Why Pet Funerals Are Becoming Increasingly More Popular In 2025

For a lot of people, pets are so much more than animal companions—because they’re also beloved family members who provide unconditional love.

When a pet passes away, it’s normal for families to experience a similar type of grief to losing a close relative. And today in 2025, pet funerals just so happen to be gaining momentum as pet owners and families look to say goodbye to their furry friends through formal ceremonies.

We recently interviewed the pet funeral service specialists in Springfield, Ohio at Jackson, Lytle & Lewis to get a more in-depth understanding as to why pet funerals are growing in popularity, so check out the below sections to see how this once considered unusual tradition is becoming more common!

The Widespread Recognition Of Pet Grief

There’s no denying how society at large has become a lot more understanding in recent years when it comes to the overall emotional impacts associated with losing a pet.

In the past, pet loss was often minimized as owners were expected to quickly move on, but this is starting to change as grieving for a lost pet is now being given the acknowledgement it truly deserves.

Pet funerals just so happen to provide a formal option for families to express this type of grief, and people are now gathering just like human funerals to share memories and find comfort through community when a cherished pet passes away.

Personalized Ceremonies & Celebrations Of A Pet’s Life

Another big reason why pet funerals are currently growing in popularity this year is because pet owners and families are now prioritizing celebration of life ceremonies—as opposed to traditional pet funeral ceremonies.

So, rather than simply saying goodbye to a pet in a somber tone, many owners are now choosing to reflect on their pet’s personality and choose happier celebrations.

This could mean that they’ll ask their friends and family members to walk outside a pet’s favorite spot, share photos and stories about the pet’s life, and incorporate music, video tributes and readings into the cermony.

By customizing the funeral service around the pet’s life, families are now creating more heartfelt and healing experiences.

Professional Pet Funeral Services

There has also been a significant rise in pet funeral homes and pet cremation services in recent years, which has made this ongoing trend more official.

Today in 2025, there are countless businesses that specialize in pet funeral offerings like:

• Eco-friendly burials, which include memorial trees and biodegradable urns
• Private or group cremation options, which include a return of the pet’s ashes to the family
• Customized keepsakes like engraved urns, paw-print impressions and jewelry containing a pet’s ashes

Not only do these services go a long way to help pet owners with the grieving process, but they also are aligned with a lot of people’s eco-conscious values!

How Pet Funerals Help The Healing Process

Pet funerals are now a lot more than just a basic farewell for owners and families, because they’re also integral with the healing process after a furry friend’s passing.

Grief counseling experts have concluded that these sorts of rituals give people closure, which helps them navigate through their recent loss in healthier ways.

And for children, pet funerals are often considered to be incredibly valuable learning experiences. This is because they’re given a much safer way to talk about death, life and remembrance—which helps them process grief through familial support.

Social & Cultural Shifts

There’s also no denying how cultural attitudes have changed a lot when it comes to pet funerals, because in many households, pets are now considered to be family members.

And with this type of shift naturally comes more people wanting to honor their furry family members after their passing with a similar type of dignity that they’d provide their human loved ones.

Online communities on social media have also played a major role in this cultural shift by encouraging people to share their post memorial tributes—and ultimately support one another even from afar.

Pet Funerals Are Poised To Continue Growing In Popularity Throughout The Foreseeable Future

It’s expected that pet funerals will become even more mainstream in upcoming years as pet funerals start shifting toward more personalized celebrations of life.

These ceremonies showcase the deep bonds between animals and humans, and in a way, this is a beautiful reflection of society!