When a friend loses a dog or cat, the grief is real and often underestimated by the people around them. A memorial gift says that you understand the pet was family. The most meaningful ones are personal to that animal: a paw print, a photo, a place to keep the collar. These 6 picks range from small sympathy gestures to lasting keepsakes, and each one can be made personal with the pet's name, print or picture.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for anyone supporting a friend, coworker or family member after the death of a pet, and for pet owners preparing for the end of an elderly or ill pet's life. Some keepsakes, like the paw print kits, need to be made while the pet is still with the family or at the vet's office, so they also work as a gift for someone facing a goodbye soon.
The Picks
Pearhead Pet Memory Box
Best for A lasting memorial for a close friend or family member
This black wooden box has a 4 by 6 inch photo window on the lid and a matching space for a clay paw print, with pet-safe clay, a roller and a ruler included.
Inside there is room for the collar, tags, a favorite toy, or ashes; the maker says it fits the ashes of pets up to about 100 pounds. It turns a hard moment into a single, dignified place for memories.
Check before buying: the clay print needs one to two days to dry before it goes in the box, and the paw print must be made while the pet's body is available.
Pearhead Pawprints Ornament Kit
Best for A small, personal keepsake that comes out every holiday
This kit makes a round clay ornament with the pet's paw print, hung on a red ribbon.
The non-toxic clay needs no baking and air-dries in a day or two, and you can redo the print until it looks right. In the holiday season it becomes a way to include the pet on the tree every year.
Check before buying: it suits small and medium paws best, so for a large dog press only part of the paw or roll the clay thinner.
Pearhead Paw Print Clean-Touch Ink Pad Kit, 2-Pack
Best for Capturing a print quickly without mess
These ink pads let you press a paw onto card stock without ink touching the fur.
The kit includes two pads and four imprint cards, enough to make prints for several family members. A print on card can then be framed next to a photo, which makes this an inexpensive but very personal memorial.
Check before buying: the ink window is about 2.25 by 3.5 inches, so it works best for cats and small to medium dogs.
Willow Tree Angel of Comfort
Best for A sympathy gift after the pet has already passed
Willow Tree figures are hand-painted resin pieces cast from sculptor Susan Lordi's carvings.
The Angel of Comfort shows a small boy angel seated with a brown dog in his lap and is sold specifically for comfort and remembrance. At about 3.5 inches tall, it fits on a windowsill or next to a photo.
Check before buying: the dog is a generic brown dog, so it suits dog owners more than cat owners.
Willow Tree Angel of Friendship
Best for A friend who called their dog their best friend
This 5 inch Willow Tree angel stands holding a brown dog in her arms, with the sentiment "For those who share the spirit of friendship." It is often...
This 5 inch Willow Tree angel stands holding a brown dog in her arms, with the sentiment "For those who share the spirit of friendship." It is often given as a tribute to a pet's memory and works well paired with a handwritten note.
Check before buying: stock at the brand's own store comes and goes, so check the delivery date on the listing if you need it by a specific day.
Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
Best for Families explaining the loss of a cat to children
Cynthia Rylant's picture book describes a gentle afterlife for cats, full of warm laps and sunny spots, in rhyming verse with folk art illustrations.
Grieving adults find it comforting too. Rylant's companion book, Dog Heaven, covers the same ground for dogs.
Check before buying: it is a short picture book written for young children, so pair it with a card for an adult recipient.
How to Choose a Pet Memorial Gift
Timing matters most. If the pet is elderly or ill and the family has time, a paw print kit or the memory box lets them capture a print while they still can. If the pet has already died and was cremated, a figure, a book or a framed photo is the more practical gesture.
Next, match the size of the gift to your relationship. For a coworker or acquaintance, a card and a small ornament kit are enough. For a close friend or family member, the memory box gives them a lasting place for the collar and photos.
What to Write in a Pet Sympathy Card
Use the pet's name, and mention one specific memory, such as how the dog greeted you at the door or where the cat liked to sleep. Avoid saying they can get another pet. A short line like "Biscuit was so lucky to have you" means more than a long message.
What to Check Before You Buy
- Whether the pet's body is still available before buying a paw print kit.
- Whether the pet was a dog or a cat, since some figures show a dog.
- Delivery dates, since sympathy gifts mean most in the first weeks.
How We Chose
Shelzy Perkins compared retailer listings, manufacturer and publisher details, and owner reviews, and confirmed each product is sold under the same name by the brand or another retailer. We did not physically test these products. Read our editorial policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good gift for someone who lost a pet?
A paw print keepsake like the Pearhead Pet Memory Box is the most personal gift for someone who lost a pet.
Can you make a paw print after a pet dies?
Yes, you can make a paw print after a pet dies if the body is still available, and many vets will help.
Is it appropriate to send a gift when a pet dies?
Yes, a small gift or a sympathy card is an appropriate and appreciated way to acknowledge the loss of a pet.
What should I avoid saying to someone whose pet died?
Avoid suggesting they get a new pet, and instead share a specific memory of the pet they lost.
If the loss falls during the holidays, the paw print ornament is a gentle way to keep the pet part of the season. See the Christmas Gift Finder 2026 for every holiday guide by recipient and budget.
