Dog Memorial Sayings to Honor Cherished Pets

When we lose a beloved dog with whom we’ve shared our home and our heart, the loss is immeasurable. But our memories and the love we shared will never disappear, and there are so many ways to celebrate that enduring connection.

Pet memorials can involve ceremonial events, such as a funeral, memorial service, trip to a favorite place, or fundraiser in their memory, as well as a meaningful final resting place, such as a special urn, placement under their favorite tree, or even placement at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. In addition, some people choose to create a space of remembrance separate from a grave — a memory box with their pet’s favorite toys, a display of their photo and collar, a tree planted in memory, custom pet artwork, or a brick laid at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Angels Rest among other beloved pets who have passed.

Furthermore, pet memorials often include heartfelt sayings, though sometimes it can be hard to articulate the profound effect your dog has had on your life. So we’ve gathered some memorial quotes and sayings that have made a profound impact on our lives with our pets, and we hope they will similarly provide comfort to you in this time of grief. Whether you write them in a letter, on a memorial marker, or in a speech, we hope they bring you solace.

“The sorrow brought on by their passing is a small price to pay for the joy our furry friends give us in life.”

“Forever loyal, forever loved.”

“Your friend can never be replaced but will always be remembered.”

“Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation” — Kahlil Gibran

“Don’t cry because it is over; smile because it happened.” — Dr. Seuss

“You smiled with your eyes, laughed with your tail, and loved with your heart.”

“Once by my side — forever in my heart.”

“Until we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.”

“When tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart. For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart.”

“You were my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye.”

"In the garden of memory, our friendship blooms eternal."

“The best ships leave the deepest wakes when they sail away."

"The smallest paws often leave the biggest impressions on our hearts."

"In your eyes I always saw forgiveness, patience, and a love I strive to deserve."

"The loyalty of a dog teaches us what true friendship means, even in their final goodbye."

"Their memory becomes both our greatest comfort and our deepest sorrow."

Organizing a pet memorial can seem like a daunting process. But even with minimal logistical effort, you can create a legacy for your dog and begin to process the grief.

The first step is arranging your desired form of burial — an urn, grave, or other option. Then, depending on your decision, you might select a special urn, arrange for a meaningful place to scatter their ashes, or find the right spot to bury them. It could be their favorite sunning spot or maybe the tree they sought shade from.

Next is selecting the type of memorial that feels right for you and your pet. This could involve hosting a memorial at your dog's favorite park, holding a funeral in your backyard, or simply gathering with loved ones to share fond memories of your pet. You can print photos for the gathering, bring their collar or special toys — maybe even the slippers they tore up. While it doesn’t have to be anything lavish, it can be helpful simply to take that time to process grief with others — whether it’s one person or 50 — who care about you and your beloved pet.

If you’re not able to meet in person, you can create your own pet memorial webpage, where you and loved ones can share stories and photos about your pet. When you create a memorial webpage with Best Friends, your pet will be remembered in our monthly blessing at the Sanctuary’s Angels Rest. These ceremonies celebrate and pay tribute to the special animals who remain forever in our hearts.

Ultimately, though, a pet memorial is for you. You should not feel pressure to make it a social event if that is not your instinct. Instead, some people choose to take a trip to a meaningful location where they can be present with their pet’s memory. You could also take a seeded paw card, write a special note in it, bury and water, and then watch it grow into a beautiful array of wildflowers. Or hang a memorial wind chime and think fondly of your pet whenever you hear its soothing music.

The Best Friends In Memory collection also offers memorial tokens that can be placed on graves, prayer flags, and more. Additionally, the Angels Rest Enduring Care Package serves as a symbolic gift, helping to honor the everlasting love we have for our pets by putting your gift toward maintaining Angels Rest, the final resting spot for thousands of beloved pets.

No amount of time with our best friends is enough, and saying goodbye can be devastatingly difficult. Please know that you are not alone as you experience the grief of losing a pet. Best Friends offers resources on coping with pet loss. You’ll also find a caring community of pet lovers on our Angels Rest Facebook page. We hope you find comfort during this difficult time.