Grieving owner creates pet render to honor furry friends lost to bereavement
From marigolds to dog treats, families create renditions honoring their beloved pets for Muertos lost around the world.
Losing a pet is never easy. Pet parents around the world are taking inspiration from the Disney/Pixar film “Coco” to remember their pets on Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
Many pet parents across the country are honoring their memory and seeking peace by preparing beautiful ofrendas, which means offering in Spanish, in memory of their fallen furry friends. Videos shared on social media by people who have lost pets show elaborate ofrendas decorated with candles, marigolds, framed photos of their pets and even pet treats.
Eric Rubin, an environmental scientist and animal protection volunteer based in Bridgewater, N.J., told USA TODAY in an email that he had always heard about the ofrenda and knew it from the Disney-Pixar film “Coco,” but was “not sure if I should make it” because it’s not part of his culture.
“But I really missed my dog Max, and even now, a year and a half after he passed away, I’m still struggling with that loss,” Rubin said. “I wanted to find a way to honor him and feel close to him again.”
Max’s belongings included Ash, an emotional support toy
Rubin’s gifts to Max included a replica stuffed animal, also known as a “cuddle clone,” the coat the dog wore in his last days alive, and the bed and blanket he was lying on when he died. Rubin said she also included her favorite toy, an “emotional penguin” that stayed with her throughout her illness, from surgery to recovery.
“We included his ashes, footprints, collar and food bowl,” Rubin said.
Max died of cancer, but Rubin said she did everything she could to prolong her pet’s life, spending about $36,000 on two surgeries and two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy.
“Losing him was soul crushing.”
Rubin said her pets, who she spent most of her adult life with, were her soulmates and were essential to getting her through “many challenges in life.”
“Losing him was soul-crushing. When he passed away, a part of me left,” Rubin said. “He was by my side no matter what. He loved me and I loved him.”
Rubin said participating in this tradition “made me feel close to Max again and know how much he was loved” and gave her more energy to continue her work as an animal rescue volunteer to keep Max’s spirit alive.
How did Day of the Dead for Pets start?
The tradition of dedicating Day of the Dead to pets began in 2019 when pet funeral service company Funeral Pet proposed the memorial, USA TODAY previously reported. October 27th was then chosen as the official day to set up an altar for the owner’s beloved deceased pet.
It is believed that on the night of October 27th, dogs, cats and other animals will return to Earth, visit their homes and enjoy the food and toys left in offerings.
Rubin praises Max every day
For Rubin, honoring his pet on Oct. 27 means “letting him know I think of him every day.”
“What I’ll miss most is how well he knew me,” Rubin said. “He was an extension of me, we were like peas and carrots. Everyone knew ‘Eric and Max’ as if they were not separate entities.”
After Max’s death, Rubin said she “turned that grief into something positive” by raising $3,500 for the Northern New Jersey-based Eleventh Hour Rescue and volunteering and fostering with them.
“Since then, I’ve dedicated my life to helping dogs in need, because Max wants me to do something good and not stay sad,” Rubin said.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
