Gifts for someone who has lost a pet

When a friend's dog or cat dies, it can be hard to know whether to say anything at all. Please do. For many people a pet is family, and the house goes very quiet. A small, thoughtful gesture tells them you understand that.

This guide covers what tends to help, a few gift ideas (most of which we don't sell), and how to send something gently.

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Memorial portraits made for other families

Dog · Photo shoot · In loving memory

Real portraits from customers who said we could show them.

What helps, and what doesn't

Use the pet's name. It tells them you remember the animal, not just the loss. If you have a memory of them, the way they greeted you at the door or always sat on your coat, share it; owners treasure these.

Avoid anything that makes the loss smaller: "it was only a cat", "at least they had a good life", or "will you get another?". Even kindly meant, they can sting. You don't need to fix anything; acknowledging it is enough.

Gift ideas that feel right

A handwritten card. Often the most valued thing of all, and the easiest to get right. Our guide to sympathy card messages has examples.
A donation in the pet's name to a rescue or animal charity they cared about, with a note to say you've made it.
A plant, rose or small tree for the garden, or for a pot if they don't have one: something living to look after.
A meal, or an evening of company. The first few evenings without a pet can be the hardest part.
A small photo album of the pet, if you have pictures of them together.
A memorial portrait of the pet, from a photo you already have (more below).

A memorial portrait

A portrait holds a pet differently from a snapshot: calmer, more permanent, the way they're remembered. Our In loving memory scene is made for this. It's a quiet portrait in soft window light, with no costumes and nothing jokey, and it opens in oils, though you can choose a softer watercolour.

You need one photo where the face is clear; an old or imperfect one is fine. You see the finished portrait free, in about a minute, so you can be sure it looks like them before giving it. It isn't painted by hand. It's painted-style: an AI image model makes it from your photo, so you see it in about a minute rather than waiting weeks for an artist.

Their name can be lettered beneath the portrait, or left off.

Sending it to a friend

First, the photo. If you don't have one, the kindest route is often to ask someone close to them rather than the owner, or to use one they shared themselves. If you're not sure they'd want a portrait at all, a quiet question first is better than a surprise.

For a card, have it sent to you rather than to them. It's blank inside, so you can write your message by hand and post it yourself; it means more that way. The card is from £5.

For a framed print, from £39, you can send it straight to them: put their address at checkout, and there are no prices in the parcel. It's worth sending a card separately first, so the parcel doesn't arrive without warning on a difficult day.

If choosing the photo feels like their decision, not yours, a gift card lets them make a portrait when they're ready. It's emailed, for any amount from £10 to £75, on the morning you choose.

Everything is made to order (2–5 working days) and then posted. The delivery time and cost are shown on each product page before you buy.

Gift cards

When to give it

There's no deadline. A card is best soon, within a week or two. A gift can come later: many people find the weeks after the loss, once everyone else has stopped asking, the loneliest. The first anniversary, the pet's birthday or the first Christmas without them are all times when being remembered means a lot.

If you'd like to send something of ours

Questions

Is a memorial portrait too much, too soon?

It depends on the person. Some people find it a comfort straight away; others need time. If you're unsure, send a card now and offer the portrait later, or give a gift card so they can make one when they're ready.

I only have a poor photo of their pet. Will it work?

Often, yes. Old, slightly blurry or badly lit photos usually work, and you see the result free before deciding. If a photo truly won't work, you'll know before spending anything.

Is the portrait painted by hand?

It isn't painted by hand. It's painted-style: an AI image model makes it from your photo, so you see it in about a minute rather than waiting weeks for an artist.

Should I mention the pet's name in the card?

Yes. Using their name is one of the kindest things you can do; it shows the pet mattered to you too.