What Should I Do With My Dog’s Ashes?
Few things in life are as rewarding as nurturing a great relationship with a dog. We rely on our dogs as much as they rely on us, and it can be quite hard when they die. Cremation gives us the chance to get some closure with our dogs. Understandably, you may struggle with what to do with your dog’s ashes.
Spread your dog’s ashes in a sentimental place or park where you have been with your dog unless you want to keep them. You can also repurpose your dog’s ashes and infuse them with jewelry, paint, or stained glass. Many modern services can even infuse your dog’s ashes with fireworks, tattoo ink, diamonds, and even tree roots.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to how you decide to honor your dog after they pass away. Whether you place the ashes in an ornament or keep them in an urn on your desk, your dog will simply be happy that you love them. Follow along as we explore what to do with your dog’s ashes so you can gain closure about their passing.
What Can You Do With Your Dog’s Ashes?
1. Spread Them
It can be hard to get closure when your dog passes away, whether you see it coming or not. You’d be surprised how comforting it can be to spread your dog’s ashes as a symbolic way to represent their passing. That doesn’t mean that you’re letting go of your dog, but it’s a great way to show that you’ve come to terms with their life and death.
Many proud dog parents spread the ashes of their furry friends at places that were important to them during their lives. For example, you could spread the ashes at their favorite dog park that you often visited with them. Another great option is to scatter your dog’s ashes in your yard where they spent a lot of time
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Don’t feel like you must spread all your dog’s ashes if you want to keep some of them. There are no rules to this, and it’s ultimately about what makes you happy during this difficult time.
2. Get A Special Urn
There is nothing easy about losing a beloved dog, but it helps if you can maintain a connection with them. The easiest way to do that for many people is to get a special urn to hold the ashes. That way, your dog’s ashes will always be close by to remind you of the countless happy times you spent together.
Urns meant to hold your dog’s ashes come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, so you have many options to choose from. Much like urns meant for human remains, they also vary in cost quite significantly. You can find some dog urns that cost as little as $20, whereas high-end urns may cost $300 or more.
The nice thing about having an urn for your dog’s ashes is that you can eventually spread them or split the ashes up among loved ones. Otherwise, you can simply keep the ashes in the urn somewhere special in your house to memorialize your dog.
3. Cremation Jewelry
Cremation jewelry has slowly become more mainstream, and that’s because it’s a unique alternative to a traditional memorial. This practice is common with human remains, but it has become a popular way for people to grieve and honor their furry friends. There is a wide variety of methods to make jewelry that contains dog ashes.
For example, some grieving dog parents commission jewelers to design necklaces with lockets that contain the ashes. Your dog will always be close to your heart, but in this case, they will be physically close to your heart. There is no shortage of options between bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings.
Some designers infuse the dog’s ashes with the materials used for the jewelry, such as glass. Others simply design the jewelry to feature a small chamber that you can fill with some of your dog’s cremains.
4. Grow A Tree
One of the best ways to honor your dog’s memory is to grow a tree in their name. You can either buy a Living Urn or simply scatter your dog’s ashes in the soil when you plant a tree. Living Urns are biodegradable and contain your dog’s ashes mixed in with soil and a tree.
The brand offers 50 types of trees to choose from, and it’s one of the most unique ways to handle your dog’s ashes. Otherwise, you can simply dig a hole, place the ashes in the soil, and plant a tree in a part of your yard that your dog always loved to spend time in.
5. Bury The Ashes
Burying your dog’s ashes is a great way to gain closure the same way you would with a beloved family member. Find a spot on your property that you would like to be a nice final resting place for your dog. You can bury as much or as little of the ashes as you want and keep whatever you have leftover to scatter or put in your urn.
6. Turn Them Into Art
Much like your love for your dog, art is eternal. Use your dog’s ashes to represent their beauty through art that you can appreciate for years to come. It’s easy to infuse your dog’s ashes with most types of paint.
That said, acrylic, oil, and watercolor paint are the easiest mediums to infuse with the ashes. You can also easily mix your dog’s ashes with pottery clay. Another great option is to mix some of the ashes with clay and make an urn to hold the rest of the ashes.
7. Water Burial
Whether it be a lake, river, or ocean, bodies of water are quite calming. Scattering your dog's ashes across the water can symbolize their passing on from this life. You can also place their ashes in a biodegradable vessel and watch them float away.
8. Infuse Them With Stained Glass
Stained glass is a beautiful art form, and it’s a great way to represent how much you love your dog. You can find many stained glass artists throughout the world who accept dog ashes and apply them to their medium. They don’t typically need much of the ash, but a little goes a long way. The ashes themselves aren’t too noticeable, but it’s the thought that counts.
9. Celebrate Their Life With Fireworks
Fireworks are exciting and typically go together with celebrations. Now, you can use fireworks to celebrate your dog’s life if you infuse them with ashes. This is a somewhat expensive option as it can cost up to $1,000, but costs vary based on the service you choose.
However, it’s important to note that some cities, counties, and states have strict rules about when you can use fireworks. That’s why it’s a great idea to look up the rules in your area to make sure your celebration of your dog’s life is legal.
10. Get Creative With An Hourglass
Hourglasses serve as beautiful decorations and pieces of art. It can also help preserve your dog’s memory if you fill an hourglass with your dog’s ashes. This visual representation of your dog’s life is both poignant and beautiful.
11. Make A Thoughtful Ornament
Repurposing your dog’s ashes for a light, fun reason can work wonders to help you cope with your dog passing away. Fill an ornament with your dog’s ashes to cement them into your holiday traditions for the rest of your life. This thoughtful way to honor your dog takes some of the sadness out of their death and gives you something to look forward to each year at Christmas.
12. Get A Memorial Tattoo
Unless you’re afraid of needles, you may want to consider getting a tattoo infused with your dog’s ashes. Many tattoo artists are willing to do this, and it is safe if the ashes are quite fine. Whether it be your dog’s name, paw print, or a portrait of their face, they would be honored if you chose to memorialize your bond with a tattoo.
13. Set Them In Stone
Have you been planning any project that requires stone pavers? If so, it would be the perfect time to put your dog’s ashes in stone. You can even find paving stone kits in the shape of dog paws to infuse your ashes in. You can even bring the pavers with you if you ever move to another house, so you always have a part of your dog with you.
14. Have A Fire
Who doesn’t love a bonfire? Bonfires bring people together, and you can host one in honor of your beloved furry friend. Place the ashes into the fire at some point and watch the smoke fill the air to symbolize the return to nature. You can invite your friends or simply keep it between you and your close family members.
Summing It Up
Whether you spread your dog’s ashes or turn them into jewelry, your dog would be proud you honored their memory. You can also put your dog’s ashes in an ornament, get a memorial tattoo, or mix them with paint to create beautiful art. Many people put their dog’s ashes in the ground to grow a plant or tree in their memory, and that’s a great way to represent the cycle of life.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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