What to Give Someone Who Has Lost a Pet

When a friend loses a pet, the kindest thing is usually simple: tell them you are sorry, use their pet's name, and make it easy for them not to reply. A gift can help mark the loss, but it is never required, and a card or an offer of practical help is often enough.

This guide is for the person sending something. If you are choosing a memorial for your own pet, our pet memorial gift chooser is the better place to start.

Start with a card or a message

The RSPCA's advice on supporting someone after a pet dies is to acknowledge the loss, listen, use the pet's name and offer help that fits what they need, while respecting that some people want space. A short handwritten card does all of that.

  • Name the pet, and mention one thing you remember about them.
  • Say you are sorry. You do not need to find the perfect words.
  • Add "no need to reply" so the card does not become another job.

For help with wording on a keepsake itself, see what to write on a pet memorial.

Practical help can matter more than an object

Dropping round a meal, walking another dog in the house, or helping with errands can be more useful than anything you buy. If you are not sure what would help, ask.

If you want to give a gift

Think about three things before you order: how well you knew the pet, whether your friend likes things on display, and how personal the gift is.

  • You knew the pet well, and they like keepsakes on show: a piece made from photos can work. Our custom pet memorial portrait is 18 cm tall with the pet's name on the base, and the pet memorial angel statue takes a name or a short line. Both are made from 1 to 5 clear photos, so you will need good pictures of the pet.
  • You are unsure what they would want: a Ripleys Nest gift card (£10 to £100, sent by email) lets them choose, now or later, without feeling they must display something.
  • Anything very personal: ask first before ordering anything that holds ashes, needs private photos, or is meant for a garden they may not have.

Is there a right time to send something?

There is no fixed rule. A message in the first few days lets them know you noticed. A card weeks or months later, or on an anniversary, can mean just as much, because that is often when other people have stopped mentioning it.

What to avoid

  • Saying it was "just" a dog or a cat. Pets are family, and the RSPCA lists this among the things not to say.
  • Suggesting they get another pet soon.
  • Choosing an urn, or anything tied to ashes, without asking.
  • Expecting a reply or a thank you.

If grief feels too heavy

If your friend is struggling, you can point them gently to free support. The Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service offers confidential support, and the RSPCA's pet bereavement pages cover how to support someone who has lost a pet.

Looking for more ideas? Browse our pet memorial gifts guide or cat memorial gifts.