Pet Urns for Dogs and Cats: Motifs of Remembrance
Most pet urns show the animal itself with angel wings – sitting, in a basket, on a stone or on a heart. Engraving plates hold the name and dates, and one large dog urn also has a photo compartment. Alongside these are urns with religious and symbolic motifs: the Pietà, famous from Michelangelo's sculpture in St Peter's Basilica, the Tree of Life as a symbol of the cycle of life and death, ascending angels, or Christ the Redeemer modelled on the statue in Rio de Janeiro. Stone-look designs have a simple, understated feel, while white and bronzed urns, many of them by Veronese, appear more solemn.
Choosing the Right Size of Pet Urn
The urn size needed depends mainly on the weight and build of the animal. As a guide, urns of up to around 0.5 litres are often sufficient for small cats and dogs, while medium-sized and large dogs need correspondingly more volume. As the actual amount of ashes can vary from animal to animal, the capacity is stated on each product page. If in doubt, it is best to allow for a little more volume.
At Home or in the Garden
In Germany, unlike human remains, there is no obligation to bury the ashes of pets. The pet urn may therefore be kept at home, or the ashes laid to rest in your own garden. For a grave in the garden there are matching grave angels, and further memorial items can be found under mourning & remembrance.
