One of the hardest parts of having a pet dog is the day we have to say goodbye. From the moment we bring these furry friends home, they begin to become part of the family.
Our dogs truly are our best friends and beloved companions. Sadly, our incredible dogs have an average lifespan of 8 to 13 years. This means we will likely face the honor and hardship of helping our faithful companions pass on.
For pet parents, it’s hard to describe the intense connection between themselves and their pets. Dogs are a perfect combination of intelligence, loyalty, and unconditional love. Our relationships with our pups are sacred, and it can be difficult to know how to honor their remarkable lives after they’ve passed.
Whether it’s the joy that comes from seeing our dogs’ wagging tails at the door each day when we come home from work, the fulfillment of caring for another creature, or their adorable noses waking us up in the mornings, our relationship with our dogs is unique. These amazing friends add so much to our lives, and that love is worth celebrating long after they’ve passed.
Pet Cremation
Because there is so much love for these incredible animals, it can be challenging to think about what will happen when they pass away. As difficult as that day will inevitably be, it can help you and your pup to plan ahead.
Because our dogs mean so much to us, one of the most loving things we can do is to map out the future and make hard decisions in advance. This will allow us to be present during their last days without having to worry about the next steps we should take.
One of the first decisions we have to make when planning end-of-life treatment is choosing post-life services. For many people, cremation is one of the most ethical and hygienic options. Cremation services for dogs are available in most local communities or cities. This also gives you the ability to receive your dog's ashes if you use partitioned or private cremation.
You might also choose to lay your pet to rest on your family property. It can be comforting to feel your dog’s presence near you at home even after they’ve passed, especially somewhere that’s meaningful to your relationship.
However, many people can’t bury their pets on their family property because of spatial constraints. This is especially true if you live in an apartment complex or another shared space.
Both cremation and burial provide memorial opportunities that can help keep your animal’s memory close. You can host a funeral service or memorial for your pet following either. You can also visit your dog’s burial site and leave them treats as a gift or scatter your pup’s ashes somewhere they loved.
If you are trying to think of ways to keep your best friend close to your heart, here are some of the best ways to make a keepsake from your dog's ashes.
How Does Cremation Work?
Before you choose to make a memorial keepsake, you might be wondering whether cremation is right for your family.
There is no wrong answer when it comes to post-life services. If you are considering cremation, know that it is an ethical and hygienic alternative to burial. It’s also a cost-effective option that can be quick and convenient. Burial may incur holding fees at your veterinarian’s office to slow the decomposition process, as time is of the essence following your beloved pet’s passing.
Why Should You Make a Keepsake?
Once your pet is cremated, you have the opportunity to use their ashes as a memorial.
Everyone handles death and grief differently. Some prefer to process their emotions with friends and family, while others prefer alone time with their thoughts. Similarly, some people prefer to keep their beloved pet’s ashes in their home, while others want to scatter the ashes somewhere meaningful to say goodbye.
If you believe that creating a memorial would help you honor and celebrate your pet’s impact and legacy, the process of creating a keepsake from your remarkable pet’s ashes could help you along your healing journey.
The process of creating a memorial keepsake provides opportunities to remember your incredible pet and tell stories about their life. The keepsake itself can also act as a talking point and a reason to share their legacy with others.
Beyond these moments of celebration, a keepsake can act as a physical reminder of the special bond you share. You can take the keepsake with you wherever you go to carry your beloved pet with you on your journey, or you can keep it somewhere safe and rest easy knowing your keepsake is always there waiting for you.
If you feel like you would benefit from making a keepsake from your dog's ashes, here are some ideas of ways to commemorate their extraordinary life.
Commemorative Urn
Urns are beautiful vessels for a pet’s ashes that can be custom-made to honor their legacy. This can look like creating an urn using your favorite picture of your dog, their name and date of birth, or a favorite nickname. You can display this urn in your home, or you can leave it somewhere meaningful that reminds you of the joy your puppy experienced during their life.
Locket or Keychain
Creating jewelry is another way to make a keepsake from your pet’s ashes. These specially designed pieces are meant to house a part of your pet’s ashes. The rest can be kept in an urn or scattered with family.
Common pieces of jewelry that you can purchase include lockets or pendants. This helps you keep your pet’s memory close, and you can wear them on special occasions.
Another option is to get a keychain that allows you to store your pet's ashes. These are fun, creative options for keeping the memory of your pet close. A keychain is also a great option if you don’t wear jewelry but still want to carry a physical reminder of your pet’s memory with you through life.
Scattering Their Ashes
Dogs are social and outdoor creatures. Even if you have a lap dog, you know that one of the joys of owning a pet is taking them for walks and figuring out your favorite exercise routines. Scattering your dog’s ashes in your favorite park or hiking trail is a beautiful way of commemorating their life.
Before you scatter their ashes, check with local governance to make sure that you are allowed to do so. Some public parks and areas may have restrictions on scattering a pet’s ashes, while others may allow it.
Memorial Diamonds
One of the most beautiful keepsakes you can create using your dog’s ashes is a memorial diamond. This is a stunning way to create a truly one-of-a-kind keepsake that will last for eternity, just like your bond.
How Do You Grow a Memorial Diamond?
Memorial diamonds are created in a simple seven-stage process.
Diamonds are naturally formed in the Earth’s mantle, about a hundred miles under the Earth’s surface. Carbon atoms are exposed to incredible amounts of heat and pressure at this intense depth. Because of this, the carbon takes on a unique tetrahedral shape and bonds in an infinite lattice network.
The result is the hardest substance in nature and one of the most precious gemstones. When cremated ashes are taken to be processed into a diamond, they are purified down to their carbonic elements and placed in state-of-the-art labs that can simulate the conditions in the Earth’s mantle.
The diamond created from the carbon in your pet’s ashes is entirely real, and IGI grades them to confirm their value. Not only are these diamonds real, but they are an authentic piece of your faithful companion that you can carry throughout your life and pass down for generations.
Because these diamonds are grown in a lab, they can also be custom-designed to fit any specific cut, shape, setting, and even color. This provides even more opportunities to honor your pet’s legacy by tailoring their memorial diamond in a way that reflects their unique traits and stories.
Each step of the diamond creation process is personal and special, and each member of Eterneva’s team is honored to tell your beloved pet’s story. We learn about your remarkable companion at every stage of the journey, and everyone from our lab technicians to our master cutters is proud to learn about your incredible dog.
Having your pet’s ashes transformed into a one-of-a-kind diamond should be a deeply personal experience, and you’ll receive updates every step of the way. By following your diamond’s journey, you can begin to heal and celebrate your remarkable bond with your pet.
Conclusion
Creating a keepsake from your pet’s ashes can provide opportunities for healing and celebration during the grieving process. If you choose to create a diamond from the carbon in your pet’s ashes, you’ll have a token that will last forever in their memory. Just like your unique and unquestionable bond, this diamond is one-of-a-kind.
Sources:
How Diamonds are Formed | Cape Town Diamond Museum
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