Non-crazy ways to remember your deceased dog
What should stay and what should go when your dog dies
Watching comedians Pete Davidson and Kevin Hart do quite possibly world’s worst job of helping a family move is worth your time. As funny and horrible as they were at it, there was one scene in particular that stood out during the comedy skit. It made me realize, “Man, dog owners are a special kind of crazy sometimes.” Skip to 12:46 to see a scene in which the mother shows Kevin Hart her dead dog Lucy’s teeth. My very first thought was, “What kind of psycho keeps a dog’s teeth for 12 years?”
Then came my second thought: I have paintings and framed photographs of both of my dogs — one of 13 years and the other of nine years. And when the latter dog (Faith) died, I went straight to my parents’ house, grabbed a handful of her fur from a basement couch, shaped it into a big heart, and flatted that fur heart inside of a framed photograph on my living room wall. Lucky for me, my entire social circle either owns dogs now or have owned dogs in the past. They get it. But I won’t deny that it’s crazy as hell to keep old fur.
Still though, there are probably saner ways to handle a dog’s death — some involve pet donations while others involve keeping pet memories close to your heart.
What to give away:
Dog food
Dog leash/harness
Dog toys
Dog treats
Dog crate
Dog bed
According to Money Under 30, the first-year cost of owning a dog can total as high as $1,000, primarily due to veterinary bills and just getting essential items. If you know you are in no rush to get another dog, why not give items like these away on Craigslist, Freecycle and/or your local shelter. Someone who has adopted a pet or even taken in a stray could certainly use these items. And if they’re just sitting in your pantry or basement collecting dust, consider letting a dog (and dog owner) who needs them use them. (Throw away those dog antlers though. The safety on that toy is questionable.)
Recommended Read: “Revenge flaggers on Craigslist: Why is your life so empty? ~ WFFH: Why Craigslist needs to take notes from Freecycle: Get humans to confirm legitimate flagging”
ADVERTISEMENT ~ Amazon
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a percentage from purchases with my referral links. I know some consumers are choosing to boycott Amazon for its DEI removal. However, after thinking about this thoroughly, I choose to continue promoting intriguing products from small businesses, women-owned businesses and (specifically) Black-owned businesses who still feature their items on Amazon. All five of my Substack publications now include a MINIMUM of one product sold by a Black-owned business. (I have visited the seller’s official site, not just the Amazon Black-owned logo, to verify this.) If you still choose to boycott, I 100% respect that decision.
Of course some dogs may initially be turned off by the smell of another dog. If you do decide to use these materials again with a new dog, don’t be surprised if the dog is unimpressed by non-food items. You will probably need to hand wash and vacuum these dog supplies to get the old scent of your prior dog off of them. Or, expect the new dog to “mark” his territory so it smells like him.
(True story: One of my prior dog boarding clients was a newlywed. When she found out that she would be banned from sleeping in the bed with her dog owner and his husband — who never had a problem with her sleeping with him before — she jumped on the bed and peed on it. From that point on, she slept on her dog bed. But no matter how much the newlyweds cleaned those sheets and mattress, the dog had made her point. So don’t expect to work any miracles getting rid of the scent or stain.)
What to keep: