Pet Memorial Gifts

Pet memorial gifts: what to send when someone loses a dog or cat

When someone's dog or cat dies, most people say nothing. Not because they don't care, but because they're not sure a pet counts as a bereavement. It does, and the silence is the part owners remember.

A pet memorial gift doesn't need to be big or engraved. The set that works is three small things: a candle they can light on the date, a print for the shelf or the wall where the bed used to be, and a card with the animal's name written in it in your handwriting.

Everything below is designed in house and posted from the UK, so the candle, the print and the card arrive in one parcel — and it's fine, often better, to send it two weeks later rather than the same day.

Pet memorial candle, print and card sets

Pick one of each — a candle to light, a print to keep out, and a card with the pet's name in it.

A typographic music print featuring Taylor Swift Bejewelled lyrics on high-quality paper, unframed. Best Believe I'm Still Bejewelled By Taylor Swift Music Lyrics Print £8.00 Unframed wall art print featuring the text 'In A World Of Grey, Be A Flamingo' in colourful, vibrant lettering. In A World Of Grey, Be A Flamingo Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 A colourful typographic wall art print with the quote 'I work hard so that my dog can live a better life' in A4 or A3. I Work Hard So That My Dog Can Live A Better Life Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 A colourful fitness wall print illustrating the HYROX competition race format with running and functional workout steps. Hyrox Competition Race Format Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 Pack of 6 Minimalist Wooden Drinks Coasters Pack of 6 Minimalist Wooden Drinks Coasters £4.50 All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00

Shop pet memorial gifts

What to write in a pet sympathy card

  • Use the pet's name. People are frightened to and it means everything. Shop this card
  • So sorry about Bella. Sixteen years is a whole chapter of your life. Shop this card
  • He was a brilliant dog and the house will be far too quiet. Shop this card
  • Thinking of you. No need to reply to this one. Shop this card
  • I keep remembering the way she used to greet everyone at the door. Shop this card
  • You gave him a very good life, right to the end. Shop this card
  • There's no shame in this hurting as much as it does. Shop this card
  • Light this one for Milo when you're ready. Shop this card

What to send, and when

  • A candle, because there's a first evening without them and it's the worst one. Shop this card
  • A print or keepsake for the shelf where the bed or the bowl used to be. Shop this card
  • A card on its own is plenty if you don't know them well. Shop this card
  • Send it a week or two after — the first few days are full of people, then everyone stops. Shop this card
  • For a child who's lost a pet, keep it simple and let them keep something on the windowsill. Shop this card
  • For a colleague, a card signed by the team beats a collection. Shop this card
  • Mark the anniversary a year on. Almost nobody does and it lands hard. Shop this card
  • If they're on their own now, offer a specific day to visit rather than "let me know". Shop this card

What not to send

Candles to light for them

Hand-poured soy candles, made in the UK — the quiet gift for the first hard evenings.

65th Cake & Candles Birthday Card For Wife 65th Cake & Candles Birthday Card For Wife £3.87

Prints and keepsakes

Something for the shelf or the wall where the bed used to sit.

A typographic music print featuring Taylor Swift Bejewelled lyrics on high-quality paper, unframed. Best Believe I'm Still Bejewelled By Taylor Swift Music Lyrics Print £8.00 Unframed wall art print featuring the text 'In A World Of Grey, Be A Flamingo' in colourful, vibrant lettering. In A World Of Grey, Be A Flamingo Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 A colourful typographic wall art print with the quote 'I work hard so that my dog can live a better life' in A4 or A3. I Work Hard So That My Dog Can Live A Better Life Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 A colourful fitness wall print illustrating the HYROX competition race format with running and functional workout steps. Hyrox Competition Race Format Print (A4 & A3) £8.00 Pack of 6 Minimalist Wooden Drinks Coasters Pack of 6 Minimalist Wooden Drinks Coasters £4.50 All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Colourful typography poster featuring the text You're Gonna Hear Me Roar from Katy Perry's song, unframed music print. You're Gonna Hear Me Roar Poster (Music Lyric Print) £8.00 Graphic music lyric print featuring a giant open mouth and lyrics from Lola Young's song Messy. Cause I'm Too Messy And Then I'm Too Fucking Clean (Music Lyric Prints) £8.00 Taylor Swift Who's Afraid of Little Old Me lyric print featuring minimalist black typography on a white background. Whose Afraid Of Little Old Me By Taylor Swift Music Lyrics Print £8.00 "Let It Be" Beatles lyric print featuring a guitar illustration and song lyrics, displayed as unframed wall art. "Let It Be" By The Beatles Inspired Music Lyrics Print (Guitar) £8.00

Pet loss and sympathy cards

Printed and posted in the UK, blank inside so you can write the pet's name.

Funny Valentine's Day card with the cheeky text 'The petrol station was out of flowers, will these do?' The Petrol Station Was Out Of Flowers, Will These Do? (Valentines Day Card) £3.87 A simple and elegant 'I'm Sorry To Hear About Your Loss' sympathy card with a clean, comforting design and envelope. I'm Sorry To Hear About Your Loss (With Sympathy Card) £3.87 Thinking of You Pet Bereavement Card Thinking of You Pet Bereavement Card £3.87 Condolence and sympathy greeting card featuring the comforting message "Thinking Of You" in a gentle, elegant design. Thinking Of You Card (With Sympathy / Sorry For Your Loss / Bearevement) £3.87

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What is a good pet memorial gift?

A candle they can light on the date, a print or keepsake for the spot where the bed used to be, and a card with the pet's name written in it. Sent together they cover the first hard evening and the months afterwards, and none of them ask anything of the owner.

How much should I spend on a pet loss gift?

£10–£25 is the normal range in the UK. Spending much more can make it awkward to receive — the thing that lands is that you acknowledged the animal at all.

Is it too late to send something weeks later?

No — later is often better. The first few days are busy and then everyone goes quiet, so a card or candle arriving two or three weeks in is usually the one they remember.

What do you write in a pet sympathy card?

Use the pet's name, say one specific thing you remember about them, and say no reply is needed. Avoid "at least" sentences and anything about getting another one.

Do you sell engraved pet memorials or urns?

No. We make candles, prints, coasters and cards in the UK. If you want an engraved stone, paw print casting or urn, buy that from a memorial specialist and send a card and candle alongside it.