Introduction

Pet loss is very difficult. It is hard not to feel like your beloved pet had its life cut short. A family member has died. It is right to grieve.

One way you can honor them is by writing a pet obituary.
Obituaries are great for informing friends and family about pets who have passed away. However, there’s another reason why writing an obituary is important. Make sure that your pet gets remembered well after their life has ended. Not only will this help with the grieving process as they cross the Rainbow Bridge, it gives other people the chance to learn about them.

Write An Opening Statement

Begin by stating the general facts about your pet’s life. When and where they were born and when did they pass?
You may want to include brief information about their passing, such as an illness, if it is something you feel comfortable sharing. This is also a good place to mention memorial service information, if applicable.

Talk About Your Pet’s Personality

We all know pets are as unique as people. Talk about the things that were specific to them. A few examples:
What was their favorite toy?
What was their favorite treat?
Where did they sleep most often?
Were they affectionate or independent?
How were they around other pets?
Who were their favorite humans?
Where were their favorite places to go?

Mention Their Hobbies & Interests

When writing a pet obituary, it is important to remember that your beloved pet’s interests were often a reflection of their owner’s own. If your pet loved playing fetch and jumping on the bed, mention that in their memorial. Another example, did you take them for s walk at the park every morning before work and then brought them home for dinner when you got home from work each day? Include this type of information as well.

Talk About Their Friends, Human and Otherwise
It’s important to think about the people who will miss your pet, especially if they were close friends. Consider writing a letter or email to those individuals and letting them know what happened. Talk about any other humans who played roles in their life beyond being owners —people like groomers, neighbors, trainers, boarders, friends or family members. This will shed some light on why this pet was so special!

Share Memories

Be specific. These are the unique moments that made your relationship special.
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to write a dry tribute, but instead share some fond memories of your pet. You can tell the story behind their name or the reason you chose them as your best friend in life. Ask yourself what attracted you to this specific dog/cat/bird/bunny and explain why they were so special for you.
Sometimes it’s the things that didn’t seem so funny at the time that makes the best stories. Did they every get into mischief around the house? What happened?
Did you or your family every dress them up?
Did you go on any trips or vacations together? Where? What happened?
What are the key moments of their life that you think about? Write those down. Share with others these special times you had together.
Get others involved! Ask the people in their life to share their memories, too!

Include Photos

Photos are a great way to remember your pet. You can include a photo of your pet with you, another pet, or even another family member or friend. If you have photos from their life together as well, this helps the reader understand how much they were loved. Pictures last forever.

Write A Closing Statement

Now that you’ve written your obituary, it’s time to close with a final statement. This can be anything from “I will never forget the day we met” to “I’ll always love her for bringing so much joy to my life.”
Since they aren’t gone, but have crossed a Rainbow Bridge, perhaps “Until we meet again” is a great way to wrap-up their memorial.
All that matters is that it’s sincere and heartfelt.

Conclusion

Remembering your pet should be a happy occasion.  Celebrate their lives by writing and sharing the great parts of your life with them.