Honoring Their Memory

One of the most consistent things the grief research tells us is that continuing bonds with those we have lost — rather than “moving on” from them — is healthy and healing. Honoring your dog’s memory is not clinging to grief. It is a form of love that does not require their physical presence to continue.

Some ways pet parents honor their best friends:

  • A memory jar: write down your favorite moments and store them somewhere you can return to

  • A memorial garden, a planted tree, or a stone marker in a meaningful outdoor space

  • A piece of memorial jewelry — including options that incorporate a small amount of cremated remains

  • A custom portrait or commissioned artwork

  • A tattoo - their pawprint, a portrait, their name

  • An online memorial or tribute post shared with your community

  • A donation to an animal welfare organization in their name

  • Volunteering at a shelter when you’re ready — as a way of letting their love ripple outward

Jewelry & Wearables

  • Cremation jewelry (ashes set in glass, resin, or metal)

  • A silver cast of your dog's tooth — worn as a pendant

  • Paw print or nose print pressed in clay, cast in metal

  • Fingerprint/paw print ring

Artwork & Portraits

  • Custom hand-painted or digital portrait

  • Ashes incorporated into oil paint (Paws by Zann)

  • Microscopic crystal art made from ashes — abstract patterns and vivid colors unique to your pet's chemistry

  • Custom plush or felt lookalike made from photos

  • Personalized illustrated children's book featuring your pet

Living Memorials

  • Plant a tree, shrub, or flowers — indoors or out

  • The Living Urn — biodegradable bio urn that grows a tree directly from cremated remains

  • Bios Urn — similar tree-pod burial system, fully biodegradable

  • Memorial garden with a stone marker

  • Scatter ashes in a meaningful outdoor place

Ocean & Eco Memorials

  • Eternal Reefs — ashes incorporated into a living coral reef structure placed in the ocean; family can add handprints

  • Pet Reefs — same concept, specifically for companion animals

  • Eco Water Urn — biodegradable urn for a water burial at sea or in a meaningful body of water

Memorial Objects & Spaces

  • A dedicated memorial bench in a favorite park or outdoor spot

  • A memory box with their collar, favorite toy, photos, and a lock of fur

  • A memory jar — write down favorite moments on slips of paper, keep in a beautiful jar

  • A garden stone or stepping stone with paw print or name

  • A wind chime made from their tags

  • A shadow box with photos, collar, and meaningful objects

  • Have their fur spun into yarn and knitted into something you can hold

Tributes & Legacy

  • Online memorial page (I Loved My Pet, Rainbow's Bridge, Best Friends)

  • Write an obituary — NPR recommends this as a meaningful act of storytelling

  • Donate to an animal welfare organization in their name

  • Volunteer at a shelter when you're ready

  • Commission a star to be named after them

  • Have ashes launched into space — Celestis Memorial Spaceflights offers this for pets

  • Get a tattoo

  • Sponsor a shelter dog's adoption fee in their honor

Sources: Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB); HelpGuide.org; Chewy Pet Loss resources; ASPCA; Lap of Love; Current Biology (dog-human bonding research); Spitznagel & Carlson 2019 (caregiver roles in pet illness); Dr. Mary Gardner DVM; Dr. Wallace Sife; Anne Marie Farage-Smith LMHC and trusted veterinarians along Winter's 17-year journey as a dog mom.

The Good Boy Foundation is committed to providing valuable resources and education to empower pet parents in caring for their furry companions. However, it's important to note that the information provided on our website is intended for educational purposes only and should never replace the advice or treatment provided by a licensed veterinarian. While we strive to offer accurate and helpful guidance, we cannot be held responsible for any outcomes or consequences resulting from the application of this information. Pet parents are encouraged to consult with their veterinarian for personalized guidance and recommendations tailored to their pet's specific needs and circumstances.