The house can feel impossibly quiet after a pet is gone. Their bowl is still in the same place. The leash is still hanging by the door. And then, at some point—sometimes from a veterinary clinic, sometimes from a crematory—you receive the items that make everything suddenly real: a small bag or box, a certificate, a clay impression kit, an ink print card. For many families, the question isn’t just “How do we honor them?” It’s “How do we honor them in a way that feels like them—and still fits how we actually live?”
Choosing a portrait, a paw print keepsake, or a piece of jewelry can be a gentle way to bring love into the open again. And if you’re also navigating pet urns, pet urns for ashes, or broader funeral planning, it helps to think of these choices as connected—not separate decisions you have to solve all at once.
Start with where the memorial will “live” in your daily life
Before you choose style, medium, or budget, it helps to ask a quieter question: will this memorial be something you see every day, something you wear every day, or something you return to when you need it?
Some people want a visual anchor—a portrait on the wall, a framed paw print, a small shelf that holds a photo and a candle. Others want something private and portable, like cremation jewelry, because grief has a way of showing up in the grocery store aisle or in the car at a stoplight, not just in peaceful moments at home.
There’s no correct answer, and you don’t have to pick only one. Many families create a “layered” memorial: one central piece at home, plus something smaller that offers comfort on the move—like cremation necklaces or a tiny keepsake. That flexibility matters, especially in households where people grieve differently.
Choosing a pet portrait that feels like them (not just “a nice picture”)
A pet portrait can be profoundly comforting because it restores personality—expression, posture, that specific tilt of the head that says, This is my dog. Or this is my cat, judging me lovingly from across the room.
Start with the photo, because the photo determines almost everything that comes after. The best reference image isn’t always the most polished; it’s the one that captures your pet’s recognizable spirit. If your favorite picture is a little blurry but it shows the exact way they looked at you, that may be more “accurate” emotionally than a perfectly lit shot where they look like a different animal.
Then comes the question of medium. If you want something that reads as warm and timeless, traditional painting styles tend to soften edges and create a “memory” feeling. If you want something that feels modern and crisp, digital illustration and high-detail prints can be striking. If you know the portrait will be in a high-traffic space—near sunlight, kids, or curious cats—durability matters as much as beauty. Consider how it will be displayed: a framed print behind glass, a canvas that can be wiped gently, or a metal print that holds up well over time.
If you’re working with an artist or vendor, one practical kindness you can offer yourself is clarity. Decide upfront how many revisions you’ll want, what level of realism you expect, and what details matter most (a unique marking, a favorite collar, a scar that tells a story). A proof process is less about being picky and more about making sure the memorial feels personal rather than generic.
Paw prints: turning a tiny impression into something lasting
A paw print can feel almost miraculous—proof of a life you loved, captured in a shape you can touch. But families are often surprised by how many choices come after the print arrives. Do you keep it simple, or turn it into art? Do you display it, store it, or incorporate it into something you wear?
If you received both ink and clay options, it’s okay to treat them differently. Clay impressions are tactile and three-dimensional; ink prints are graphic and easy to scan, enlarge, and reproduce for multiple family members. Some people frame the original and create copies for siblings or kids. Others use the paw print as the “center” of a memorial corner, pairing it with a photo and a small urn.
If you’re still deciding how to honor the ashes as well, paw prints can connect beautifully with pet cremation urns—especially when an urn includes engraving space, a nameplate, or artwork elements that reflect your pet’s look and personality. Funeral.com’s guide on paw prints and keepsakes walks through ways families preserve and display prints, including how they can be incorporated into other memorial items. And if personalization is important, you may find it helpful to browse Engravable Pet Urns for Ashes for examples of how names, dates, and paw motifs can be integrated without making the memorial feel overly ornate.
Jewelry memorials: when you want closeness you can carry
Some grief is quiet. It doesn’t need a centerpiece; it needs a small, steady point of contact. That’s where cremation jewelry can be deeply meaningful—especially when the idea of keeping ashes in one visible place feels heavy, or when family members want different forms of closeness.
Most cremation necklaces and similar pieces hold a tiny, symbolic portion of ashes. They’re not meant to replace an urn; they’re meant to help you carry love through regular life. If you’re new to the idea, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 is a gentle starting point that explains how these pieces are constructed and what families typically choose.
