The concept of designing artistic pet cremation urns was founded on Western society's evolution in viewing death over the last century, since the first pet memorial park was established in the state of New York around 1917. Memorializing pets is growing in popularity and people are adopting more creative ways to preserve the memory of their beloved pets. Many are seeking ways that they can honor their cherished friends with artistic pet memorials that blend with the home and are also eco-friendly.

Pet cremation is just one of the categories in the pet services business. Outpacing non-food supplies and forecasted to reach more than $22 billion in 2008, pet services happens to be one of the fastest-growth pet markets. 63 percent of the U.S., or 71.1 million homes, own a pet. This is up from 56 percent in 1988. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) also estimated spending of $40.8 billion on pets in the U.S. in 2007. (Source: APPMA 2007-2008 National Pet Owners survey.)

Interestingly, out of this new industry, there are a number of successful artists springing forth. Artists like Métis Design & Culture are designing environmentally friendly designs that rely on innovative products in harmony with society's openness and multiculturalism.

Today's innovative artists blend high-end industrial design and technology with traditional materials and ancient techniques, juxtaposing materials such as aluminum to lacquer, marquetry and veneer. Their work include art that celebrates life and they use sparse raw materials such as grainy leather, anodized aluminum or burled maple.

There are hand crafted, unique pet urns, engraved stone pet memorials, pet memorial headstones and grave markers in marble, genuine river rock, cultured river rock, cultured slate, black granite or bluestone. Pet lovers can choose pet garden statues, hand-painted pottery pet urns, pet portrait and art, burial boxes, and custom engraved glasswork,. One well known artist is offering abstract paintings with the cremains of their pet inside.

It's helpful for parents assisting children with the loss of a pet, there are also websites that provide grieving support so that people can find links to pet loss information and pet loss counseling websites to help them honor and say goodbye to a pet. Visitors can create virtual pet memorials with tributes and photof to share with family and friends.

Pet cremation services are offered through most veterinary clinics and although private crematorium prices vary, the average costs are between $75 and $350. Once the family chooses to receive the pet ashes back from the crematorium, they must decide on private burial, either in their yard with a custom pet grave marker or in a vessel such as a pet memorial urn to keep or for spreading.