Pet Obituary Template (Free, Heartfelt)
Free pet obituary template with examples and writing guidance. Honour your dog, cat, or any beloved pet with a meaningful tribute. Printable, shareable, and completely free.
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Pet Obituary
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Quick Answer
A pet obituary is a written tribute that honours your pet's life — their personality, the joy they brought, the memories they created. It doesn't need to follow a formal structure. This template gives you a framework so that even in grief, you have a starting point.
What Is a Pet Obituary?
Losing a pet is losing a family member. The grief is real, the void is immediate, and the instinct to honour them — to put into words what they meant — is one of the most human responses to loss.
A pet obituary doesn't need to follow the formal conventions of a human obituary. It can be as personal, as funny, as specific, and as emotional as you need it to be. What matters is that it captures something true about who they were.
This template gives you a framework and examples to draw from. Use as much or as little as serves you. There is no wrong way to write about someone you loved.
When Do You Need This?
What to Include
1. The opening
- Their name, species, breed
- Dates (born and passed)
- One sentence that captures who they were
2. Their personality
- Signature quirks and habits
- Favourite things (people, toys, places, foods)
- What they were afraid of, what made them brave
- How they made people feel
3. The story
- How you found each other
- A favourite memory or two
- What they meant to the family
- How they changed your life
4. The goodbye
- Who they leave behind
- Where they are buried or their ashes are kept
- A line about what you'll miss most
- A message to them
Legal Notes by State
Grief is universal and this template has no state-specific considerations. If you are struggling with the loss of a pet, the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (aplb.org) offers free counselling resources and online support groups.
The Template
Copy the text below, or use the download buttons. Replace all [BRACKETED FIELDS] with your specific information before use.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF [PET NAME] [PET NAME] — [BREED / SPECIES] [BIRTH DATE (or approximate year)] – [DATE OF PASSING] ───────────────────────────────── [PET NAME] came into our lives on [DATE / YEAR] and left a mark on our hearts that no words can fully capture. [He / She / They] was [describe their personality in 2–3 sentences — their quirks, their spirit, what made them uniquely themselves]. Example: "Milo was a 12-year-old Golden Retriever who approached every single day as though it were the best day he'd ever had. He believed every person he met had come specifically to see him. He was wrong about very little." ───────────────────────────────── [Write 2–3 sentences about how you found each other or how they came into your life.] Example: "We found each other at the city shelter on a Tuesday afternoon. She had been there for six weeks and no one had chosen her yet. She chose us." ───────────────────────────────── [Share 1–2 specific memories that capture their essence.] Example: "He spent the last three summers convinced he could catch the neighbourhood squirrel. He couldn't. He never stopped trying. We admired that about him." ───────────────────────────────── [Write about what they meant to the family and how they changed your life.] Example: "Luna taught our children what it means to love something wholly and without condition. She was gentle with our youngest when words were hard and patience was needed. She knew before we did when someone was sad." ───────────────────────────────── [PET NAME] is survived by [list family members, other pets, etc.]. [He / She / They] is buried [location] / [His / Her / Their] ashes rest [location]. We will miss [specific thing] most of all. We are better for having known [him / her / them]. Until we meet again, [PET NAME]. ───────────────────────────────── [FAMILY NAME(S)] [DATE]
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legally binding documents, consult a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit a pet obituary to a newspaper?+
Many local newspapers accept pet obituaries, sometimes in a dedicated pets section or as a paid classified. Contact your local paper's editorial or classified department. Some online publications like The Dodo and BringFido also accept pet tributes.
How long should a pet obituary be?+
As long as it needs to be. Newspaper submissions typically run 150–300 words. A tribute for family and friends, a memorial page, or a personal record can be as long as feels right. Some of the most powerful pet obituaries are a single paragraph.
Is it okay to include humour in a pet obituary?+
Absolutely. Celebrating your pet's personality — including the funny, the ridiculous, the absurd — is one of the most honest ways to honour them. Many of the most beloved pet obituaries are funny, because they capture a real animal, not a sentimentalised idea of one.