Bookmark: National Pet Memorial Day (11 September)

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What is National Pet Memorial Day About? 

Pet owners commemorate their cherished pets who passed away on National Pet Memorial Day every September. It’s not always easy to lose a pet, and this pet remembrance day gives you to opportunity to pay homage to those youve lost.

There are countless ways to honor pets, and we’re not the only ones who will remember some of our beloved animals for the rest of our lives. National Pet Memorial Day is a beautiful opportunity to remember your favorite pets and pay tribute to their memory.

White rose in monochrome

National Pet Memorial Day – The History

Following the shifts in our living conditions and cultural norms throughout human history, how we memorialize our pets on this animal memorial day after they pass through the rainbow bridge has been evolving significantly. 

Outstanding furry companions win people’s hearts and work their way toward feeling like members of our families. This is ever since people brought the first wolf cubs into human households. They made the first farm cats into pets. One can almost say they celebrated National Pet Memorial Day, everyday of their lives.

There is evidence that dogs became domestic as early as 26,000 BCE, when ancient footprints showed that a child and a dog once traveled together in a cave. This supports the theory that dogs came into human society at this time. Around 14,000 BCE, pet monuments began to appear, initially in the region now Germany. 

national pet memorial day banner
Photo Courtesy of: Vecteezy

In China, pet memorials dating back to 7,000 BCE are available, and in North America, pet memorials date back to 11,000 BCE. Native Americans frequently buried their dogs after they died, evidence that animals have a special place in our hearts.

Even the great warriors of the past honored their animals somehow to observe National Pet Memorial Day. For instance, Alexander the Great was well-known for his deep affection for his mastiff, Peritas. When it passed away around 350 BCE, he paid his respects by organizing a funeral ceremony complete with a procession and building a monument in its honor.

Recently, people have been commemorating several well-liked pets in public after they die. Examples include Balto, a Siberian Husky famous for his bravery in traveling across Alaska to provide medicine, and Towser, a cat from Scotland. They established a record by catching 28,899 mice throughout his lifetime.

Today, there are a lot of pet cemeteries, and there are even some criteria for pet monuments. Hartsdale in New York City and Toto Memorial in Los Angeles are two well-known pet cemeteries in the United States. Many people opt to cremate or bury their pets to memorialize them. 

You can purchase pet headstones, which you can engrave with a person’s name and chosen inscription. There will never be an end to the celebrations held in memory of the beloved animals who have been a part of our life.

How to Celebrate National Pet Memorial Day

Nothing will ease the pain of losing a beloved animal companion. Still, there are things you can do to keep their memories close to your heart even after they are gone. The items on the list that follows will show you how to have a big impact with even the smallest of your actions. 

Perhaps you have a way with words and find penning a letter relaxing and enjoyable. Or are you more adept at creating a tangible photo album as a physical remembrance of a photograph? Maybe give them all a shot?

Write a Letter

On this occasion of dog appreciation day and National Pet Memorial Day, jot down your thoughts in a letter and commit them to paper. When you write out exactly how you feel, expressing your feelings may be a calming process, which can be highly therapeutic. 

Make an effort to write the letter as though your pet will read it and see if it helps. The results of the process may surprise you.

Make a Photo Album or a Collage With Photographs

Whether physical or digital, creating an album full of photos of the fun occasions you share with your pet is a wonderful way to remember them this National Pet Memorial Day. You probably have a lot of pictures of your pet from when they were a baby or a young dog up until the day they died, so you can look back on those and remember happier times. 

You have the option of creating a digital album to look at or using actual photographs and personalizing each page of the album. Utilizing an online software platform to get started quickly and easily, such as shutterfly.com, snapfish.com, or even canva.com, is a great option. 

You can typically print out the final product to create a memory book with a hardcover or convert it into a digital ebook that you can share with family and friends. Also available are various high-quality digital photo frames that are simple to operate. 

You might upload images of your pet to one of these frames and then display them in your home to always remember the joyful times with your pet.

Share on Your Social Network 

If you want to share your photos with others, you may upload them to an album on one of your social media accounts and create a folder called “National Pet Memorial Day”. In this way, your family and friends can remember your pet and share any particular memories they may have of them.

Create a Living Pet Memorial Garden

If you would rather express your creativity outside, creating a memorial garden for your pet is an excellent way to guarantee that you will never forget them today on National Pet Memorial Day and every day.

Memorial gardens can be any size that the family or community desires. You can acquire land in a nearby park and dedicate it to planting a tree in memory of your pet. 

Alternatively, you could plant flowers, plants, or trees in your yard. You will remember the joyful times you spent with your pet, especially on the day designated to honor pets worldwide, whenever you come across any of these plants or trees.

pet memorial stone and red roses
Photo courtesy of: Wind and Weather

Draw, Frame, and Display a Special Photo

Why not create a drawing or painting of your pet using one of their photographs, especially since you already have the best ones? Making art is a beautiful form of catharsis, and the finished product will provide you with a lasting memory that you may display in your house. 

The whole family can enjoy this activity, and there is no pressure to produce picture-perfect results. Numerous local artists can recreate a preferred photo of your pet. If you make this decision, you will find many options. 

Get a Tattoo to Remember Your Pet

You might get a portrait tattoo of your pet if you are the type who likes to carry a memory about with them and would rather have others see it. Even while children do not participate in this activity, they can assist you in determining which image of your pet you wish to get tattooed on your body. 

You might want to consider getting a tattoo of your pet’s name, a paw print, or a meaningful quotation that will bring back fond memories of your animal companion in place of (or in addition to) a traditional image. One of my favorite sayings is by Josh Billings, who states, “A dog is the only animal on earth that loves you more than it loves itself.” 

