On National Pet Memorial Day, September 13, pet owners across the country remember their beloved pets who have passed on. For many of us, pets are loved ones on scale with some of the most important people in our lives – when they often die before us, it’s not an easy loss. We’re not alone in remembering some of our favorite pets for the rest of our lives, and there are many ways of memorializing pets. National Pet Memorial Day is a great day to think back to your favorite pets and honor their memory.
History of National Pet Memorial Day
Throughout history, the role of pets in our lives has changed drastically with our living situations and cultures, and so have the ways we honor our pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge. Since the first wolf cubs were domesticated and the first barnyard cats made pets, standout furry friends have captured people’s hearts and worked their way towards feeling like our family.
There is evidence that dogs were domesticated as far back as 26,000 BCE, when ancient footprints showed a child and a dog once walked together in a cave. Pet memorials began to crop up around 14,000 BCE, first in what is now Germany. Pet memorials from 7,000 BCE were also found in China, and North America from 11,000 BCE. Native Americans very often buried their dogs when they passed away, showing pets have long made an impact on our hearts!
Even the heroes of the ages memorialized their pets. Alexander the Great, for example, was known to be very fond of his mastiff named Peritas. When she died around 350 BCE, he held a formal burial and procession, as well as erected a monument in her honor.
Throughout the more modern era, there are other well-loved pets in the public eye that have been famously memorialized. Notable ones include Balto, the Siberian Husky known for his courageous journey across Alaska to deliver medicine, and Towser, the cat in Scotland who caught a record-setting 28,899 mice.
There are many pet cemeteries and standards for pet memorials today. Famous pet cemeteries include Hartsdale in New York City and Toto Memorial in Los Angeles. Many people choose to cremate, bury, or even taxidermy their pets to remember them, and pet headstones can be customized and purchased. We will never stop memorializing the pets that have brought so much love to our lives.