Sympathy Gifts for Pets

A pet is a member of the family for many people. Losing one can be a difficult and heartbreaking experience. If someone you know is going through this distressing time, there are ways to acknowledge his loss while also bringing him some comfort. Some stores carry sympathy cards specifically for the loss of a pet, but there are also thoughtful gifts available with the same sentiment.

  1. Home Memorials

    • While appropriate for anyone with a yard, if your gift is for someone who enjoys gardening or if her pet spent time outdoors, a garden stone with the pet's name is a fitting memorial. There are also vendors that can create a stained-glass likeness of a lost pet or reproduce a photo into a personalized painting.

    Jewelry

    • A way for someone to keep a lost pet close to her heart is with a piece of jewelry. Put a photo, or even a strand of hair, of the departed pet in a locket. Websites offer pendants that can hold hair from the pet or feature the pet as an angel. Another site offers a memorial pin featuring "The Rainbow Bridge," a poem for those grieving a lost pet.

    Photos

    • There are websites that produce pet memorial frames with a verse and a spot for a photo, or make one yourself. A double-sided frame can be filled with the pet's picture on one side and healing words on the other. If you have enough photos of your loved one and her pet, put together a photo album or scrapbook with written memories and poems. Create a calendar with photos of the lost pet that will bring lasting memories all year long.

    Living Memorial

    • Bring your grieving loved one a plant to add to his lawn or garden in memory of his pet. Some cities offer programs where you can plant a tree at a local park in the name of a loved pet. This is especially thoughtful if your loved one and her pet enjoyed going to a particular park.

    Donation

    • A healing and a helpful gift is a donation in the pet's name to an appropriate organization. If the pet was adopted, make a donation in its name to the shelter that once housed it. A gift to a breed-specific rescue facility is a thoughtful way to acknowledge your loved one's affection for the type of animal she lost. A donation to nonprofit pet- or animal-related organization is a thoughtful way to give back to animals. Often, these associations will send a condolence card notifying your loved one of your donation in their lost pet's name.