Jewish Traditions When a Pet Dies: Prayers and Ideas

Updated November 4, 2026

Traditional Judaism has no set mourning ritual for a pet, and many rabbis who have written about it say that Kaddish, shiva and the memorial prayer El Malei Rachamim are reserved for people. Many Jewish families still mark a pet's death with care: they bury the pet and mark the grave with a stone, light a candle, read a psalm about God's care for animals, and gather to share memories.

This guide summarizes what rabbis have written, where they differ, and offers psalms from the 1917 Jewish Publication Society translation, which is in the public domain, plus a simple family remembrance. It's an outsider's summary, not a ruling. Your own rabbi is the best guide for your family.

What rabbis have written

There's no traditional ritual. Rabbi Rona Shapiro, writing for Ritualwell (a project of Reconstructing Judaism), says plainly that "Judaism, traditionally, has no such ritual" for mourning a pet. Biblical Hebrew sorts animals into wild animals and livestock, with no concept of a pet.

People and animals are mourned differently. A Reform responsum from the Central Conference of American Rabbis quotes Rabbi Mark Washofsky: "there exists in Jewish ritual practice a clear and indelible distinction between animals and human beings." The responsum notes that Jews do not count pets in a minyan or "put their names on the Kaddish list." The responsum adds that this distinction is not a matter of contempt for animals.

Where views differ. Rabbi Shapiro writes that funerals, Kaddish, shiva and El Malei Rachamim are not meant for pets. Rabbi Susan Schein's contemporary "Burial Service for an Animal Companion," also published on Ritualwell, takes a more expansive approach, with songs, a eulogy, a responsive reading from Perek Shirah and a memorial prayer. Families, and rabbis, land in different places. If this matters to you, ask your rabbi before you plan.

What families often do

Drawing on Rabbi Shapiro's suggestions and Rabbi Schein's service, Jewish families often:

• Bury the pet and mark the grave with a stone.
• Light a candle and let it burn down in the pet's memory.
• Read Scripture or poetry, such as Genesis 9:8-11 or Psalm 104:10-18, both suggested by Rabbi Shapiro.
• Write something, a poem or a few paragraphs, and share it.
• Keep an item that belonged to the pet, or display a framed photo.
• Gather friends and family to tell stories and say goodbye.
• Do something kind for animals. Rabbi Schein suggests volunteering at a shelter, taking a nature walk with friends in the pet's memory, or donating a book on animal care to a library in the weeks after.
• Walk the familiar route. Rabbi Schein also suggests walking your dog's favorite route or sitting in your cat's favorite spot.

Psalms and passages (JPS 1917)

Psalm 104:10-12

Who sendest forth springs into the valleys; They run between the mountains; They give drink to every beast of the field, The wild asses quench their thirst. Beside them dwell the fowl of the heaven, From among the branches they sing.

Psalm 36:7

Thy righteousness is like the mighty mountains; Thy judgments are like the great deep; Man and beast Thou preservest, O LORD.

Psalm 145:9

The LORD is good to all; And His tender mercies are over all His works.

Proverbs 12:10

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.

Genesis 9:9-10

As for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the fowl, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you.

Original words for a family remembrance

These are our own words, written for this guide, not prayers from Jewish liturgy. Use them as a reading or a kavanah (an intention) before you begin.

Opening

We've gathered to remember [Name], who shared our home for [number] years. We are grateful for every one of them. We're here to tell [his/her] story and to comfort one another.

Gratitude

For the companionship of [Name], for the walks and the quiet evenings, for the noise and the welcome at the door, we are grateful. We were given a gift, and we tried to care for it well.

Closing

May the memory of [Name]'s place in our family stay with us. May we carry forward the kindness we learned in caring for [him/her], toward every creature we meet.

A simple family remembrance

About 15 minutes. It isn't a Jewish funeral and doesn't use the prayers reserved for mourning a person.

1. Coming together. A few words of welcome (above).
2. Lighting a candle.
3. [Name]'s story. One person tells how your pet came into the family.
4. A reading. Psalm 104:10-12 or Psalm 36:7.
5. Stories from everyone.
6. A commitment. Each person names one kindness toward animals they'll do in [Name]'s memory, such as a donation or volunteering at a shelter.
7. Closing words.

If you're burying your pet, place a stone on the grave at the end. For practical steps, see how to bury a pet.

Practical notes

• Shabbat and holidays. If your family observes Shabbat or festivals, plan the burial and gathering around them.
• Burial location. Jewish cemeteries generally don't accept animals. Home burial, a pet cemetery, or cremation are the usual choices. Ask your rabbi if you're unsure what fits your family's practice.
• Children. Rabbi Shapiro notes that losing a pet can teach a child that things end and that grief can be survived, and suggests waiting to get a new pet until the loss has been mourned, so a child doesn't learn that a unique being can simply be replaced. See explaining a pet's death to a child.

When family is far away

If grandparents or siblings can't be there, you can gather online. Bridgeside offers a free family remembrance with a candle and an optional psalm, built for Jewish households and leaving out the prayers reserved for mourning a person, which you can share with family by link.