The loss of a family pet is a source of grief and sadness. For many of us, pets are very much a part of the family. Over the years, our pets become our loyal friends, companions, guardians and even confidants. Even though the lifespan of a pet does vary on the species, they are with us long enough to establish bonds that are hard to break.

Those of us who feel a spiritual connection with our pets believe that the day will come when we all reunited at the fabled Rainbow Bridge. Even for people who do not share spiritual bond with their pet, the loss can be no less devastating. As with any death, different people deal with the loss in different ways. Grief comes in many forms from a fond memory to more debilitating emotional responses.

Many of us look for ways to memorialize the loss of our friend in some appropriate way. Picture albums and other memorabilia allow us to go back in time, reminding us of happier times. Owners may keep a collection of favorite toys and other reminders of the pets daily life. This is not unlike the process many of us go through when we lose a beloved human.

A growing trend in pet memorials is to create a long lasting symbol of our late pet. This can take the form of statuary, headstones and others types of monuments to honor our lost companion. The strong connection between pets and humans is undeniable, leading many of us to follow rituals that are quite similar, if not exactly like those followed for deceased humans.

Just like cemeteries for humans, pet cemeteries cater to the bereaved, often with the same compassion and level of service. Pet cemeteries offer a menu of services, from simple burials to cremations. Pet owners can select from caskets, urns and burial services. It is not uncommon that the deceased pet will be buried at home, using a casket purchased for that purpose. Larger pet cemeteries may feature a mausoleum for those people who prefer above ground interment.

Cremation is a common option with some owners choosing to inter the urn at a traditional pet cemetery or take the ashes home. The mobile nature of our modern society can make interment in a cemetery or backyard impractical. Cremation could be an appropriate option for those pet owners since the ashes are portable.

Cremation offers another interesting, though expensive way to memorialize your pet. A popular option among people of means is to have a portion of the ashes turned into a gem quality keepsake. Certified as diamonds, the cost of this process is beyond the means of most folks. The same process is used to turn human remains into unique and valuable keepsakes.

More and more pet owners are choosing to create memory boxes and baskets, designed to hold memorabilia of their pet. The baskets can hold identification tags, toys, and other artifacts of the animals life among humans.

Other popular ways to honor our past pets can include garden stones and other types of enduring memorials. Again, for those people of means, there is no end to the ways that pets can be remembered. Though not one of my first choices, some people will turn to freeze drying their beloved pet. In essence, the process will keep the pet around for many years.

So whether you plan to meet your deceased pets at Rainbow Bridge or just want to memorialize your companion, there are resources available that can help you cope with the loss of a friend and keep their memory alive.