Fur-Ever Remembered: 105 Comforting Pet Condolence Messages and Quotes of Sympathy

For many pet owners, a home filled with barks, meows, chirps and yips is a home filled with unconditional love. Best friends come in all breeds, and studies have shown that viewing pets as family members can be beneficial to both our mental and physical health. And once our cherished animals do become part of our family, losing a furry—or feathered—companion can be like losing a family member.

And because pets so often become a special part of a family, it is perfectly natural to feel completely devastated when they pass away and go through a period of grief and mourning. If you have ever experienced that kind of loss yourself, then you know how intense it can be for a friend or loved one who has recently suffered the loss of a pet. Even if you can’t relate to losing an animal friend yourself, you can share your condolences for the loss of a pet and offer your support through thoughtful pet quotes.

It’s perfectly fine to offer your condolences when someone’s pet dies by sending a quick text, note, or email, expressing your sympathy with a few comforting words. If you are struggling to come up with what to say to someone who has lost their pet, we have put together a list of pet loss messages to share or write in pet sympathy cards. These kind sentiments cover the death of dogs, cats, birds and other animal friends, but you can pick and choose which sayings you like best and easily change the sentiments to reflect the breed the pet parent is mourning. We have also curated a list of pet loss quotes for you to draw from in sharing words of comfort.

When you sit down to write a condolence card for a loved one who is mourning the death of a pet, keep these tips in mind: Acknowledge that you realize how devastated they are by their loss; refer to the pet by his or her name; share some of your own memories of the animal; let them know that you are there for them in their time of grief; and lastly, avoid comparing their mourning to your own experience (as it may feel like you are minimizing their loss) or suggesting that a new pet would ease their pain.

What To Write in a Pet Sympathy Card

1. [Pet's name] was such a wonderful [cat/dog/bird/gerbil]. He/she was lucky to have found a family as loving as yours. Know that we are thinking of you.

2. Everyone is taught that angels have wings, but the lucky ones of us find they have four paws. I was so sorry to hear that [pet name] had died.

3. Losing a loyal and true friend isn't easy. Please know that I'm thinking of you, and if you need to talk or share memories of him/her, please call me. I'm sorry for your loss.

4. Your favorite chair is empty now, where you would lie and sleep. But the memory of our happy times is mine to always keep. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

5. May the memories of your precious [pet’s name] soften the sadness in your heart.

6. A companion is gone, but the memory lives on. We are so sorry to hear about the passing of [pet name].

7. I’m so sorry about your feathered/furry friend. I know you gave him the best life a little [parakeet/hamster/gerbil] could ask for, and he loved you for it.

8. May fond memories of your beloved [pet's name] warm your heart always.

9. Losing a pet such as [pet's name] can leave a hole in your heart and a void in your life. Know that I am thinking of you and offer my condolences. Call me if you want to chat or need a shoulder to cry on.

10. Your companion is gone, but his/her memory lives on. We are so sorry to hear of [name’s] passing.

11. Although your sweet [pet] has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, he/she will always be beside you and watching over you.

12. Treasured friends like your furry companion are missed by all when they pass on, and their fond memories live on forever in our hearts. Wishing your family comfort and peace in your time of grief.

13. I am sorry for your loss. [Pet's name] will be greatly missed.

14. Our beloved pets teach us more than we could have expected and love us more than we could have hoped. I am so sorry for your loss.

15. The memories and paw print of a beloved [pet] remain in our hearts and souls forever.

16. [Pet's name] left paw prints of love on everyone who knew [him/her].

17. A devoted friend and beloved pet such as [pet’s name] will always hold a special place in your heart. [He/she] is gone but never forgotten.

18. I was saddened to hear of the death of [pet's name]. No words of sympathy will ease your pain, but I want you to know that I am thinking of you in your time of grief.

19. You and [pet’s name] were so lucky to have found each other. He/she will be greatly missed.

20. We are so sorry for the loss of your sweet boy/girl, [pet’s name]. He was a beautiful [dog/cat/bird/hamster] and clearly a much-loved member of your family; we know he will be missed.

