The purpose of a memorial is to honor a life and to express grief for a loved one who passes. It is a ritual. Talking about loss and memorializing are vital to the grief process. It is an accepted social ritual for humans. Although we are seeing more acceptance of animal companions being regarded as family members, even discussing the loss of an animal does not always get the reaction one might have hoped. Expressing grief for an animal is still often taken in a way by others that can make the person grieving feel very uncomfortable and isolated.
Grief is a very personal and individual experience and there is no time limit on the grieving process. Preserving a memory of a loved one facilitates healing and allows closure. Memorializing helps to begin the grieving process.
A celebration of life is a way to honor joyful and memorable times with an animal who has passed. There are many ways to manifest those experiences such as a private ceremony, an altar displaying photographs, toys, collars and/or sympathy cards, a garden, poetry, a film, planting a tree and journaling.
Animal loss support groups are now easy to find. Seeking an animal chaplain for a memorial service or simply to speak with, can be of great comfort. Grief groups can offer one a sense of community in an empathetic atmosphere.
Animal memorials are not limited to companion animals. Many humans feel strongly about the environment and the animals who live on the planet. The mountain lion, P-22 who found his home in 10 square miles of Griffith Park, Los Angeles was a beloved neighbor in the area and was a remarkable example of coexistence.
After 10 years and his eventual passing due to age and being hit by a car, his death was taken hard by the community of Los Angeles and the world who had rallied around this bachelor who did his best stay out humans’ way.
P-22 inspired the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing spanning 10 lanes of LA’s 101 freeway. It will provide safe passage for multiple species who are commonly killed when trying to cross the freeway, and it will allow for more food resources and mating opportunities. No more bachelorhood! The Crossing is a critical step towards preventing inbreeding and extinction of the mountain lion. It is currently being landscaped with thousands of locally sourced plants over one-acre forming a natural habitat corridor. It will re-establish ecological connectivity!
That is what love and memorializing can do!
To find an Animal Chaplain in your area:
https://www.findanimalchaplain.com/
For Art Workshops for animal grief and to memorialize:
https://patriciadenys.com/animal-chaplaincy/
For more on the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing and its Opening:
https://101wildlifecrossing.org/
Cover Photo: Wallis Annenberg Crossing concept illustration. ©Living Habitats/National Wildlife Federation