First, take your time
There is no rush. If it helps to sit with them for a while, to say goodbye properly, please do. Grief for an animal is real and deep, and however you feel right now is completely normal. Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a friend.
Caring for their body
When you feel ready, there are a few gentle options, and your vet can help with any of them:
- Cremation. Most people choose this. An individual (or private) cremation means you receive their ashes back, often in a small casket or scatter tube. A communal cremation means their ashes aren't returned. Your vet can arrange it, or you can contact a pet crematorium directly.
- Home burial. In many places you can bury a pet in your own garden, as long as you own the land. Choose a quiet spot, dig deep, and some people like to wrap them in a favourite blanket.
- A pet cemetery. If you'd like a place to visit, dedicated pet cemeteries offer plots and small headstones.
If your pet passed at home, your vet's practice can usually still help with aftercare, just give them a call.
Telling the family, and children
Be honest and gentle. With children, simple, true words are kindest, and it's okay to use the word "died" rather than "put to sleep", which can be confusing or frightening. Let them ask questions, and let them see that it's alright to be sad. Some families find it comforting to hold a small goodbye together, a candle, a few words, a favourite photo.
Be kind to yourself
The bond you shared was profound, and the grief can catch you off guard, in the quiet moments, at the empty food bowl, at the door. That's love, not weakness. Talk to people who understand, rest when you need to, and know there are pet-loss support lines and communities if the days feel heavy. There is no timetable for missing them.
Remembering them
When you're ready, keeping their memory close can be a real comfort. Some people frame a favourite photo, plant a tree, keep a paw print, or make a small memory box. Others create a lasting online memorial, a gentle, private place to gather their story, their photos and videos, and the little things that made them who they were, to return to whenever you'd like, and to share with everyone who loved them.