When selecting jewelry, think like you’re choosing something you’ll actually wear. If you don’t normally wear necklaces, a pendant may end up in a drawer—not because you don’t care, but because it doesn’t fit your habits. If you’re active, a simple design with a secure closure may feel best. If you want pet-specific symbolism (paw prints, silhouettes, heart motifs), Funeral.com’s Pet Cremation Jewelry collection shows how varied “pet jewelry” can be, from subtle to more expressive.
And because this is a keepsake that holds meaning and material, it’s worth learning basic care and security practices. Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry Care Guide covers everyday cleaning and how families keep the contents protected over time.
When ashes are part of the story: urns, keepsakes, and what comes next
For many families, memorial decisions get tangled up with a practical question: what to do with ashes. Sometimes you feel certain right away. Other times, you know you’re not ready, and you just want something respectful while you find your footing.
If you’re considering keeping ashes at home, you’re in very good company. The idea can feel comforting, but it can also raise real questions about placement, safety, visitors, children, and pets in the household. Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home walks through those concerns in a calm, practical way.
When it comes to containers, the options range from full-size cremation urns (for people) to pet urns and smaller keepsakes for companion animals. Some families choose one main urn and then share small portions among family members using small cremation urns or keepsake urns, especially when relatives live in different homes or simply grieve in different ways.
If you’re exploring options, these collections can help you visualize what “right for us” might look like:
- Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes for a wide range of styles and materials, including photo and engraved designs
- Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes when you want something very small and shareable
- Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes if a sculptural, “presence in the room” memorial feels most comforting
And if you’re planning memorialization for a person as well, the parallel options are there too—like Cremation Urns for Ashes, small cremation urns, and keepsake urns—because many families are balancing pet loss with other kinds of loss, sometimes in the same season of life.
If your heart is pulling you toward an outdoor ritual, scattering and water burial can be part of a meaningful plan too—sometimes alongside keeping a small portion at home. Funeral.com’s water burial guide explains how these ceremonies typically work and how biodegradable options fit into that choice.
Budget, proofs, and expectations: making practical decisions without guilt
Even in grief, money is real. And it’s normal to feel conflicted about spending—especially when you’re not sure what you’ll want six months from now.
If you’re asking how much does cremation cost, costs can vary widely by location and the type of service. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) publishes national figures, including a reported median cost of a funeral with cremation (including a memorial service) of $6,280 (2023). Funeral.com also breaks down common ranges and options—like direct cremation versus cremation with a service—in its guide on how much cremation costs.
It can also help to remember that cremation itself has become the majority choice in the U.S. According to the NFDA, the projected U.S. cremation rate for 2025 is 63.4%, and the organization projects it will continue rising over time. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) also publishes annual industry statistics and trends, which many professionals use as a reliable snapshot of where families’ choices are heading.
In practical terms, budgeting gets easier when you separate “must-have” from “nice-to-have.” A respectful urn or keepsake container is often the first need. Portraits, jewelry, and custom artwork can be chosen later, once the initial shock softens and you can feel what truly fits.
If you’re working with an artist or purchasing a custom piece, a few simple questions can prevent disappointment later:
- What will the final size and material be (and how should it be displayed or cleaned)?
- Will I receive a proof, and how many revisions are included?
- What exactly is being customized (photo, engraving, paw print, color palette)?
- If ashes are involved, how are they handled, sealed, and protected?
These aren’t “business questions.” They’re care questions—ways of protecting your heart while you create something meaningful.
Matching memorial style to household dynamics
A memorial doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it lives in a home, and a home is shared. Some people want a visible tribute, and others prefer privacy. Sometimes children want something they can hold, while adults want something they can tuck away. Sometimes one person needs a portrait in the living room, and another can only handle a small item in a bedside drawer.
If you feel tension in the family, it can help to frame memorial choices as additive rather than competitive. A shared plan might look like this: one primary urn for the home, a framed paw print for a memorial corner, and a small piece of cremation jewelry for the person who needs closeness on difficult days. You’re not choosing “the one right way.” You’re choosing a set of supports that respects different grief styles.
And if your decisions are also tied to broader funeral planning—timelines, costs, ceremonies, travel, or questions about future placement of ashes—give yourself permission to move slowly. A memorial can evolve. In fact, it often should.
A gentle way to know you’ve chosen well
The right portrait, paw print keepsake, or jewelry memorial usually has one shared quality: it makes you exhale. Not because you’re “over it,” but because something in you recognizes, Yes. That feels like love.
