Pet Memorial Gifts to Honor a Companion You've Loved
When you lose a pet, they leave a space nothing quite fills. A memorial gift won't close that space, but it can hold a piece of it, a way to keep their face nearby and remember the years they gave you. Whether the loss is yours or someone you care about, a custom portrait turns a favorite photo into something lasting: a dog or cat rendered the way you remember them, kept somewhere you'll see them every day.
Below are the pieces our customers most often choose to honor a pet, and a few gentle notes on choosing one for someone who's grieving.
Custom portraits made from your favorite photo
Framed Portrait (from $75). A custom portrait of your pet, made from the photo you love most and delivered ready to hang. Many people give it a place they pass often: a hallway, a bedside, the spot where their pet used to wait for them.
Portrait (Unframed) (from $54). The same custom artwork, ready to frame in a way that suits their home. A good choice when you'd like them to place it themselves.
Portrait Ornament (from $59). A smaller keepsake that can hang year-round or come out with the holidays, a quiet way to include a pet who's no longer here in the moments that still hold their memory.
How a memorial portrait is made
Every portrait is created to order from the photo you choose, so it looks like your pet: their expression, their markings, the way you remember them. You pick the style that feels right, from soft Color to quiet Black & White. Every order is Artist-Reviewed: a real artist looks over your photo before anything is made, and reaches out gently if a different picture would help the likeness.
Because the likeness matters most here, that artist works to keep the details you'd never want smoothed away: the gray muzzle, the white patch, the small markings that made them them. And you see and approve your portrait before anything is printed, so nothing arrives as a surprise. If you'd like, you can preview your pet in every style, free, before you decide. If you're unsure which photo to use, our short photo guide can help.
Giving a memorial gift to someone who's grieving
If you're the one reaching out to a friend or family member, a memorial portrait is a kind way to say I remember them too, but you don't always have a good photo of their pet, and asking can feel delicate.
You don't have to. You can give the gift first and let them add the photo of their pet when they're ready. It arrives by email, printed and shipped, or as a physical gift card you can include with a card of your own, so the timing stays in their hands, not on a deadline. It all happens in the Perkie gift experience.
A few things that tend to land well: keep the note simple, use the pet's name, and let them take their time with it. There's no wrong moment to be thought of.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good memorial gift for the loss of a dog or cat?
A custom portrait made from a favorite photo is one of the most personal choices. It honors the specific pet rather than offering something generic. Framed portraits, unframed prints, and keepsake ornaments are the pieces people most often keep.
Can you make a portrait from an old or lower-quality photo?
Often, yes. Every order is Artist-Reviewed before it's made, and we'll reach out kindly if a different photo would give a better likeness.
Will I see the portrait before it's printed?
Yes. A real artist reviews your photo first, and you see and approve your portrait before anything is printed or shipped, so the markings and details that matter are right before it's made.
I want to give this to someone grieving, but I don't have a photo of their pet. What can I do?
You can give the gift first and let them add their own photo when they're ready, or send a gift card so they can choose the piece and the picture themselves. Nothing about it puts them on a clock.
Can I have more than one pet in a portrait?
Yes. A portrait can hold 1, 2, or 3 pets in one piece, which many families choose when honoring companions who were part of the same home.
However you choose to remember them, the aim is the same: to keep a face you love close. If you'd like help choosing a photo or a piece, we're glad to help.