Navigating Grief During the Holidays: How to Carry Your Pet’s Memory With You

The holiday season is often described as “the most wonderful time of the year,” but if you’re grieving the loss of a pet, this time can feel heavy, complicated, or even isolating. When the world around you is wrapped in celebration, it can feel like there's no place for your heartbreak — or like you’re supposed to “move on” before you’re ready.

If you're here, please know this:
Grief doesn’t take holidays off. And you’re not doing anything wrong by feeling what you’re feeling.

Here are a few gentle ways to take care of yourself and carry your pet’s love with you through this season.

1. Let Yourself Feel What Comes Up

Holiday grief often arrives in waves — sometimes soft, sometimes strong enough to take your breath away. Give yourself permission to cry, to smile, or to step away when you need to. Grief is love in motion. There’s nothing wrong with any emotion that shows up.

2. Create a Quiet Moment Just for You and Your Pet

Light a candle. Sit with a photo. Hold their collar. Close your eyes and remember one small, happy moment — the way they greeted you at the door, the sound of their paws, the warmth of their presence. A few minutes can be grounding and healing.

3. Bring Them Into Your Traditions

You don’t need a big ritual.
Sometimes the smallest gestures are the most meaningful:

• Hang a paw-print ornament

• Place their photo on the mantle

• Add their name to your holiday card

• Set a small stocking

• Play the song that always made you think of them

These tiny acts can bring comfort without overwhelming you.

4. Let Loved Ones Know What You Need

Grieving during a high-energy season can be draining. If you need quieter gatherings, space to step outside, or someone to just listen — it’s okay to say so. You deserve to be supported.

5. Seek Comfort in Community

Whether it’s a support group, a grief-friendly social page, or a trusted friend who understands how much your pet meant to you, sharing your experience with people who “get it” can make a world of difference. There are excellent resources out there like Love, Baxter and Jasper Grief. 

6. Remember That It’s Okay to Feel Joy, Too

Joy doesn’t replace your grief.
Joy is another way your pet’s love continues — because they made you someone who loves deeply. Allowing happiness to exist beside sorrow doesn’t mean you’re forgetting them.

You’re carrying so much love this season. Be gentle with yourself. Your pet’s presence may not be physical anymore, but their imprint — their warmth, their devotion, their story — is forever a part of you.