National Pet Memorial Day 2025
Sunday 7th, September 2025
Pets are more than animals, they become cherished family members, filling our lives with joy, comfort and unconditional love. This is why National Pet Memorial Day, observed annually on the second Sunday in September, holds such deep significance. In 2025, it falls on 14th September.
The tradition of remembering our pets is far from new. Pet memorials date back thousands of years. In what is now Germany, honouring animals persisted as early as 14,000 BCE, with similar practices documented in North America around 11,000 BCE and in China around 7,000 BCE.
Even prominent historical figures joined in this tradition. Alexander the Great memorialised his mastiff, Peritas, with a formal burial and a monument around 350 BCE. More recently, memorials have been afforded to celebrated animals such as Balto, the heroic Siberian Husky, and Towser, the Scottish cat recorded to have caught 28,899 mice.
Pets often touch our lives in ways few others can. They greet us, comfort us, and make ordinary days brighter. When they pass away, the grief can be profound, sometimes even harder to bear than losing another human, because society doesn’t always validate it.
National Pet Memorial Day invites us to pause and remember these friends, not just remember how they died, but celebrate how they lived.
Here are thoughtful, meaningful ways to commemorate your pet on this day:
Pet loss can be deeply affecting, and an increasing number of employers are beginning to recognise its impact. In the UK, a number of workplaces now provide bereavement leave for the loss of a pet. Studies show that one in four people have taken time off work following a pet’s death, with UK pet owners averaging around eight days away due to grief, though many admitted they felt they had to pretend to be ill to justify it. Similar conversations are taking place in other countries: in France, some employers and charities have introduced compassionate leave for pet loss, while in Colombia a bill has been proposed to grant paid leave. In the United States, several companies, including hotels and pet insurance providers, also offer dedicated pet bereavement days. Although not yet universal or legally required, recognition of the need for time off after losing a pet is gradually gaining ground worldwide.
That just goes to show how real, and how deserving, pet grief is of understanding and compassion.
National Pet Memorial Day, falling on the second Sunday in September (14th September in 2025), is a day for gentle remembrance and heartfelt celebration.
A Day of Remembrance Across the Ages
The tradition of remembering our pets is far from new. Pet memorials date back thousands of years. In what is now Germany, honouring animals persisted as early as 14,000 BCE, with similar practices documented in North America around 11,000 BCE and in China around 7,000 BCE.
Even prominent historical figures joined in this tradition. Alexander the Great memorialised his mastiff, Peritas, with a formal burial and a monument around 350 BCE. More recently, memorials have been afforded to celebrated animals such as Balto, the heroic Siberian Husky, and Towser, the Scottish cat recorded to have caught 28,899 mice.
Why We Observe This Day
Pets often touch our lives in ways few others can. They greet us, comfort us, and make ordinary days brighter. When they pass away, the grief can be profound, sometimes even harder to bear than losing another human, because society doesn’t always validate it.
National Pet Memorial Day invites us to pause and remember these friends, not just remember how they died, but celebrate how they lived.
Simple Ways to Honour Their Memory
Here are thoughtful, meaningful ways to commemorate your pet on this day:
- Create a quiet memorial space:- Place a framed photograph, collar, or keepsake in a peaceful corner or garden. Let it be a gentle place for reflection.
- Share their story:- Write about your pet's personality and quirks, on social media, a personal blog, or within your memoirs. It’s a healing practice, and others who knew them will treasure it.
- Plant a living tribute:- Grow a tree, shrub, or flowers in memory of your pet. As they flourish, so does the living legacy of your companion.
- Make a donation in their name:- Giving to an animal charity or shelter in honour of your pet creates a positive legacy, helping other animals and offering solace to you.
- Reach out to someone grieving:- If you know someone who has lost a pet, sending a note, flowers, or a keepsake can go a long way.
- Spend extra time with a pet still with you:- Offer extra cuddles, a walk or a favourite treat. It reminds us how precious the present is.
Workplaces and Grief - Recognising the Impact
Pet loss can be deeply affecting, and an increasing number of employers are beginning to recognise its impact. In the UK, a number of workplaces now provide bereavement leave for the loss of a pet. Studies show that one in four people have taken time off work following a pet’s death, with UK pet owners averaging around eight days away due to grief, though many admitted they felt they had to pretend to be ill to justify it. Similar conversations are taking place in other countries: in France, some employers and charities have introduced compassionate leave for pet loss, while in Colombia a bill has been proposed to grant paid leave. In the United States, several companies, including hotels and pet insurance providers, also offer dedicated pet bereavement days. Although not yet universal or legally required, recognition of the need for time off after losing a pet is gradually gaining ground worldwide.
That just goes to show how real, and how deserving, pet grief is of understanding and compassion.
National Pet Memorial Day, falling on the second Sunday in September (14th September in 2025), is a day for gentle remembrance and heartfelt celebration.
- It honours the ancient tradition of remembering pets.
- It gives space to grief and the love that endures.
- It inspires meaningful tributes, be they simple or profound.
- It reminds us that remembering is a form of love.