Historical past informs us that people worldwide for many centuries have honored both their loved ones as well as their pets upon their death via elaborate human funerals, as well as sacred pet memorials. Cremation started close to 3000 B.C. in the Near East, later across northern Europe, moving to the British Isles and what is currently Spain and Portugal at about the time of the Bronze Age — 2500 to 1000 B.C. From the time of the Roman Empire — 27 B.C. to 395 A.D. cremation was extensively practiced, and it became custom for cremated remains to be placed in intricate embellished urns. Earth burials replaced cremation during Constantine’s Christianization of the Empire around 400 A.D. This remained the accepted mode of disposition throughout Europe the next 1,500 years

An illustration is the uncovering of an ancient pet cemetery along with the remains of 1000 dogs that can be traced back to the Persian rule in Palestine around 539 to 332 BC.

Over a hundred years ago, cremations and pet memorials started to take place in the United States. The oldest and extremely revered pet memorial and burial ground goes by the title of Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory. Established in 1896, close to the end of the War there were more than 2,000 burial plots in this Westchester County, New York cemetery. In this place pets are placed to rest in coffins and urns made especially for them along with custom made gravestones and pet memorials services at the graveside. Currently more than 70,000 pets are laid to rest there.

The Le Cimetiere des Chiens D’Asnieres-Sur-Seine in France has set up a giant sculpture of a Saint Bernard and a child. This dog called Barry saved 40 individuals in the Alps right before he lost his life while attempting to rescue the 41st person.

In the last few decades, there’s been a dramatic increase in cremation compared to ground burials, which has elevated the need to find a final resting place for a pet’s remains. Pet masters have different preferences some would prefer to scatter their pet’s ashes while others opt to keeping the ashes by placing it inside a cremation urn.

Today, a new worldwide trend has surfaced known as tribute paintings, whereby individuals are commissioning an artist to create a tribute of their loved ones - both people and pets - using the

cremated remains. The remains along with a number of hair strands are then incorporated into the art work. Abstract art is the kind of art that follows a narrow trail behind religious art except that it is not religious art and it concentrates more on color and form.

A lot of testimonials seem to confirm that these tribute paintings for pet memorials help speed up the healing process after the loss of a beloved pet.

Bookmark to: