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A gift guide from the archive
Pet memorial gifts that feel gentle, not heavy
When a pet dies, the house goes quiet in a particular way. The bowl, the lead, the spot on the sofa — everything still points to them. A memorial gift cannot fill that space, and it should not try. What it can do is tell someone that their companion mattered to you too. This guide is about choosing something small and kind.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Every case $24.99 · free US shipping · free 30-day returns
What a memorial gift is for
The best memorial gifts do one of two things: they acknowledge the loss, or they give the person somewhere to put the love that has nowhere to go. Very few need to do both. A card with a few honest words acknowledges. A keepsake — something they can hold, wear or carry — gives the love a place to rest.
It helps to remember that grief for a pet is real grief. Some people feel they are not allowed to mourn an animal as deeply as they do. A thoughtful gift quietly says that they are.
Kinds of memorial keepsakes
- Something to display: a framed photo, a print, or a small planter for the garden.
- Something to wear: a simple piece of jewellery, chosen with their style in mind.
- Something to carry: a small everyday object they will hold dozens of times a day, such as a phone case.
- Something to do: a donation to an animal rescue in the pet’s name, or an afternoon together walking their old route.
None of these is better than the others. Think about the person: some people want reminders all around them, and some find too many reminders hard. An object they carry, rather than one on the mantelpiece, can be a good middle ground — present when they want it, out of sight when they do not.
A note on what we make
Our cases carry illustrated animal portraits from our own catalog. They are not custom portraits of a particular pet, and we do not print photos. Many people choose the animal closest to the one they are remembering — a corgi, a soft grey-and-white cat, a dark navy dog portrait — or one with a feeling that fits, like a quiet snowy owl.
Gentle portraits often chosen in memory. Pick the exact phone model on each page.
If the animal does not match
If our catalog has nothing close to their pet, choose for feeling instead of likeness. A sleeping-calm otter, a pale butterfly, or a fox resting in an autumn wood can carry the right mood without asking them to compare it with the face they knew. Some people find that easier.
Timing
There is no deadline for kindness. A gift in the first week shows you noticed; a gift a few months later, when the cards have stopped arriving, can mean even more. Orders ship within 48 business hours, and delivery after that depends on the carrier, so you do not need to hurry.
Giving it gently
When children have lost a pet too
If there are children in the house, the loss may be their first experience of grief. A gift for the whole family can help: a framed photo for the hallway, a book about saying goodbye to an animal, or an afternoon making a small memory box together. For a teenager with their own phone, a case with an animal they love can be a private, everyday comfort they do not have to explain to anyone.
Whatever you choose, let them lead. Some children want to talk about their pet constantly; others need quiet. Both are normal.
- Ship it straight to them by entering their address at checkout, or to yourself if you would rather hand it over.
- Add a few words with a free keepsake card. We do not put notes in the package, so the card is how your message reaches them.
- If you are not sure of their phone, a digital gift card lets them choose in their own time.
- If anything is not right, returns are free within 30 days.
For more ideas, see the gifts page or try the three-question gift finder.
New designs that also suit this guide
Questions
Can you print a photo of their pet?
No. We sell illustrated animal portraits from our catalog; we do not print photos or make custom portraits.
Is a phone case an appropriate memorial gift?
It can be. It is small, personal and something they carry every day, which some people find comforting. If you are unsure, pair it with a card in your own words.
Can it ship directly to them?
Yes. Enter their name and address as the shipping address at checkout.
What if it is not right?
Returns are free within 30 days.
More gift guides
- Sympathy gifts for losing a dog or cat — What to send a friend whose dog or cat has died, and what to write with it.
- Gifts for pet lovers — For the friend who knows every dog in the park by name.
- Keepsake gifts under $25 — Small, meaningful gifts that stay under $25 with shipping included.