Christian Prayers and Bible Verses for a Pet Funeral

Updated November 4, 2026

For a Christian pet funeral, families often read Psalm 23, Psalm 36:6 ("O LORD, thou preservest man and beast"), Psalm 145:9 or Job 12:7-10, then pray in their own words, thanking God for the pet's life and asking for comfort. The verses below are from the King James Version, which is in the public domain in the United States, and the prayers are original to this guide, so you can print and share them freely.

A pet funeral at home is a family gathering, not a sacrament or an official rite of any church. Christians hold different views about pet funerals, and some pastors are glad to help while others prefer not to. If your church's view matters to you, ask your pastor. Some churches have their own resources: the Episcopal Church's 2012 General Convention made a "Service at the Loss of a Beloved Animal" available, and the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut lists it as needing no bishop's permission.

Bible verses about animals and God's care

All from the King James Version.

Psalm 36:6

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

Psalm 145:9

The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Psalm 104:24

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Job 12:7-10

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Matthew 10:29

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Proverbs 12:10

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.

Verses of comfort for the people grieving

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Psalm 121:1-2

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23 is the most familiar passage at funerals. It speaks of God's care for the one who prays, so it comforts the family rather than making any claim about the pet.

Original prayers you can use

These were written for this guide. Change the words to fit your family.

An opening prayer

Lord God, maker of every living thing, we gather to thank you for [Name]. Thank you for the years we shared, for the walks and the quiet evenings, for the joy and the mess and the company. Be with us as we say goodbye. Amen.

A prayer of thanks

Thank you, Father, for the gift of [Name]. You gave us a companion who made our home warmer and our days fuller. We are grateful for every one of them. Amen.

A prayer for comfort

Lord, our hearts are heavy. We miss [Name] more than we know how to say. Comfort each person here. Help us to be gentle with ourselves and with one another in the days ahead. Amen.

A prayer at the grave

Creator of all, we lay [Name] to rest in the earth you made. We thank you for [his/her] life and for the love we shared. Be near to us in our sadness, and fill this place with good memories. Amen.

A prayer when the ashes come home

Lord, today [Name] has come home in a new way. We set this place apart to remember [him/her]. Thank you for the life we had together. Give us peace each time we pass by. Amen.

A prayer after a hard decision

Lord, you know how hard it was to say goodbye when we did. We chose to spare [Name] from pain, and it broke our hearts. Lift the weight of guilt from us, and let us remember the good years. Amen.

A child's prayer

Dear God, thank you for [Name]. I liked [something they did]. Please help me feel better when I miss [him/her]. Amen.

A closing blessing

May the Lord, who cares for the sparrow, care for each of us tonight. May we carry [Name]'s memory with gratitude, and may we be kind to one another as we grieve. Amen.

A simple Christian order for a pet funeral

About 15 minutes. Adapt freely.

Gathering hymn (sung or played)
Opening prayer (above)
A reading: Psalm 36:6 and Psalm 145:9, or Job 12:7-10
Remembering [Name]: stories from the family
A prayer for comfort, then the Lord's Prayer in the words your family knows
Laying a flower or a handful of soil
Closing blessing and hymn

For more templates, see the pet funeral order of service.

Hymn ideas

Hymns about creation fit a pet funeral well:

"All Creatures of Our God and King"
"All Things Bright and Beautiful"
"His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
"For the Beauty of the Earth"

If you print the words, check that the version you choose is in the public domain. Older texts often are, but newer translations and arrangements may not be. Hymnary.org lists copyright status for many hymns.

Talking with children about faith and a pet's death

Children often ask where their pet went. It's okay to say what your family believes and also to say "I don't know." KidsHealth notes that parents can share their own beliefs, and that an honest "I don't know" is acceptable too. Use simple, clear words. See explaining a pet's death to a child.

Holding a Christian pet funeral with family far away

If grandparents, siblings or a pastor live in another state, you can hold the service online. Bridgeside includes Christian family funeral orders, with Scripture from the King James Version and space for your own prayers, that you can hold for free and share by invite link. Catholic families may prefer our Catholic prayers for a pet, which uses the Douay-Rheims translation.

Questions

What Bible verse is good for the loss of a pet?

Psalm 36:6 ('O LORD, thou preservest man and beast'), Psalm 145:9 ('The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works'), Job 12:7-10 and Matthew 10:29 are often chosen. Psalm 34:18 and Matthew 5:4 speak to the people who are grieving.

Is there a short prayer for a dog or cat that died?

Yes. For example: 'Thank you, Lord, for the gift of [Name], for every good day we shared, and for the love that filled our home. Comfort us now as we miss [him/her]. Amen.'

Is it okay for Christians to hold a funeral for a pet?

Many Christian families do, as a family gathering rather than a church rite. Views differ among pastors and denominations. The Episcopal Church made a 'Service at the Loss of a Beloved Animal' available in 2012. If it matters to you, ask your pastor.

Do pets go to heaven according to the Bible?

The Bible doesn't answer that question directly, and Christians hold different views. Many families simply thank God for their pet's life and pray for comfort. Your pastor can share what your church teaches.

What hymns can we sing at a pet funeral?

Hymns about creation fit well, such as 'All Creatures of Our God and King,' 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' and 'His Eye Is on the Sparrow.' Check that the version you print is in the public domain.

What is a prayer for burying a pet?

At the grave you might pray: 'Creator of all living things, we return [Name] to the earth you made. Thank you for the years we shared. Be near to us in our sadness. Amen.'

Sources

When you are ready

You can hold a free funeral for your pet here, and invite the people who loved them.

Hold a free funeral