Losing a pet is losing a member of the family. The house sounds different. You still glance at the spot by the door. And when someone you care about is going through it, it’s hard to know what to say.
A memorial gift can’t fix that, and it shouldn’t try. What it can do is say, quietly, I know they mattered. This guide is for anyone looking for a gentle way to remember a dog or cat, for a friend or for yourself. Take your time with it.
What makes a good pet memorial gift
A few things tend to matter most:
- It should look like them, not like a generic dog or cat. The little things are the things people miss: a crooked ear, a grey muzzle, the way they tilted their head.
- It should be something they can touch or keep close, not tucked away in a drawer.
- It shouldn’t rush anyone. Some people want a keepsake right away. Others need months. Both are okay.
How we handle memorial orders
Every memorial piece we make starts with your photo, and it is never rushed through a filter:
- A real designer works on your photo by hand and emails you a free preview before anything is made.
- Nothing is produced until you approve it. If you’d like a change, such as a softer background or the name spelled differently, just tell us.
- Older or imperfect photos are welcome. Often the only photos of a pet are a little blurry or a little dark, especially of a senior pet. Send what you have. If a photo won’t print well, our designer will tell you honestly and gently, and help you choose another one before anything is made.
- If anything arrives damaged or misprinted, we reprint it free, with nothing to send back. You shouldn’t have to deal with a return at a time like this. For US orders, duties are prepaid.
1. An engraved pet photo frame
For many people, this is the right place to start. The Personalized Engraved Pet Photo Frame is a warm, vintage oak-look frame laser engraved with your own words on two edges: a short message on top and their name on the bottom. The engraving won’t peel or fade.
A wording we like: “Forever in our hearts” on top, with their name and years below. Other gentle options:
- “Always by my side”
- “Until we meet again”
- “Good boy, always” / “Good girl, always”
- Simply their name, and the years you had together
Sizes: 4×6 $27.99, 5×7 $32.99, 8×10 $42.99. It stands on a shelf or desk (landscape or portrait) or hangs on the wall, and it has a glass front to protect the photo. The frame ships empty, so you can choose the photo that feels right, even if that takes a while. We engrave exactly what you type, so please check the spelling of the name.
2. A custom pet blanket, to keep them close
There’s a reason people reach for a blanket when they’re grieving. A custom pet face blanket made from their photo is something you can wrap around yourself on the hard evenings.
For a memorial, you may prefer the Realistic Portrait style: one large portrait that stays true to the photo, rather than a repeating pattern. It works best with a clear, front-facing, well-lit photo, but our designer will look at whatever you have.
- Classic 300 GSM Custom Pet Face Blanket: soft and light. Small (30” × 40”) $40.99, Medium (50” × 60”) $49.99, Large (60” × 80”) $59.99.
- Plush 400 GSM Custom Pet Face Blanket: our thickest and warmest, with a soft white plush back. Small $44.99, Medium $55.99, Large $67.99.
You can add their name, and you can include more than one pet on one blanket: a pet who has passed alongside the one still curled up beside you, if that feels right. Calm backgrounds such as Cream Beige, Light Grey, Cloudy Blue Sky or Sage Green tend to suit a memorial piece.
3. A memorial pet pillow
The Custom Pet Face Pillow is something to hold. It has a super-soft velvet cover over a plump insert, and the back can show a different photo at no extra charge. Some people put a favorite portrait on the front and a younger photo, or a photo of their pet with family, on the back. Small 16” $39.99, Medium 18” $44.99, Large 24” $69.99. The cover zips off for washing.
4. Small, everyday reminders
Not every memorial needs to be a big gesture. Sometimes the kindest thing is a small reminder in an everyday moment:
- Custom Pet Mug ($21.99 white, $23.99 two-tone): a portrait for the morning coffee they used to beg for a sip of. Hand wash only to keep the print at its best.
- Custom Pet Face Socks ($14.99 / $16.99): it might sound light-hearted, but for some people, smiling at a familiar face on their feet is exactly the point. Up to three pets fit on one pair.
- Custom Pet Photo Tote ($19.99, or $23.98 with a second photo on the back): for the walks you used to take together.
If you’re giving it to someone else
A few gentle suggestions:
- Ask a mutual friend or family member for a photo if you don’t have one. A slightly blurry photo that captures their personality is better than a perfect one that doesn’t.
- Include a short handwritten note. One or two specific memories (“I’ll never forget how he greeted me at the door”) mean more than anything polished.
- Don’t worry about timing. A gift weeks or months later can mean even more, because it shows they haven’t been forgotten after everyone else has moved on.
- Choose the quieter option if you’re unsure. A frame or a portrait blanket is rarely wrong.
A note on timing around the holidays
The first holiday season without a pet can be especially tender. If you’d like a memorial piece to arrive before Christmas in the US, please place custom orders by November 30, 2026, so there’s time to design your preview, make changes and get your approval. Orders through December 7 we'll rush but can't guarantee. If you need to change a name or swap a photo, custom orders can be edited within 12 hours of ordering.
And if you’re not ready yet, that’s okay. There’s no deadline on remembering someone you loved.
You’ll find our memorial pieces in the Memorial collection, and every photo gift in Gifts Made From Your Pet’s Photo. If you have a question about a photo, wording or anything else, just email us at hello@ebuygifts.com. A real person will reply, and we’re happy to help you get it right.