15 Suggestions for Your Pet’s Ashes

Pets are the new “children” for a lot of people. Loving, trusting and faithful, pets hold a special place in their owners' hearts. And when the pet crosses over the rainbow bridge, you’ll have a lot of difficult choices to make.

If you’re thinking of cremating your animal, the following are ideas that may help you say “goodbye” to your best friend the right way. 

15 Ideas for Your Pet’s Ashes

1. Keep Them in Pet Cremation Urns

One of the simplest and most popular options is to have a cremation urn that holds all of your pet’s ashes. You can keep this urn in a special location, such as:

• Mantle
• Memorial wall
• Memorial table

You'll find that there are dog and cat urns for ashes that will help you memorialize your animal and keep them close to you.

2. Pet Cremation Jewelry

Pet ashes jewelry is a very popular option today. You'll find plenty of dog and cat cremation jewelry options available, including:

• Pet ashes necklace
• Bracelets
• Anklets
• Others

You will only need to add a very small amount of ashes to a hidden chamber in the jewelry. With this option, you’ll likely need to either place the other portion of ashes in an urn or choose one of the other options on this list.

3. Scatter the Ashes

An easy idea is to simply scatter the ashes. Ideally, you’ll scatter the ashes in a place that the animal enjoyed, such as the front yard for a dog or near a cat’s favorite tree.

4. Grow a Tree

Death can also lead to life. Many owners are digging holes in their backyards, filling those holes with ashes and then planting trees. The idea is to have the ashes feed the tree and to help it grow.

You can even have a small ceremony during the planting to say your final goodbye to the good girl or boy.

5. Ash Paintings

Artists are very creative, and some are incorporating pet ashes into a self-portrait of the animal. Of course, the subject of the painting can be anything. However, most owners will have the portrait be of their animal using their ashes.

6. Garden Stones

Another option is to have the pet’s ashes added into a sculpture. You'll find some artists do this with ashes that are turned into a sort of clay and then placed into a kiln to harden. However, there are also artists mixing the ashes into cement to make decorative art.

For example, it’s not uncommon for the garden stone to be in the likeness of the animal and use their ashes in the cement.

7. Build a Backyard Cemetery

You can bury your pet’s ashes in the backyard, too. The backyard allows you to have a little place where you can go and talk to the animal and visit them when you’re missing them.

8. Tattoo with Ashes

Do you like tattoos? If you don’t mind hunting down an artist, you’ll find quite a few that will mix your pet’s ashes into the ink that they use in your tattoo. A small amount of ashes are used, but this is a good way to have your pet with you for eternity.

9. Fireworks

If you want your pet to go out with a “bang,” there are companies that will add them to fireworks for you. The idea is that when you shoot the firework into the air and it explodes with color, your pet’s ashes will also go into the atmosphere.

10. Pottery

Pottery is a beautiful way to use your pet’s ashes, and you’ll find plenty of artists who will make cremation pottery for you. You may even be able to do this yourself. The idea is to add some ashes into the clay and then fire it in a kiln to harden it.

11. Paperweight

Do you have paperweights in your office? Why not add your pet’s ashes for a daily reminder of your companion?

Artists can add a small amount of your pet’s ashes to a glass paperweight to memorialize your pet. You can personalize your paperweight in any way you want, choosing any shape or size that you please.

12. Christmas Ornament

The holidays can be difficult without your furry friend to celebrate by your side. But when you add their ashes to a Christmas ornament, they can celebrate with you each year.

Each time you hang your ornament, you’ll be reminded of your pet and the memories you shared. Artists can incorporate the ashes into the glass or resin of the ornament to preserve your pet’s remains in a special way.

13. Stained Glass

Stained glass art is beautiful and timeless. But did you know that you can add your pet’s ashes to the glass?

There are stained glass artists that specialize in this process. Your pet’s ashes will be melted into the glass at a high temperature, and these glass pieces can be used to create beautiful works of art that you will enjoy for years to come. Best of all, it’s a subtle memorial for your pet.

14. Hourglass with Ashes

Hourglass-style urns are a unique way to display your pet’s ashes. These urns do not actually keep time like a traditional hourglass, but you can still watch your pet’s ashes flow from one side to the other each time you flip it over.

Simply add your pet’s ashes to the hourglass and display it in your home.

15. Create a Diamond

Another beautiful way to memorialize your pet and keep them close to your heart is to have their ashes made into a synthetic diamond. Once you receive your diamond, you can have a jeweler set it in any type of jewelry you like, from rings to necklaces or bracelets.

Diamonds from ashes look like real diamonds and serve as a lovely reminder of your furry companion.

The ideas above are just a few ways that you can honor the death of your pet with their ashes. Of course, you can do something completely unique as a way to say your goodbyes.