When a Cold Nose is at the Pearly Gates: Writing a Pet’s Obituary

By Laurel E. Hunt

Like many people of a certain age, I often read the obituaries of complete strangers. Often, the euphemisms describing a death (“carried home by the angels”) are cliché, but I keep reading because this person’s story is their legacy; their work, interests, and values contribute to how they will be remembered. As a lasting testament to a life, the obituary comforts family and friends. Their loved one’s life mattered.

When a beloved pet dies, there are no expected ritual...