Losing a pet sits oddly in most people's lives. There's no ritual for it, often no time off, and the house is simply quieter. What helps is usually small and physical: something to hold, somewhere to put the feeling.
A paw print
Most vets will take an impression if you ask, in ink or clay. Many people keep it in a drawer for years without knowing what to do with it. Turning it into something you wear gives it a place.
One good photo, printed
Not the camera roll. One picture, printed and framed. Phones bury photos; a frame on a shelf keeps them in the room.
Keep the collar or the tag
Worn objects hold more than new ones. A tag can go on a keyring and stay with you every day.
Write down the small things
The way they sat, the sound they made at the door, where they slept when it was hot. These are the details that fade first, and they're the ones you'll want in five years.
Plant something
A tree or a shrub in the garden, in a spot they liked. It changes with the seasons instead of staying frozen.
Give yourself the time
People often apologise for grieving an animal. There's nothing to apologise for. Ten or fifteen years of daily company is a long relationship by any measure.
If you'd like to talk through what to do with a paw print you already have, send us a message. We answer every one.