So long as the memory of certain friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.
Helen Keller
Why Do Happy Memories of a Pet Outlast the Grief?
One of the things about growing older is that you have more pets (and people) that are on the other side. The balance on that is you have wonderful memories of those beings. What do you use to connect with those memories and good feelings? One of the things that I find is the bad times you spent together, the grief when they passed, those things fade. What stays is the lessons you learned together (what you helped each other through for example, like your dog being there when you had an illness) and the love that you shared. That is because the love is real.
Do Pets Reincarnate or Come Back as Spirit Guides?
I believe our spirit and the spirit of our pet continues beyond dropping the body, this is confirmed to me by how many of the pets that I talk to saying that they are going to return to their humans, reincarnate in a new body. Some beings don’t reincarnate but will stay attached to you as a spirit guide or an angel, and either give you messages during your day or show up in your dreams. Unbelievably, TWICE when I have had a dream of being with my cat Samson, to wake up to a tuft of long orange hair on the table next to the bed. Since I now only have a short haired orange cat, a ragdoll and a seal point, there is no way that hair came from them, and the table was empty when I went to sleep. Samson makes sure I know that he is still around me, supporting and loving me.
What Are the Best Keepsakes to Remember a Pet By?
It helps to have a touchstone to connect with your beloved on the other side. I never kept a lock of Samsons hair, so I am glad that he has shared some with me from the other side. Currently, I am collecting the hair from my ragdoll Peaches, to make a sweater (or some kind of memento of her). She has amazingly soft hair, and sheds constantly. I bought a brush that sprays a mist when I brush her, and she loves it, so we have a time that we share together every day that I brush her hair. It only takes a few minutes, and it is a ritual that helps me focus on her only and keeps the shedding around the house down. Plus, I don’t know why I haven’t kept my cat’s hair earlier- I have kept pieces of all my horse’s manes. The plus to having a physical item to remember your pet is that the vibration of them is on it and will connect you instantly.
How Do You Remember a Pet Without Relying on Sight?
The amazing thing about the above quote is that Helen Keller was blind. She never SAW the beings she loved so profoundly. She carries the memory of them in her heart. She couldn’t use sight, but she still loved and remembered how those beings made her FEEL. Which is another thing that I love about love, you love who you love because of WHO they are to you, not how they look. Though I bet if polled, we ALL think our pets are adorable. Even if they are plain looking, they have habits (like Buffy’s snoring) that are adorable). I have a sculpture I did of my border collie Mandy. She always wanted to be with me in my studio, so I made her pose for me. Not only do I have the sculpture, but I have the memory of being together when the sculpture was made.
How Can I Capture My Pet's Voice, Sounds, and Personality Forever?
Many of us take incredible photos of ourselves and our pets, and those are our lifeline to remember them. When you think about memory, don’t just think of one sense, think of all of them. How did your cat feel, make you feel, how they sounded (if you can, record your cat’s purr and their meow). While I am thinking about this, my cat Buffy now has this wheezing snore that makes me always realize when she is in the room. It makes me chuckle and gives me a sense of peace. I need to record that sound, so I remember it. We live in a time when we can do these things with technology. Take advantage of it. In times of sorrow, it always helps to have mementos of the love and happy times.
Art is one of my skills, so I use it to share time with my pets and create memories. With my horses we created memories by showing. I have two world championships in Western Riding with my horse Corkscrew, and he changed my life forever because we learned how to do those riding patterns and compete together. Corkscrew and I had adventures together, and I learned more about how to work with horses because of him.
Maybe you go hiking with your dog, or your cat comforts you and is your safe space. I had Samson model, and he went to twenty-five states with me. What I am saying is CREATE the memories you want to have.
What Is a Pet Bucket List and How Do I Make One?
Many of my clients make bucket lists for their pets. One of the best uses for an animal communicator is to have them talk to your pet and see what their final wishes are (it also helps to find out how they feel- if they are suffering, hurting or don’t really feel that bad). I have to say most dogs choose to stay around a while and have a week of really great memories. They want to TASTE bacon for the first time or take that last walk around the neighborhood (even if you have to take them in a stroller) because they want to remember it all.
What Does It Mean When a Pet Therapy Dog Changes Someone's Life?
Writing this, I am looking at pictures of Lucie. Having been a pet therapy dog for 12 years, we created a ton of love and memories. I remember seeing someone at the feed store, who started crying when she saw Lucie. She said that on the WORST week of her life (her mother and dad died within two days of each other) Lucie had come in her dad’s hospital room. She said Lucie was the only bright spot in the whole week. Then she looked me full it the face and asked, “Were you there?” That was Lucie. She was magic. I gave her the strength to feel safe in the world (she had been abused and was afraid of people when I first got her) and she made it a better place for so many people.
However you choose to remember your beloved companion - through a lock of fur, a favorite photo, or the sound of a familiar purr - having something tangible to hold onto makes all the difference in your grief journey. At PetPerennials.com, we understand that these mementos matter. Our sympathy gift shop is designed to help you honor the bond you shared, offering thoughtful, lasting tributes for the pets who continue to live in your heart. Whether you're searching for a keepsake for yourself or a comforting gift for a friend who has lost a beloved animal companion, we're here to help you turn love into something you can hold onto forever.
