Beyond the Rainbow Bridge: Beautiful Ways Pet Owners Honor Their Trusty Companions

Animal lovers across time have memorialized their pets with tributes that express the emotional bonds between them and their true blue friends. Researchers are discovering what centuries of these pet memorials could have told them: The relationships between humans and their companion animals are among the strongest and positively affect physical and mental health. So it makes sense that folks would create lasting memorials for their beloved companions. Continue reading to discover how animal lovers have created legacies for their pets, from some of the oldest pet memorials to more modern tributes.

Bonn-Oberkassel Dog 

One of the oldest examples of ancient pet burials was unearthed by quarry workers in Germany in 1914. The workers discovered a single grave containing the skeletal remains of two humans and a dog. The Bonn-Oberkassel dog lived approximately 14,000 years ago, during the Late Paleolithic period. The dog is named for the town in which it was discovered, Bonn-Oberkassel, in Southern Germany.

Dog Graves at Dunham Massey

Located in Manchester, England, the grounds at Dunham Massey were once home to the Earls of Warrington, the Earls of Stamford, and their beloved dogs. Now managed by the National Trust, the grounds include a Georgian mansion surrounded by a moat, a 300-acre deer park, formal gardens, and a dedicated pet cemetery.

The graves of 15 hounds (four of which were named Lion) date from 1702 to 1836. All beloved family pets, the dogs were mostly Dutch mastiffs. However, Pugg, als (alias) Old Vertue, was, in fact, a pug. For safekeeping, the original slabs have been replaced with replicas.

Oldest Pet Burial Ground in the United States

While there are older pet cemeteries around the world, Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, is the oldest in America. Founded in 1896 by veterinarian Samuel Johnson, the cemetery is on the grounds of a former apple orchard. The cemetery, still in operation, has kept up with the times. They offer burial options, cremation services, memorial services, and a butterfly garden in which to spread ashes. Associated with many fascinating stories and tales, Hartsdale has numerous celebrity pet memorials. Hartsdale Pet Cemetery is located 30 miles north of New York City,

Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard

Based on mutual trust and a love for the hunt, the bond between hunters and their dogs is legendary. Considering this extraordinary relationship, it’s surprising that more cemeteries aren’t dedicated to coon dogs. Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard is the only cemetery reserved exclusively for coon dogs. Located in Cherokee, Alabama, it was established in 1937 after the death of Troop, Key Underwood’s 15-year-old coon dog. Regarded as one of the best hunting dogs ever, Underwood felt that Troop deserved a special resting place. Underwood’s hunting camp, Troop’s favorite place on earth, was the perfect site. The cemetery contains over 300 graves. However, to qualify for a plot, it must be verified, in triplicate, that the deceased is a coon dog.

Kannonji Temple

Since the days of Hachikō (1923-1935), the loyal Akita who waited at a train station for nine years after his owner’s death, Japan has taken pet memorials seriously. These days, pet funerals are becoming increasingly popular in Japan, as pets are more popular than ever. Kannonji Temple in Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan, provides funeral services for departed pets. Buddhist funerals help the departed transition into rebirth. Because Buddhists believe that all living beings reincarnate, it makes sense that pet parents would want to ease their dearly departed into the next life.

Secret Tree

Sequestered from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan along a trail in Central Park’s Ramble is the semi-secret Furever Tree. A tradition begun in 1986 to honor dearly departed pets during the holidays, the Furever Tree provides a tranquil spot for folks to celebrate their former pets. Pet photos hang from branches with colorful ribbons. Many share information about their beloved pet on the back. The 18-foot-tall evergreen is a quiet comfort for those who are grieving the loss of a pet during the holidays.

MyDogsObituary.com

When Ashley Haugen had to put her dog down in January 2025 due to aggressive cancer, she struggled with immense grief in the days that followed. She’s a writer, so it seemed natural to sit down and write about her loss. What came out, though, was actually an obituary. “It just occurred to me that we honor our human loved ones with thoughtful obituaries as a final homage,” Haugen says. “Why not our beloved pets?” That obituary was the first one posted to what has since become MyDogsObituary.com, a website that invites those grieving the loss of a dog to share photos and an obituary, free of charge, to tell the world how wonderful their pet was. “It’s just a cathartic form of closure that I hope provides healing to others,” Haugen adds.

Tags of Love

Inspired by the French tradition of leaving engraved locks on bridge railings, the Humane Society of Sonoma County created its Tags of Love Fence. Tags for the fence are available for $10, including engraving. This permanent tribute, which honors benefactor Barbara Von Tillow, located near the entrance to the Santa Rosa Shelter, was dedicated on February 8, 2025.

Tribute Songs

After taking a 15-year break from the music business and earning a Ph.D. in psychology, Dr. Andrew Spice is back. Spice returned to writing with “Gentle Sentinel,” a song about his cat, Bea. Though he wrote the song about his gentle sentinel while she was still alive, Bea and her sister dog, Olive, passed away within a week of one another. Auggie, Bea’s brother cat and the lone remaining member of the pet trio, provided comfort to Spice in the wake of his loss. “I feel Gentle Sentinel is also about Auggie in a way, because he protected and took care of me during the worst of my grief for Bea and Olive,” Spice says. “It is my hope that the song can offer solace to people who are grieving their pets,” says Spice, whose full album, With Animals, will be released on August 22, 2025.