getting a good photo quietly

Ask their partner or a family member if you can, since they may know the favorite. If all you have is a copy from social media, send it anyway. We check every photo and message you within 1 business day if it won’t print well. A photo with the whole head in view works best.

A word about the Rainbow Bridge

Many pet owners find comfort in the idea of the Rainbow Bridge, and others find it hard to read. Use the phrase only if you have heard your friend use it themselves. Our ornaments don’t use it. If you aren’t sure what your friend believes, Thank you for the happy years or Forever loved will suit.

If you are buying for yourself

You don’t need a reason or a date. Pick the photo that looks most like them, even if it isn’t the best picture. Hang it where they used to sit. Some people want this right away, and others wait a year. Both are fine.

Questions people ask

Orders go through Etsy. Each See it on Etsy button opens our shop, The Kind Porch, where you personalize, pay and message us.