Honouring Your Pet: Thoughtful Ways to Remember Them
If you’re here, you’re probably thinking about a pet who meant a lot to you.
And there’s not really a right way to handle that.
Some people like to keep things very simple. Others want something they can come back to, something that feels a bit more permanent.
It can also come up around certain times of year. Birthdays, anniversaries… even things like Father’s Day, which can feel a bit different if there’s a pet-shaped gap there.
So this isn’t a guide, really. Just a few ways people choose to remember their pets, in a way that feels right for them.
Keeping something around the house
A lot of people end up keeping something small and familiar nearby.
A photo in a frame.
A collar on a hook.
A spot in the house that still feels like theirs.
Nothing big or overthought. Just something that quietly stays part of your day.
Choosing a photo that actually feels like them
If you’re creating something from a photo, it’s very easy to get caught up in picking the “best” one.
But usually it’s not the most polished photo that matters.
It’s the one where:
- their expression feels familiar
- you can almost hear them in it
- or it just takes you straight back to a specific moment
If you’re unsure, I’ve written a simple post on how to choose the right photo for a pet portrait.
Creating something a bit more lasting
Some people decide they’d like something a bit more permanent than a photo.
A drawing, a print, something framed that sits naturally in the house.
When I work on memorial portraits, I tend to keep things quite calm and simple. Nothing overdone, nothing too styled.
Just something that feels like them, in a way that’s easy to live with.
If you’d like to see a few examples, you can have a look at my pet portrait portfolio.
The small details tend to matter most
It’s often not the big things people notice.
It’s:
- the way their ears sat
- a slightly wonky expression
- something they always did without fail
Those are the bits that tend to stick.
They don’t need to be obvious to anyone else. Just familiar to you.
Taking your time with it
There’s no rush with any of this.
Some people know straight away what they want to do. Others come back to it much later.
Both are completely fine.
If you are thinking about commissioning something, you can always just start with a conversation and see how it feels. Get in touch.
Around days that feel a bit different
Things like Father’s Day can bring all of this up in a slightly unexpected way.
Especially if your pet was very much his dog, or always by his side.
Some people choose to mark that with something small. Others prefer to keep it quiet.
There’s no right way to do it, just whatever feels manageable.
If you’re thinking about a portrait
If you’re considering a hand drawn pet portrait from photos in the UK as a way to remember your pet, I approach these a little differently.
They’re a bit quieter. More about expression than anything overly polished.
You can have a look at how to commission a portrait or get in touch here if you want to chat it through.