There’s nothing like the bond you share with your pet. A loyal companion who stood by your side for years, your pet brightened up your darkest days and provided comfort in your times of need.
When it’s time for them to go over the Rainbow Bridge, it’s only natural you want to commemorate them in a loving way — just like they’d do for you if they had the chance. Storing your pet’s ashes at home inside an urn on your mantelpiece might not seem like enough of a tribute for all the happiness and love they brought into your life.
If you want to honour your pet in a more creative and fitting way, here are ten practical ways to keep, scatter or memorialise a pet’s ashes.
What to do with a pet's ashes
- Turn them into diamond jewellery
Transform the ashes of your pet into a beautiful cremation diamond you’ll treasure forever. Have the diamond set into a stunning piece of jewellery so you can keep them close to you at all times.
- Scatter them somewhere significant
Let your pet run free forever by scattering their ashes somewhere important to them. This could be their favourite park, a nature walk they loved or a place close to where you first found them.
- Bury them somewhere meaningful
You can also bury their ashes in one of the special places you two used to visit together. This way, when you go out for a walk, you’ll be able to stop by and remember the good times you both shared.
- Grow a memorial tree
If you’ve got a garden, you can plant a young tree and scatter their ashes on the roots. The tree can become a living memorial. Cremated remains can affect soil chemistry, so use a suitable planting method and follow the supplier’s guidance instead of placing a concentrated amount directly around the roots.
- Plant them with a houseplant
An alternative to growing a memorial tree is to plant your pet’s ashes with a houseplant you can keep indoors. Here are some of the longest-living houseplants to consider so you can keep your pet with you for as long as possible.
- Succulent
- Cycad
- Cactus
- Table palm
- ZZ plant
- Spider plant
- Hoya
- Aspidistra cast iron plant
- Monstera
- Philodendron
- Water burial
If your pet loved the water, you may consider scattering the ashes or using a suitable biodegradable urn. Check landowner or site rules, avoid adding non-biodegradable objects, and minimise any effect on other people and the water environment.
- Make a commemorative statue
Commission a sculptor to make a statue of your pet by combining their ashes with sculpting materials. This way you’ll have a physical reminder of your pet which can live in your home or garden forever.
- Request a painting
Some artists will mix your pet’s ashes into paint and create a gorgeous picture. You can have a portrait of your pet made, a painting of you both together or even a landscape of your pet’s favourite place.
- Get a tattoo
A tattoo can be a personal memorial without containing ashes. If you are considering any process that mixes ashes with tattoo ink, speak to an appropriately licensed and experienced practitioner first and follow their hygiene and safety advice.
- Have a farewell fireworks ceremony
A specialist memorial-firework provider may be able to arrange a farewell ceremony using part of the ashes. Use a provider that can explain how the material is handled, where the display may legally take place and which local firework restrictions apply.
Give them the send off they deserve
Turning them into an ever-lasting diamond is just one of many different things you can do with your pet’s ashes. If none of the above suggestions feel right just yet, be patient. Keep your pet’s ashes at home until you decide which option is right for you. If you can’t settle on one idea, consider dividing the ashes up and saying your farewells in several ways.