The death of a beloved pet is an incredibly sad occasion. Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day is the day that we remember the pets that are no longer with us.³ While the immense pain of losing a pet heals somewhat with time, they are never ever forgotten. It is observed August 28th every year.²

Author Deborah Barnes founded Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day i n honor of her cat, Mr. Jazz, and as a way for people to share their memories of the pets that they have lost and find comfort in each others shared experience. She shared the journey of letting him go in her book, Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond and the reaction from her readers was so overwhelming, she decided to create the day in his honor as a way for others across the world to share memories of their own pets they had loved and lost.¹

Pets of all sizes are included whether it’s dogs, cats, hamsters, horses, mice, lizards, snakes, pigs, cows, etc… No pet owner looks forward to the day they have to say goodbye, but remember that you are not alone in your sadness and pet lovers everywhere are here for you in that difficult time.

Today, I invite you to reflect on pets you’ve lost, whether your own, a family member, a friend, or even the pets we’ve come to love on social media. Share stories about and photos of your pets using the hashtag RainbowBridgeRemembranceDay.

Tags: #RainbowBridgeRemembranceDay, death, grief, pet grief, pet loss, rainbow bridge, remembrance