How to Plan a Pet Funeral Service
For many, planning a pet funeral can be just as important as any other memorial service. Our pets are often with us for a long time, so it’s only right to plan a remembrance service that honors their memory.
Below, we’ll suggest options for how to plan a pet memorial ceremony.
The First Steps for a Pet Memorial
The first thing you’ll need to consider for your pet’s funeral is whether you’ll have a home burial or cremation. Cremation is more practical, as most vets offer this service for a fee. A benefit of a home burial is that you’ll have a site to visit to remember your pet, although you can still do this with cremation.
If you decide on a home burial, make sure you’re allowed to do it. Your local council office should have information on pet burials at home. Also, make sure you have enough space in your backyard and that you avoid underground wiring and pipes.
Alternatively, you could check whether you have a local pet cemetery. This might be the most expensive option but it’s also a good compromise if you’d rather have a burial, just not in your backyard.
Planning the Pet Memorial Ceremony
Next, you’ll need to think about what you actually want to do during your cat or dog funeral. If you have kids, it can be nice to get them to do drawings or write out some memories of your beloved pet.
You’ll need to set a date and time, even if it’s just your immediate family attending. You might be restricted to a certain date if using a pet cemetery, or if you plan to scatter your pet’s ashes somewhere.
For the pet memorial ceremony itself, it can be nice to do some kind of symbolic gesture. Some examples include:
- Lighting candles – this is a traditional ceremony gesture for religious and non-religious ceremonies
- Arrange photos of you and your pet to honor their memory
- Show videos or create an image slideshow that attendees can watch while you all think about your pet
- Conduct a release ceremony, such as biodegradable lanterns
- Read a poem or symbolic story. This could be something you’ve written or a relevant memorial piece
- Plant a tree – this can be a great alternative to a gravestone, as it gives you a site to visit without being too obvious
A pet funeral can benefit from a celebrant if you want someone to guide the ceremony – they don’t have to be religious. They can advise you on an appropriate order of events and give you the chance to step back on some responsibility so you can grieve.
Celebrating Your Pet with a Pet Funeral
Planning a funeral is never easy, and it’s not something many of us want to have much experience with. If you’ve recently lost a beloved pet and want someone to guide its memorial, get in touch with Southern Oregon Celebrant. Charlene offers pet memorial ceremony services to make your pet’s funeral an appropriate celebration.