No matter what you decide, getting a tattoo to remember your cherished animal companion is unquestionably one of the most committed ways you can honor their memory.

Take a Stroll or a Hike

Remembering your pet, you should take the whole family for a hike or a stroll in the park. You may go for a trek in a location you think was your dog’s favorite, or you could take a stroll along a familiar trail for your dog. You may walk outside in an area your pet may have been observing from its preferred perch.

Make a Donation

You can assist a local animal shelter by donating supplies such as blankets, food, etc.

Donations of money are also a very beneficial way to ensure that the animals at the shelter have access to all they require to live healthy and happy lives. Donate your time to work at an animal shelter to assist other animals.

Being with animals can often be the most effective kind of treatment. As you make another animal who does not yet have a home for the rest of its life feel loved and special, you will also be helping yourself. Many local animal charities and rescue organizations would be happy to honor your pet by helping out other animals in need. 

You can make gifts in the form of money. Still, many animal rescue organizations also welcome donations of non-perishable goods, such as old towels and blankets, food for dogs and cats, and so on.

You might also make a financial contribution or volunteer your services to assist the animal charity of your choice with anything they want. Numerous organizations require assistance with various tasks in addition to working with animals. These tasks include administrative labor, PR for charitable or community events, and more.

Even though it could make some people sad, many others find immense comfort in remembering their beloved dogs who have died away. No matter how you mark National Pet Memorial Day, remembering your dogs and paying them respects in your thoughts is the best way to ensure they are never really gone. 

We sincerely hope that you find these suggestions for how you might be creative in remembering the companion animals who died to be helpful. We are aware of how challenging it may be to say goodbye to a cherished companion, and our desire to preserve the memories of our animal companions is a manifestation of the depth of our affection for them.

American national pet memorial day shrine

Facts About Pet Memorials

Anyone interested in learning some information about pets is at the appropriate location. While investigating this holiday, we found some fascinating information on pets.

  • A dog’s nose can detect a teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic-side pools worth of water. | Dogs can only see the colors blue and yellow. 
  • The pads on a dog’s paws allow the dog to sweat.
  • Dogs can detect their owners’ anxiety through the sweat they produce.
  • Jealousy in dogs is a common reaction when owners pay attention to other animals or people.
  • You can lower your blood pressure by petting a puppy.
  • A cat’s ear contains 32 muscles in each of its lobes.
  • Self-grooming consumes around one-fifth of a cat’s waking hours.
  • Cats are capable of making more than a hundred distinct vocalizations.
  • Cats can sleep for up to 16 hours every day.
  • A person’s chance of having a heart attack or stroke can reduce by as much as 33 percent simply by owning a cat.
  • Licking their paws is one of the ways that rabbits groom themselves.
  • The United States is home to four well-known pet cemeteries, including Hartsdale in New York City, Toto Memorial in Los Angeles, Boomer Monument in Illinois, and Brownie Gravesite in Florida. Hartsdale is the most well-known of the four.
  • There is a protocol for the cremation of pets established by the International Association for Pet Cemeteries and Crematories. This protocol, which pet owners can follow as part of the cremation process, was standard for pet cremation.
  • According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners spent over $60 billion on their animals in 2015. This figure represents the total amount pet owners spent on their animals in 2015.
  • Love is better than losing: Most people find that having a pet improves their lives. One survey found that among people who own pets, 94 percent said their animal companion made them happy every day.
  • People have been honoring many great pets in history: From Balto, the brave Siberian Husky, to Towser of Scotland, the cat who caught a record-setting 28,899 mice.

Why we Appreciate This Observance

We won’t tell you how popular pets are right now because you already know that most people, especially in this day and age, like to have domestic animals as pets, namely dogs and cats. The issue is that these animals often live for a relatively short time. Since the average lifespan of a dog or cat is less than twenty years, there isn’t much you can do about it.

And as a result, only a large number of pet owners experience a sense of separation from their animals after they pass away. If you have ever been a pet owner, you can appreciate the great anguish and pain this causes among pet owners. Therefore, holding a memorial day for our deceased pets is crucial.

Once an animal passes away, it’s common for people to get a new one. Still, one thing is certain: we must never forget the special relationship and link we have with our first pets, which a new animal cannot replace. 

As a result, we must always honor and remember them. Some people become so emotionally attached to their animals that they choose not to adopt new ones after the older ones pass away. We mark this day because of the following;

It Celebrates Our Best Pets

It’s crucial to respect the lives of cherished pets, just like you would a valued family member. When an animal passes away, it’s vital to remember that animals sometimes have a special way of affecting our hearts even more than people can.

It’s a Journey Back in Time

Even though we miss the pets that pass away, we don’t often think about them as the years go by. Finding the photos of you as a child holding your first pet or the video of your old dog exploring your first apartment today is a terrific idea. By reflecting on some memorable moments from the past, you can pay tribute to your pet.

You can also check out some other National Pet Memorial Day images online.

It Reminds Us to Take Good Care of Our Pets

It is up to us to recognize their symptoms because pets cannot communicate when they are ill. The saddest thing is losing a pet to something you could avoid. Ensure your pet visits the vet to ensure everything is in working order as some mourn their beloved pets today.

American Flag and white roses in monochrome

That’s a Wrap

Dealing with the death of a beloved animal companion is a trying experience on an emotional level. Even if the memories of our pets have the potential to crush our hearts on occasion, we don’t ever want to forget the time we were able to spend with them. 

Every year, on the second Sunday of September, we have the option to have a memorial service for our beloved pets who passed away. We greatly appreciate your anecdotes about the fun you and your canine companion had together. Include us in any social postings you make about them, and we’ll be happy to commemorate their lives with you.

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