Sympathy gift

[GnusSitOnCanoes]

My parents’ adored family dog passed away today, and we are absolutely heartbroken. She watched over my children when they were babies, went adventuring with them as they grew, and slept by their beds whenever they visited. We can’t imagine her not being there again. My parents are devastated and I want to send something to help remember her by, but I’m drawing a blank. Does anyone have any ideas please? I’d be so grateful. We live abroad so it will be months until we see them next, and I want them to know how much we loved her too.

Do you have a favourite photo of her that you could send along with a condolence card? (Although I appreciate some people might find it too raw to see photos straight away)

@BiteyShark thanks for replying. This is a lovely idea, but we’re in the Middle East and post is tricky - it wouldn’t arrive for quite a while. I was hoping I could order something in the UK, to send, which would hopefully get there faster.

Very sorry to hear about their beloved girl.
There’s a lot of nice gifts you could send; if you have a nice photo, my friend has had a cushion made, there are ppl who make felt versions of your dog. If you search in memory of dog on Etsy and Notonthehighstreet there are lovely ideas.

www.notonthehighstreet.com/atlasandi/product/personalised-vintage-map-couple-walking

Not sure if something like this is suitable, but you can select an area they liked to walk in and they will add a dog or dogs etc.

If not that, Not on the High street and Etsy have some lovely things which can be personalised and sent directly.

Cross post!

If you did want to go down the photo route you could use one of the many online photo printing companies that deliver to the uk (I use photobox but there are many others). You just upload a digital print and then you can send a frame/print etc to them. I think they do cards as well so you could send a photo as a condolence card iykwim.

Depending on how much you want to spend you could get a drawing or painting of her done, lots of etsy sellers doing them in all different styles but the uber realistic ones are pretty pricey

Try villagerjims shop. They have some pet memorial things

Sorry for your loss . When my mums cat died we had a photo turned into a canvas print for the wall it’s probably easy enough to organise from abroad .

Thanks so much for the link - I love the map idea, and will look up the digital condolence cards and framing too. I think they would love a framed photo of her.

I recently bought a fused glass rainbow bridge from etsy.

As someone who hid every trace of her presence for several weeks after my last dog died I agree with BiteyShark it may be too soon for a photo. So perhaps keep that idea for Christmas and for now, collect together all the favourite things you remember about their dog. The things that make you smile from yourself and maybe the children. Send it by email with a warning the day before as to what it contains. That way they can look at it when they feel able.

Maybe a picture of your children with the dog - with the message that the dog lives on in their memories and helped form the children they are today. Sorry for your loss.