What to give someone who has lost their pet

A few words first

The first gift costs nothing: acknowledging the loss. Many people grieving a pet feel alone, because those around them unintentionally play it down. A message that says otherwise already means a great deal.

Use the pet’s name. Mention a specific memory if you have one — the way they greeted visitors, their favourite spot on the couch. And don’t expect a reply.

• “I just heard about Caramel. I’m thinking of you.”
• “She was always waiting for you at the window. She loved you so much.”
• “No need to reply. I’m here whenever you want to talk.”

Simply being there

Losing a pet upends the daily routine: the morning walk that no longer happens, the bowl you can’t bring yourself to put away. A little presence at those moments often matters more than any object.

• Offer a walk at the time the daily walk used to happen.
• Bring a meal, without lingering if they’d rather be alone.
• Offer a hand with what weighs on them, like putting their things away or donating leftover food to a shelter — only if they want it.
• Check in a few weeks later, once everyone else has stopped asking.

A keepsake that holds their presence

When the time comes for a gift, the most treasured ones often keep something of the animal: their gaze, their name, a trace of their time with us.

• Their portrait, from a photo: canvas, print, drawing.
• Something with their name on it: a plaque, a medallion, a keychain.
• An album of their best photos, gathered with the family’s help.
• A shrub or bulbs to plant in their memory, if the person has a garden.
• A donation in their name to a shelter or animal welfare organization.

For a portrait, quietly ask another family member for a photo rather than the grieving person: choosing “the” photo can be hard in the first days.

This is what we do in our studio: the pet’s portrait, printed with a relief you can touch, on canvas, aluminum or acrylic plaque. See the Tribute collection

Not the right photo? Let them choose

Choosing the image of a companion who’s gone is deeply personal. If you’re unsure, a gift card lets the person create their own keepsake when they feel ready — in a few days or in several months.

Give a gift card — it never expires

What’s best avoided

• Words that minimize, even when said kindly: “It was just an animal,” “You can always adopt another one.”
• Giving a new pet: that decision belongs to them, whenever they’re ready.
• Pushing them to “move on.” Grief has no timetable.
• Asking how it happened if they don’t bring it up themselves.

When to give?

A kind word is never too early. As for a keepsake, some people welcome it right away; others need a few weeks before they can look at a photo. When in doubt, a gift card leaves that choice to them.

Later on, the first anniversary of the loss or the first holidays without their companion are also times when a gesture means a great deal.