Our best friends recently lost their dog of 12 years. Our family adored this pup and in fact, he was the reason we rescued our first pet ever, our dog, almost 6 years ago. (they looked so similar! “Brothers from another mother” we said!)
Each Christmas we always exchanged little gifts for the dogs. I would like to have a little something to give to them in his memory. I thought about making a donation to the rescue “school” they got him from - but, I will have to ask them the name (it’s in the Chicago area, not near us) - regardless, I’d like a little remembrance.
Do you have a nice photograph of the dog you could get framed? Or offer to frame one that the family has? We have a beautiful photo of our collie we lost that I would love to get framed.
When our first dog died, our vet’s office made a donation to our state’s veterinary school in her memory. She was not a rescue. But I really appreciated that.
A Christmas ornament with a picture of him? Or note cards with his picture on them? Years ago, someone made me a box of postcards with a pet picture on them. Totally loved them!
@gardenstategal : What a sweet idea! Our vet has always sent us a card with a paw print after each elder cat (four over the last 40 years) has had to go to sleep, and we treasure them. I will have to look into tree ornaments for the wife, who still misses Tooter & Goose & Maisie & Dweezer (as do I), despite the presence of seven-month-old Pippa & Poppet.
I like to send a card with the first verse of “Epitaph to a Dog” by Lord Byron.
Near this Spot
are deposited the Remains of one
who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.
When his dog Boatswain contracted rabies, Byron reportedly looked after him until he died leaving his master heartbroken.
I made a donation to the local humane society in memory of a dog owned by neighbors. I barely knew the neighbors, but I knew their dog well from puppyhood as the dog usually stayed in the front yard, and I passed by every day when I was making my dogs. So I also gave them a home-made card with my dogs photos. (I didn’t know whether the neighbors would remember me… but they definitely would know the dogs. (There was a history of a lot of doggy excitement each day)…
The neighbors were very touched-- it simply was a way of letting them know that others cared about their beloved pet.
Try searching through easy on “pet loss” and you can find all kinds of handcrafted stuff. Perhaps a portrait created from a photo turned into a piece of art or note cards?
Also, when we lost our first dog (he was 16) we were really touched to get handwritten notes with memories and stories about him (he was a memorable dog!).
One other thought is to dedicate a tree or bench or whatever at your local dog park, if you have one. Significantly more expensive, but possible with a group of friends.