21. A pet’s love is never replaced but always remembered. My condolences on your loss.

22. I was sorry to hear that [pet's name] had crossed the rainbow bridge. My condolences are with you and your family at this sad time.

23. I know you miss [pet’s name] terribly. I’m thinking about you and sending thoughts and prayers.

24. No longer by your side, but forever in your heart. Your love for [pet's name] will never fade.

25. I know your house will seem empty without your sweet [pet’s name]. I hope memories of him/her bring you comfort.

26. You are in all our thoughts as we mourn the passing of [pet's name]. She/he was one of a kind, and we were blessed to have had her/him in our lives. Sending my love and deepest sympathy.

27. Losing such an important part of the family is never easy. I’m thinking about you.

28. I can’t imagine what you are going through right now. [Pet’s name] was such an important part of your family. I’m here if you need to talk.

Related: 312 Heartwarming Quotes About Pets

What To Write in a Sympathy Card for a Dog

29. No one can truly understand why dogs are called "man’s best friend" until they have experienced the loss of one. I am so sorry that your [dog’s name] has crossed the rainbow bridge.

30. Your loyal dog will forever be by your side, watching over you. My deepest sympathy for your loss.

31. Our pets are members of our family. The loss of an amazing dog like [pet's name] can’t be easy, and I’m here if you need comforting in this time of grief.

32. You are in my thoughts and prayers during such a difficult time. I know that your dog meant the world to your family.

33. Dogs are the sweetest, purest things in our lives. We’re so sorry to hear about the loss of your fur baby. You’re in our thoughts.

34. Dogs are small rays of light caught on Earth for a short time to brighten our days. I was so stunned to hear that your beloved dog had passed.

35. Your sweet dog was a loyal companion. May his/her memories bring you comfort in your time of grief.

36. I think dogs are returned to their younger, healthy selves in Heaven; imagine him running around in no pain and just waiting for your arrival someday.

37. Sending you all so much love and strength to get through this loss. Our dogs become part of our families, and I know how much [pet's name] meant to you. My condolences.

38. The worst thing about losing your dog is not having someone there to lick your tears away.

39. Having a dog will bless you with the happiest days of your life, and one of the worst days. I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

40. You may have lost your beloved dog, but you gained a guardian angel. You are in our prayers at this difficult time.

41. May memories of love and friendship maintain and comfort you in the loss of your beloved dog.

42. You gave your dog such a wonderful life. I know he/she loved you for it. All my best as you grieve this loss.

43. [Dog’s name] had such an amazing life with you and the kids. I’m so sorry you had to say goodbye.

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What To Write in a Sympathy Card for a Cat

44. Everybody who has ever owned cats understands how easy it is to love them. And I know how much you loved and adored [cat’s name].

45. May memories of love and friendship maintain and comfort you in the loss of your beloved cat.

46. My heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of your beloved [cat’s name]. I’ll never forget his/her sweet meow. May he/she rest in peace.

47. Thinking of you after the loss of your sweet cat. He/she will be missed by many but will live on with the precious memories he left behind.

48. How can one tiny animal contain so much personality?! Their little quirks make each cat unique and irreplaceable, which is why losing a beloved cat is so difficult. I am so sorry for your loss.

49. The loss of a cat is immeasurable. But so is the love left behind. I hope that memories of your sweet cat will bring you comfort.

50. Sometimes a very special cat enters our lives . . . their presence changes our hearts forever. And we can call ourselves blessed for having known them. I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved friend.

51. I know you'll miss his sweet purring and cuddles. He was such a loving cat.

52. One day, all the cats we’ve ever loved will come running toward us, and that day will be a good day. Thinking of you as you grieve your family’s loss.

53. Life is short, and the loss of a pet serves to remind us of how precious our time here truly is. I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your family’s beloved cat.

54. To make heaven the perfect resting place for loved ones we adore, God made sure those Pearly Gates contained a kitty door.

