Pet Epitaphs

Pet Epitaphs

I was 47 years old when I lost my first pet, his name was Dally. He was a beautiful, gentle Dalmatian who lived to be almost 11. When stricken with cancer and I could no longer make him comfortable I knew it was time to say goodbye. The ride to the vet is still some of the worst few minutes of my 58 years. The sadness I felt lingered for weeks and I was taken aback by how much my heart would ache. It was this experience that made me understand the loss people feel and how much emotion there is when writing a pet epitaph for their beloved companions. As I write this I have a customer who has taken weeks trying to decide what to write for her cat who lived with her for more than 20 years.

Pet epitaphs are certainly nothing new whether scratched on a simple stone or carved into a large granite tombstone, the words are truly heartfelt and the feelings of loss run deep. While all pet epitaphs are really very personal, there are a few that have become quite popular as they do sum up the love the family had for their pet and at the same time are short and sweet. Here are a few examples:

Here are a few examples:

If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.

Faithful, loyal loving companion.

Gone but never forgotten.

You left paw prints on our hearts.

Although we are apart, your spirit lives on in my heart.

Forever in our hearts.

Updated January 2026