Keeping Them Close After Death: Pet Loss Rituals at Home | Peace of Mind for Pet Parents Ep. 85

Welcome to Peace of Mind for Pet Parents!🐾 Episode 085: Keeping Them Close After Death: How One Family Creates Rituals to Honor Their Pets at Home What can it look like to honor your pet at home after they die? Dr. Alice Kay Lovelace, D.Min., shares the meaningful rituals she and her husband, David, created after learning from BrightHaven that families can choose to spend time with a pet’s body before cremation. Timestamps: 00:50 - Learning We May Have Choices After a Pet Dies 03:50 - Knowing We Have a Choice Doesn't Mean We're Ready to Make It 07:12 - Creating an Honoring Basket for Your Pet 10:41 - Can Other Pets Spend Time With Their Companion After Death? 13:13 - How Long Can You Keep Your Pet at Home After Death? 18:28 - Creating a Personal Ritual Before Your Pet Leaves Home Alice shares how she creates an honoring basket, uses meaningful fabrics and objects, cares for the body, and allows her other cats to visit their companion. Their approach has become a personal home wake for their pets, creating space for connection, goodbye, and reflection after death. This episode explores pet loss rituals, after-death care, natural death, and the choices families may have after a pet dies. Alice’s story is not about following a specific ritual, but about discovering what feels meaningful for your own pet and family. As Alice says, ritual can help transform grief into gratitude. ANNOUNCEMENT: Enrollment is now open for Karen and Gail's new 8-week LIVE course, Relationship-Centered Animal Hospice! Open to both dedicated pet parents and pet care professionals, no hospice background required. Registration closes October 9th, 2026: www.animalhospicegroup.com/relationship-centered-animal-hospice-course-fall-2026 📌 Related Resource: 📖 The LIVING Assessment- brightpathforpets.com/resources/living-quality-of-life-assessment 📖 Walking The BrightPath: A Pet Parent’s Guide To Home Hospice And Natural Transition - brightpathforpets.com/blog/pet-hospice-guide 🐾Subscribe for more heart-centered conversations on animal caregiving, hospice, and honoring the human-animal bond. 📖 Read the Full Transcript on Our Blog: brightpathforpets.com/blog/peace-of-mind-for-pet-parents-episode-085-honoring-your-pet-at-home-after-death 🐕 Explore More Pet Care Resources: brightpathforpets.com/resources-html/ 🌟 Join the Conversation! You don’t have to face this alone. This episode is a gentle, grounded companion for any pet parent walking this path. Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review 🐶⭐🐱 Learn More from BrightHaven Caregiver Academy For free resources, upcoming workshops, and a supportive community dedicated to navigating life with your aging or ill pet: Website: brightpathforpets.com | brightpathforpets.com/peace-of-mind-for-pet-parents-podcast-html/ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3qYXfVDr4RCgmhFe4NJNkh Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-of-mind-for-pet-parents-navigating-life-with-aging-or-ill-pets/id1792058115 PodBean: peaceofmindforpetparents.podbean.com About the Hosts: 🐾 Karen Wylie, EdD Karen Wylie, EdD, is the Executive Director of the Animal Hospice Group and Co-Founder of BrightHaven Caregiver Academy. With decades of experience as an educator, organizational consultant, and hands-on caregiver for cats, dogs, and horses, Karen's mission is to give pet parents the knowledge and confidence to provide the very best care at every stage of their pet's life. Learn more at BrightPathForPets.com 🐾 Gail Pope Gail Pope is the Founder and President of BrightHaven, a nonprofit animal sanctuary, hospice, and educational center with over thirty years of experience in holistic and hospice care for senior and special needs animals. Internationally recognized for her pioneering work in animal hospice and natural passing, Gail has personally cared for hundreds of animals through chronic illness and the dying process. Learn more at BrightHaven.org Connect with Us on our Socials: Facebook: www.facebook.com/brightpathforpets Instagram: www.instagram.com/brightpathforpets Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes and not a substitute for professional advice. As always, remember that our insights come from decades of caregiving experience. For any medical questions, your veterinarian is the best resource. Music: "Imagefilm 050s" by Sascha Ende Link: www.filmmusic.io/en/song/12551-imagefilm-050 License: www.filmmusic.io/standard-license