Cat relaxing on a cat bed in a catio with their air outstretched
Cat relaxing on a cat bed in a catio with their air outstretched

Remembering our special pets during Pet Memorial Month

Make a Memorial Gift

Here at Best Friends, September is a month of pet remembrance.

Smiling person hugging a dog in a field

Pay tribute to a beloved pet who’s passed

Celebrating your pet’s life — and your enduring connection — can provide comfort and light in grief’s darkest moments. Honor the memory of the companion who was always at your side by creating a special pet memorial page to pay tribute to your beloved pet or a grieving pet lover in your life.
Create a Memorial
Open hand with heart icon

Give a gift in memory

When you make a gift in memory of a special pet, you are not only honoring that indelible connection, but you’re also providing lifesaving second chances to homeless pets at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and around the country.

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REMEMBERING OUR BEST FRIENDS
Pets make our hearts fuller and our lives brighter, leaving us forever changed. Here are your stories of hope and healing.
Icon of cat sitting next to dog
Coping with pet loss Join us for a pet blessing Make a gift in honor of your best friend
Julie Castle hugging Shadow the dog

Julie Castle's Blog

For the love of Shadow: A tribute to a big dog with a big personality
Reflecting on a lifetime of boundless love after a sudden goodbye In memory of a beloved friend.
Read Julie's full blog post
Person hugging a dog while sitting on a couch

Fostering a dog to heal a grieving heart

In the midst of the L.A. fires, Erin’s beloved canine companion passed away, but his indomitable spirit has helped her pick up the pieces and start again.
Foster dog is helping fill the hole in her heart
Smiling person and a dog relaxing on the floor

Magical fresh start for senior dog

A man signed up to foster because his 17-year-old dog passed away and he missed the companionship, which led him to Dublin. 
See him in action
Smiling person holding a small dog

Dog goes from face in the crowd to one in a million

After senior dog Ellie passed away from cancer, her people opened their hearts and home to Berry, a little dog rescued from an overcrowding situation.
A berry happy ending
Closeup of a person's hand holding a dog's paw

The shape of our grief

Coping with the range of emotions, including self-blame, that accompany the loss of a pet.
Finding comfort after loss
Smiling person hugging a dog

Laced with grace: Saying goodbye to a beloved dog

Excerpt from 'A Tail of Grace: A Year in Search of Home After the Death of My Soul-Dog.' 
Learn about her emotional journey
woman snuggling face-to-face with brown tabby cat

September is a month of pet remembrance

No matter where you live, you can attend our virtual and in-person gatherings to remember and celebrate special pets who are gone from our lives.
Find comfort and healing throughout the month
Youtube Video Embed

Remember your pet in a blessing

You’re invited to join us virtually or in person for a special annual blessing on September 24 at 4:30 p.m. MT to celebrate the profound effect that pets have on our lives.

Our blessing ceremonies are held at our animal sanctuary on the last Thursday of every month, and they provide an opportunity for people to come together not only to grieve but to celebrate all the special souls who have touched their lives. 

When you create a memorial for your pet, your pet's name and photo will be included in the final recording of our special Pet Memorial Month blessing that will be posted on Facebook and YouTube. Please be sure to create your memorial by September 20 to have it included in the September blessing. Memorials created after September 20 will be included in the October blessing.

You can watch the ceremony virtually via Best Friends’ YouTube channel or on Facebook, where we'll post the final recording of the blessing the first week of October. If you plan to visit our animal sanctuary and would like to attend in person on September 24, please email angelsrest@bestfriends.org.
 

Join us for the blessing

MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF YOUR PET
We're working to save the lives of dogs and cats around the country. Helping dogs and cats in memory of your pet helps save the lives of pets waiting for homes of their own.
Dog and cat icon with ball of yarn
Create a fundraiser to honor your best friend Get involved to save pets in your community Help besties-to-be with a lifesaving gift
line drawing of house with heart

Adopt

When you adopt a pet from a rescue group or animal shelter instead of buying from a breeder or puppy mill, you’re providing a lifesaving second chance.
Adopt a Pet
line drawing of person with heart

Donate

To celebrate the memory of the beloved companion who was always at your side, you can make a memorial donation in remembrance of a pet.
Make a Memorial Gift
heart outline

Remember

Celebrate the life of your pet by joining us for one of our virtual or in-person Pet Memorial Month gatherings where we’ll be remembering our best friends.
Remember With Us
Happy medium-sized dog sitting in field of sunflowers

Create a memorial webpage to remember your pet

Pay tribute to your special pet on a digital memorial page, where you can tell their story and upload your favorite photos to easily share with family and friends.
Create a Pet Memorial

See more ways to remember our best friends

WHO WE ARE
At Best Friends Animal Society, we understand the enduring love between people and their pets. We believe in giving pets second chances and happy homes. 
line drawing of sitting dog and lying cat
Our work around the U.S. Our mission: No-kill The Best Friends story
Person sitting with a dog on a bench under a tree while the sun sets in the background

About Best Friends

Here at Best Friends, home to the largest no-kill companion animal sanctuary in the country, we know that grief can arrive when we least expect it. But so too do the hope and healing that come from remembering those we love.
Angels Rest is a serene place of remembrance at the heart of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary where hundreds of wind chimes ring in memory of beloved pets, carried on the soft breezes of Angel Canyon. It’s where memorial stones — with their touching tributes and keepsakes — pay tribute to the love we hold for our dogs, cats, and other companions.
A peaceful place of remembrance

 

Best Friends’ lifesaving work around the country 

Our southern Utah animal sanctuary and lifesaving centers around the country are the heart and soul of Best Friends. 

Visit bestfriends.org