Many of us don’t realize the importance of writing a pet obituary for our companions who have crossed over the rainbow bridge. Obituary writing is an important step in the grieving process, as a pet’s death often elicits the same type of grief we experience when our human counterparts pass on. The healthy thing to do is to try your best to process your grief so you can move forward in life and remember your pet with love.
Although many struggle with the obituary writing process, we’re here to let you know that this process can be easily undertaken. This memorial to your pet can help you and your loved ones move on from your grief and bring forth happy memories of your pet. It can be as simple or complex as you prefer, as there is no proscribed format for an obituary.
So, where to begin?
1 – Start with the basics.
Providing vital information — like full name, date of birth, date of death and the breed or color of your animal — is a great place to start. These details provide context as to who your pet was and how they existed in the world. Also, writing these details down will help keep them in your memory for years to come.
2 – Share how your pet joined your life.
Often it’s not us who find our pets, but our pets who find us. These origin stories sometimes coincide with pivotal moments in our lives, and it’s important to remember how your relationship with your pet came to be. Whether a rescue pet, an inherited animal, or a stray who came to you for shelter, all of these beginnings are an important benchmark in the journey of your pet’s life.
3 – Describe your pet’s unique qualities.
Each pet is one-of-a-kind, and memorializing these unique qualities is a beautiful way to pay tribute to your pet. Remembering these special attributes — like your pet’s favorite sleeping location, particular bark or mewl, or goofy behavior in front of visitors — can give readers more insight into your pet’s personality. Share what made your pet special to you and to those around them.
4 – Open up about personal memories.
Our personal memories with our pets are often our most sacred. Whether a story of how our pet acted like a human, or the special nuzzle reserved just for you, these personal memories can be a balm for our grief. Recalling these special moments allows us to remember our pet with love and affection and writing them down memorializes them forever.
5 – Remember your pet’s friends and family members.
One of the most beautiful things about our pets is that we get to share them with our loved ones, including family members and friends alike. Mentioning these relationships in your pet’s obituary honors them and acknowledges their importance. Also, knowing and remembering that your pet was loved by many can help soothe the grief of losing them, because they were in fact loved by many.
6 – Close with a loving parting message.
Many close out their pet obituary with a parting message directed at their pet. Similar to a human obituary, you can also list out those by whom your pet is survived and also share any details about a memorial service. Some also recommend organizations for donation in their pet’s memory. However you choose to end your obituary, do so with love.
Losing a pet is a painful process, and we hope you always remember that you are not alone in your grief.