Should I still create an obituary for my pet that passed a while ago?

Of course!

The loss of a beloved pet is felt many years after they pass.  This was a family member.  Even though time has passed and wounds have healed, it is only right to still miss them.

A pet from any period of your life had an impact on you.  Even though time has passed and healed, it often helps to put down into words the way they made you feel.  One of the benefits of writing a pet obituary after time has passed is that these are often just pleasant memories rather than feelings of grief.  Think of it as just telling happy stories about a loved one in your past.

Childhood Pets

For many, losing a pet in childhood is the first real experience of loss.  It can be traumatic, even years later.  Writing about them is a useful process.  The pup that greeted you when you got home, the bunny you rushed home to care for, the cat that you dressed up (to its irritation).  You get a chance to share memories about them from a more mature perspective.

These pets may only exist in the memories of those who cared for them.  What a great way to revive their memory!  Write an obituary, or celebration of their life, and post it to share with others.  Do you only have physical pictures?  No problem!  You can take those photos and scan them to upload.  Another option is to lay them on a flat surface and use your phone to take a digital picture and upload.

In Our 20’s

Making our way in the world isn’t always easy when we’re young.  We’re trying to figure out careers and personal relationships.  We now have the responsibilities that come with adulthood: bills, loans, and jobs.

Having a pet during this time can be reassuring.  With all of the uncertainty, you know there is someone who will love you unconditionally when you get home.  This is often the first pet that is truly ‘ours’ as you have your own place to live.  

Pets that come into our lives in our 20’s often see us through marriages and the birth of kids.  They hold a special place in our hearts.  Losing them is difficult.  When they cross over the Rainbow Bridge, it is an affirmation that our youth has passed.

Remembering them and this time of our lives is important.  When writing a pet obituary, write about the things that you did together at this point in your life.  It may be a great trip down memory lane. 

Pets with Kids/Family

Bringing pets into a family with children is special.  You get to see the positive and loving interactions between them.  Often, they grow together.  Pets are truly a part of the family.  

They make their way into our beds, onto our Christmas cards, and into our hearts.

These are special times in our lives, both as kids and then later as adults.  These family photos are great to share in a pet obituary that you are creating perhaps long after a pet has left.  Relive those memories and honor their spirit.

Empty Nest

Once kids have left the house, you may have an older pet that was part of the family or you may get a new pet.  In either case, you’ve got a best friend.  Companionship at this time of our life it important and pets provide that unconditionally.  Losing one at this phase in life is difficult.   Write about what they meant to you.  The bond was likely different than the one you shared with your pets earlier in life.  

Conclusion

In summary, regardless of when you lost a pet it is helpful to write about their lives and celebrate them.  You will get to experience the good memories of their life all over again.  It may be easier to write about them after time has passed.  The emotions that come with loss have subsided.  Now you are free to remember the great parts of them without any pain.  

You are also helping others.  Many are wondering, “Should I write a Obituary for my Pet?”  It is a search phrase on Google that gets traffic each month.  By writing one of your own you are answering that question.  You also are giving examples of what others may want to include when they create on of their own.