When Nicole and her colleagues need to take a moment and pay homage to the animals who have crossed over the rainbow bridge, they’ll wander out to the memorial rock garden on the shelter’s grounds.
The garden was recently started by the Humane Society of Central Arizona’s operations director, Luci Trushel, as a way to honor the animals from both the shelter and the community that had passed.
“This has been something I wanted to do for a long time,” Luci said. “I got involved in animal welfare 15 years ago after adopting my Hunter. I was not in a good place in my life and Hunter and the humane society saved me.”
The garden features small rocks with names or personal messages painted on them surrounded by large paw print made from paver stones, as well as a bench for visitors to sit and reflect.
“I feel at peace since the animals’ memory is captured so beautifully through art,” Nicole said about the garden. “There is recognition for the animals that have passed.” And because many of the shelter’s vital programs are funded by donations, the rocks serve as a way to raise much-needed funds for the shelter’s furry residents and the community as a whole. “Donate any amount for one rock and you can request what you’d like painted on the rock or you can paint the rock yourself,” Nicole said. “It’s been a huge success and much appreciated by our community.”
For Luci, seeing the garden come to fruition has been bittersweet. “The day we officially launched the garden, my Hunter passed away, so this project has been even closer to my heart.” Luci said. “It brings people peace when they can visit and sit on the bench and remember their beloved pets.”
When kennel tech and dog walker Carly finds herself missing former residents who have crossed over, all she has to do is look at their faces, which have been immortalized in paintings at the Pennsylvania shelter where she works.
“It’s a form of art that communicates love and devotion,” Carly said. “For me, it helps me to know a part of them is always with us.”
Carly said the tradition of having paintings commissioned started when a long-time resident—a special dog named Hershey who had terminal cancer—had to be euthanized. It’s a day Carly holds dear. “Every single staff member was there with him during his final moments. We all cried and grieved and said goodbye together,” said Carly, who still has his collar and some of his ashes. “He meant a lot to every person he met, but he was my ‘soul dog’ through and through. When he passed, it was similar to a human passing away.” Hershey was so loved, in fact, his painting sits at the center of a small alter adorned with toys, pictures, and memories that Carly said “serves as a place of memorial, and helps all employees as well as volunteers, donors, board members—anybody who has ever had a connection to the dog—continue to have that connection throughout their grief.”
From memorial gardens to commissioned paintings, animal organizations across the nation are honoring the animals they’ve lost while providing a safe space for staff, volunteers, and community supporters to express their grief. In a field where many struggle to find the time or emotional bandwidth to process traumatic experiences like loss, having a memorial can serve an important purpose.
Consider these benefits:
Offers Validation. Animal loss is a type of disenfranchised grief—grief that is not widely recognized or accepted by society as being “legitimate.” Staff and volunteers are deeply invested in and bonded to the animals in their care, and losing them can be traumatic. Organizations can acknowledge and normalize this pain by providing a place where they can remember and process their grief.
Promotes Healing. When staff and volunteers have either a dedicated space or sanctioned ceremony that honors the animals who have passed, this creates an environment more conducive to healing. It also helps to prevent the emotional
overwhelm of cumulative grief and reduces the risk of developing compassion fatigue, trauma, and burnout.
Provides Support. Loneliness and isolation are common reactions to grief, particularly disenfranchised grief. Having a way to remember the animals who have crossed over can help to foster a sense of community, which can ease the burden of those who feel they are carrying the weight of grief alone. This also helps to bolster the shared mission of protecting animals and is a way for organizations to demonstrate a commitment to their team’s well-being.
Celebrates Lives. Animals end up at shelters, sanctuaries, and rescues for a variety of reasons, and often times their previous lives were devoid of the love, patience, and forever family every animal deserves. Allowing their memory to live on through a memorial, ceremony, tribute, or legacy program can serve as a reminder that they mattered, at least to someone.
For Luci, Nicole, Carly, and their colleagues, these memorials, rituals, and traditions are more than just gardens or paintings; they symbolize a safe space where grief is validated and shared. In the emotionally charged world of animal welfare, where love and loss can take a deep toll, these practices offer a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and remember. By honoring the animals who’ve crossed over, we not only celebrate their lives but also foster a culture that values the mental well-being of its team, giving them permission to grieve, heal, and find renewed strength in their mission.
What has your organization done to honor those who've crossed the Rainbow Bridge? Let me know in the comments!
-Jennifer Blough
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