Pet Memorials from the Heart Blog

While we at the Loving Hearts Tribute Series certainly understand the value of pet memorial art, to some people it might not seem that important to create art to memorialize a pet. Indeed, everyone is different, and everyone processes the grief of pet loss differently. There’s no one who can say that there’s one right way or wrong way to memorialize a pet.  However, pet memorial art can, in fact, be very meaningful to the owner who has lost a beloved friend—in fact, it can be very healing.  Here are some ways that pet memorial art can bring meaning:

1. Art speaks to us at a non-verbal level. Most communication, believe it or not, is non-verbal (that is, not using words). When we speak, for example, the tone of our voice, the look on our face and the gestures we use can communicate far more meaning than the words themselves.  By the same token, art has the potential to speak to our souls at an emotional level that is much deeper than words—and therefore deeper meaning can be communicated.
2. Memorial art can speak of life, rather than death.  Art, by its nature, is inspirational (at least, we strive for OUR art to be inspirational). By dedicating a piece of art to a beloved pet, that artwork commemorates the gift of life that was contained in the life of the pet.
3. Memorial art dedicated to a pet provides a lasting tribute. Not only that, but including some of your pet’s remains in the art itself is a way for your pet to continue bringing joy and inspiration to others, even after he or she is gone.  It’s a way for your pet to live on in memory for many years to come.

These are just a few of the reasons why pet memorial art can be meaningful. While not everyone may respond to the loss of a pet in the same way, allowing art to be part of a pet memorial can definitely be part of the healing process.

If you have a friend who has lost a beloved pet during the past year, you should know that the holidays can be a difficult time for him or her, especially during the first holiday season since the loss. In a time like this, a pet memorial given as a holiday gift can be a thoughtful and highly appropriate way to bring comfort to your friend. Everyone responds to different gifts, and the type of pet memorial gift you choose should be based on your friend’s personality, as to what would be most appreciated.  Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

• Plant a tree in the pet’s honor. Some parks or memorial gardens allow people to plant trees in honor of lost friends or loved ones, including pets. This can be especially meaningful if it is done in a place that is frequented by your friend.
• Purchase a public inscription.  We see inscriptions like this all the time, on park benches, bricks on a public walkway, etc. If there is a similar project going on in your area, consider having something inscribed in honor of the lost pet.  This can be a very meaningful pet memorial holiday gift.
• Commission or purchase a piece of memorial art. There are many variations of this, including pet jewelry, portraits or similar pieces.  A limited-edition heart-themed print from the Loving Hearts Tribute Series makes a very meaningful holiday gift, not only because it tastefully includes some of the pet’s remains, but because it is a decorative addition to any home and can bring joy for many years to come.

What makes pet memorial holiday gifts so meaningful? Not only does the gift itself help bring comfort, but it sends a clear message to your friend that he/she is not alone in the pain—that you know and understand at least some of what that person is going through.  Also, when it is done right, a pet memorial gift helps to honor and celebrate the life of the pet, rather than its death, bringing much-needed healing in the process.  What better gift could there be?

Over the years, I’ve lost several pets, and I know the grief that comes with losing a beloved friend. During these times, I’ve had several friends who knew how much the loss of my pet hit me, and who were generous enough to give me personalized pet memorial gifts.  As sweet and thoughtful as these gestures were, they honestly didn’t help all that much.  I would receive a clay statue of something that might have been a dog, but really bore no relation to mine—or perhaps a caricature drawing that was didn’t remotely resemble my cat.  It put me in a dilemma; I really didn’t want those “keepsakes” around because they disturbed me, and yet I didn’t want to hurt the feelings of my well-meaning friends.

Out of these experiences came the idea for a special kind of personalized pet memorial gift—the basic idea behind the Loving Hearts Tribute Series. Rather than try to create a portrait of a dog or cat I didn’t really know—creating something that the bereaved pet owner wouldn’t really appreciate—instead, I created abstract heart-themed paintings that could hopefully connect with people on a heart level.  In abstract art, different people see and feel different things, so the effect is more personal. To make things even more personal, we use a bit of the pet’s actual cremated remains in the final coat of the painting, so that the artwork becomes truly unique.

These two factors together—creating abstract art and using the pet’s remains in the process—help to form a pet memorial that is not only un-offensive and discreet, but has meaning on a deeper level. This type of memorial gift could very well be an agent of healing for your friend.

The Loving Hearts Tribute Series is the kind of personalized pet memorial gift I would have liked to receive from my well-meaning friends.  Now, at least, it is something available to others.  If you are the one looking for a fitting gift for a grieving friend, I can’t think of any gift more fitting that you could give.