How to Write a Pet Obituary or Tribute (With Templates)

Updated November 4, 2026

A pet obituary tells people that your pet passed and shares who they were. Start with your pet's name, the years you had together, and the news itself, then add how they came into your life, a few habits that made them unique, who loved them, and any plans for a memorial. Most pet obituaries are 100 to 300 words.

Writing one is a way of doing for a pet what families do for people. Researchers who surveyed 2,043 U.S. pet owners in 2020 noted that when a person dies, survivors often meet with a funeral director, hold a service, and write an obituary, while the death of a pet "does not typically have similar procedures or rituals." An obituary is one of the simplest rituals you can borrow.

What to include

You don't need all of these. Pick what fits.

• Name and nicknames. "Margaret, who answered only to Mugsy."
• Species and breed, if you like. "Our orange tabby," "a shepherd mix of uncertain origin."
• The years. Birth or adoption year to the year they passed, or "14 years with us."
• The news. "passed peacefully at home on Sunday" or simply "passed in March."
• How they came home. The shelter, the litter, the parking lot, the barn.
• Who they were. Habits, quirks, favorite places, the thing they did every single day.
• Their people. Family, friends, the dog walker, the other pets.
• What's next. A funeral time, a memorial link, a donation request.

Ohio State's veterinary medical center suggests writing your pet's story as a journal: "how, when and where you met, unique personality traits, nicknames, what you love the most and what you'll miss the most." Those prompts are a ready-made first draft.

A fill-in template

Copy this and replace the brackets.

[Name] [Year] – [Year]

[Name], our [description, such as "loyal black Lab" or "very opinionated cockatiel"], passed [peacefully / at home / on (date)] at [age]. [He/She/They] came to us [how and when], and [one sentence about the first days].

[Name] was known for [habit one], [habit two], and [habit three]. [He/She/They] loved [favorite place or thing] and had strong feelings about [something funny].

[Name] is missed by [family names], [friends], and [other pets]. [We'll hold a small goodbye on (date), and you're welcome to join at (link). / In place of flowers, we'd be grateful for a donation to (shelter or rescue).]

Thank you, [Name], for [the thing you're most grateful for].

Three sample formats

These use placeholder names. Swap in your own details.

1. A short social media post (about 80 words)

Today we said goodbye to [Name], our [description], after [number] years. [He/She] greeted every visitor at the door, slept on exactly one corner of the couch, and never missed dinner by even a minute. Thank you to everyone who loved [him/her] with us, and to [vet clinic] for such gentle care at the end. We'll share a memorial link soon. [Name], thank you for every ordinary day.

2. A memorial page tribute (about 200 words)

[Name], [Year]–[Year]

[Name] came home from [place] in [year], [age or size] and [first impression]. Within a week, [a first habit] had started, and it never stopped.

[He/She] was the family's [role: alarm clock, greeter, foot warmer, supervisor of all cooking]. [He/She] knew the sound of [a specific sound], hated [something], and loved [something] more than anything else in the world.

[Name] was there through [life events: moves, a new baby, college, a hard year]. [One sentence about what that meant.]

[He/She] passed [how, briefly] on [date], with [who] beside [him/her].

[Name] is missed by [names]. If you'd like to remember [him/her], you can light a candle or leave a memory at [link], or make a gift to [shelter] in [his/her] name.

3. A printed program or newspaper notice (about 120 words)

[Name] ([Year]–[Year]), beloved [species] of [family name] of [town], passed on [date]. Adopted from [shelter] in [year], [Name] was a [two or three plain adjectives] companion who [one detail]. [He/She] is survived by [names] and [other pets]. A small memorial will be held [date and place or "privately"]. Donations in [Name]'s memory may be made to [organization].

Writing tips that help

• Specific beats general. "She was the best dog ever" tells strangers little. "She carried one sock to bed every night for nine years" tells them everything.
• Use your family's words. If you called him "the boss," write "the boss."
• Keep the end brief. One sentence is plenty. Some people leave it out.
• Humor is welcome. A funny line often captures a pet better than a solemn one.
• Write a long version, then cut. Grief makes first drafts ramble. That's fine. Trim after a night's sleep.
• Ask someone to proofread names and dates.

Where to share it

• Social media. Add your favorite photo. Consider turning off comments on public posts if you'd rather not read replies from strangers.
• A family email or group text. Often the most personal option.
• An online memorial page. Many crematories and pet funeral homes offer these. Pet Passages, for example, runs online pet obituaries with virtual candles and condolence messages. Our guide on how to make an online pet memorial covers what to compare.
• Your local paper. Some accept pet notices, often as a paid listing. Ask the obituary or classifieds desk.
• Your vet clinic or rescue. Some post tributes for animals they cared for or placed. Ask first.
• A printed copy. Put one in a memory box with the collar, tags and paw print.

If you're holding a funeral too

The obituary can double as the eulogy. Read it aloud at the start, then invite others to add memories. For wording at the service itself, see what to say at a pet funeral. If family is spread out, you can share the obituary along with an invitation to an online pet funeral. On Bridgeside, the story you write can go on your pet's free memorial, where invited family can read it, light a candle and leave a note.