Instructions
Create clay paws. Clay paws kits are available and simple to make. The pet's paw is pressed down on non-toxic modeling clay to leave an imprint. The clay is then baked, preserving a piece of your pet forever. The paw imprint can be placed in a shadow box or frame to be displayed.
Seek a living memorial in your pet's name. Many veterinary hospitals, clinics and vet schools have things like "living gardens." A grieving pet owner can select a stone, flower or tree in memory of her pet. Check with your local veterinarian for options in your area or within driving distance, so you can visit the site.
Develop a lasting memento with the poem "Rainbow Bridge." This poem, by an anonymous author, has become a universally-accepted poem of comfort for those dealing with the loss of their animal companion. Type and print the poem on decorative paper, and frame the result. Get more creative by painting a portion of the poem on a trinket box.
Create a pet keepsake box. Take a favorite photo of the pet and scan it using a premium quality color laserjet printer. If you don't have access to one, go to your area office supplies store. The paper should not be too thick. Affix the vivid image to a plain, wooden box of your choice using Yes glue, which is acid-free and bonds paper to wood, glass and other surfaces without wrinkling or discoloring the image. For a small pet, a life-sized box is particularly striking.
Develop a shadow box. Instead of having the pet's collar simply hanging on a peg in the house or stuffed in a box, feature such special items in a nicely-displayed shadow box. Include any cherished objects, such as a favorite stuffed animal or chew toy, small leash and photos of the pet owner and his animal companion.
Post an online memorial. Many sites are available where you can post pictures and write tributes to your pet. This creates a living memorial and helps those struggling with the grief process.
Plant a tree in your pet's favorite stomping grounds. Not only is the tree highly symbolic of renewal, rebirth and growth, but you are doing something good for the environment. Planting a tree in your dog's favorite area of your backyard, for example, is also highly therapeutic and will serve as a constant reminder of her continued presence in your life. If you don't have room for a tree, go for a blossoming bush or flowers.
How to Create Pet Mementos
Creating a memento that the pet owner will cherish long after the pet is gone requires a little planning, a lot of caring and the acknowledgement that this memento will be the pet's legacy, beyond the memories he leaves behind. Thinking outside of the box and keeping the pet's characteristics in mind will make for a more meaningful memento.