55. No one can truly understand the bond that we form with the cats we love until they experience the loss of one. You are in my thoughts.

56. When people say, "It’s just a cat," they just don’t understand. I know how much you loved your furry friend, and I am so sorry for your loss.

57. I bet they have an unlimited supply of catnip in Cat Heaven.

Related: 20 Large Cat Breeds

Pet Sympathy Quotes

58. "Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes." —Gene Hill

59. "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him—and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too." —Samuel Butler

60. "Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and filling an emptiness we didn’t ever know we had." —Thom Jones

61. "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." —Albert Schweitzer

62. "No one loves you unconditionally as your beloved pet." —Cynthia S. Dobesh

63. "I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?" —Sir Walter Scott

64. "I believe all animals were created by God to help keep man alive." —Iowa Fujita

65. "Someone asked me what the most difficult thing about having a dog was. I replied—the goodbye." —Unknown

66. "I guess you don’t really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease." —Joe Garagiola

67. "Dogs make you somebody in the eyes of the universe." —Bob Sullivan

68. "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went." —Will Rogers

69. "No heaven will not ever Heaven be. Unless my cats are there to welcome me." —Unknown

70. "One day we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures." —Pope Francis

71. "Some angels choose fur instead of wings." —Unknown

72. "If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans." —James Herriot

73. "All his sweet and shaggy life, always near me, never troubling me, and asking nothing." —Pablo Neruda

74. "Time spent with a cat is never wasted." —Sigmund Freud

75. "A pet is never truly forgotten until it is no longer remembered." —Lacie Petitt

76. "I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive." —Gilda Radner

77. "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." —Roger Caras

78. "Not the least hard thing to bear when they go from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry away with them so many years of our own lives." —John Galsworthy

79. "Once you have a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished." —Dean Koontz

80. "It came to me that every time I lose a dog, they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog that comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all of the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and as loving as they are." —Anonymous

81. "If not for dogs, how would we know the meaning of unconditional love?" —M.L. Gerard

82. "If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I know will go to heaven, and very few people." —James Thurber

83. "Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear." —Anonymous

84. "If there is a Heaven, it’s certain our animals are to be there. Their lives become so interwoven with our own, it would take more than an archangel to detangle them." —Pam Brown

85. "The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master." —Ben Hur Lampman

86. "Sometimes losing a pet is more painful than losing a human because in the case of the pet, you were not pretending to love it." —Amy Sedaris

87. "Dogs die. But dogs live, too. Right up until they die, they live. They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their families. And love us. And make our lives a little brighter. And they don’t waste time being afraid of tomorrow." —Dan Gemeinhart

88. "You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us." —Robert Louis Stevenson

89. "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." —Anatole France

90. "Grief is so painfully real, regardless of its origin. The love of, and attachment to, an animal friend can equal that of human relationships. Likewise, the loss of an animal can be just as devastating." —Rev. Joel L. Morgan

91. "A good dog never dies, he always stays, he walks beside you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter’s drawing near, his head within our hand in his old way." —Unknown

92. "Old men miss many dogs." —Steve Allen

93. "The bond with a dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." —Konrad Lorenz

94. "Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big." —Erica Jong

95. "It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them." —John Grogan

96. "Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." —Mark Twain

97. "The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest." —Martin Luther

98. "No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch." —Leo Dworken

99. "A person who has never owned a dog has missed a wonderful part of life." —Bob Barker

100. "Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really." —Agnes Sligh Turnbull

101. "If you have a dog, you will most likely outlive it; to get a dog is to open yourself to profound joy and, prospectively, to equally profound sadness." —Marjorie Garber

102. "A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks beside you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter’s drawing near. His head is within our hand in his old way." —Mary Carolyn Davies

103. "His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears." —Elizabeth Barrett Browning

104. "Having a pet is a risk—you always have the grief ahead. But that’s the flip side of love." —Unknown

105. "No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich." —Louise Sabin

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