Person holding a dog and hugging the dog while outside in front of green bushes

Person holding a dog in their arms while kissing the dog on the top of their head

Remembering our special pets during Pet Memorial Month

Person sitting down next to a dog outside with their arms around them

Pay tribute to a beloved pet who’s passed

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

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

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.

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

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.

Coping with pet loss Join us for a pet blessing Make a gift in honor of your best friend

Hawkeye the dog smiling and wearing a hoodie

Scrappy pup goes from matted to marvelous

After living in heartbreaking conditions, Hawkeye made a total transformation thanks to a team of superheroes who helped him along the way. Read More

Remember your pet in a blessing

You’re invited to join us virtually or in person for a special annual blessing on September 25 at 4 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 will be remembered in an upcoming blessing. Please be sure to create your memorial by September 21 to have it included in the September blessing. Memorials created after September 21 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 25, 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.

Create a fundraiser to honor your best friend Get involved to save pets in your community Help besties-to-be with a lifesaving gift

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

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

Join

We believe every pet deserves a home, whether it’s a house with a fenced yard, a cozy apartment, or a safe outdoor space for community cats. Do you agree?

I Agree

Person kneeling down next to a dog and kissing the side of their face

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. 

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.

At Best Friends, we understand the special place we understand the special place that pets have in our lives. 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

Join our caring community

Connect with us on social media to join a community of caring pet lovers who understand the pain of saying goodbye to a best friend. We are committed to honoring those lives by working to ensure that every dog and cat in this country has a loving family to call their own.