Pet memorial gift guide
Pet Memorial Painting Gift Ideas
A memorial painting is one of the few gifts that keeps a pet visible for years. Here is when people give one, how to choose the photo, size and frame, and exactly what happens between ordering and the day it hangs on a wall.
A pet memorial painting is a portrait of one specific animal, painted from one specific photo, printed on linen oil-painting canvas with the paint built up in real relief and set into a real wood frame. It is not a print and it is not a phone filter - it is a physical object with depth, made to order for the one pet it depicts.
That is exactly why it works as a memorial gift: it is something that will still be there in ten years, instead of a drawer full of older photos, and it can be hung in the room where the pet spent its life.
When people order a pet memorial painting
After a pet passes. The most common reason - and the one that benefits most from a deadline, because a portrait commissioned weeks later still lands in time for a quiet anniversary.
As a sympathy gift. For someone who has just lost a dog or cat, a portrait of their animal is a gift that cannot be returned and cannot be wrong. It says something a card cannot.
As a keepsake of a pet still with you. Owners commission a proper oil painting of a healthy, happy animal to mark a birthday, an adoption anniversary, or simply a year together.
For a pet who was rehomed. When you cannot keep an animal, a portrait lets the new family hang a piece of that animal's life, and lets you keep a physical likeness of it.
What you receive
Choosing the photo, the size and the frame
The photo. One clear, well-lit picture where your pet's face is easy to read - daylight near a window beats a flash. JPG, PNG and WebP up to 10MB. Please crop people out of the frame: photos that include people are rejected with a full refund, because the artwork is a portrait of the pet alone. You can preview the result free before you order anything.
The size. You set the width and height yourself. The short edge runs from 6 inches up to 38 inches depending on the format - portrait, landscape, square or panoramic - and the price follows the canvas area across 14 price bands, from $149 to $999. Shipping within the contiguous US is included in that price.
The frame. Teak, Light Wood or Black, all the same price. Teak is a warm dark walnut, Light Wood is pale maple, Black is a near-black matte that lets the canvas do the talking.
The timeline. Production takes 3-5 business days, then standard shipping inside the contiguous US takes 7-14 business days - 10-19 business days in total. A tracking number arrives by email once the carrier scans the parcel. If you are ordering around a specific date, work backwards from it and add a margin.
The returns reality. Each portrait is custom-made to your pet and cannot be resold, so sales are final once production starts. If it arrives damaged or with a quality defect, contact us within 7 days with a video and we will replace it or refund you in full.
We ship to all 48 contiguous US states and Washington DC, with shipping included in the price. We do not deliver to Alaska, Hawaii, PO boxes, APO/FPO addresses or US territories, and international shipping is not available yet.
Pet memorial painting questions
When should I order a pet memorial painting?
Most people order one after a pet passes, as a keepsake of the life you shared. It also works as a sympathy gift for someone grieving a pet, a birthday or anniversary marker for a pet still with you, or a memorial for a pet that was rehomed and cannot stay with you. Because every portrait is made to order from your photo, lead time matters - see the delivery section.
What makes a good photo for a memorial portrait?
One clear, well-lit photo where your pet's face is easy to see - daylight near a window works well. We support JPG, PNG and WebP up to 10MB. Crop any people out of the frame before uploading: photos that include people are rejected with a full refund, because the artwork is a portrait of your pet alone.
How much does a pet memorial painting cost?
From $149 to $999. You choose the width and height yourself - the short edge runs from 6 inches up to 38 depending on the format - and the price follows the canvas area across 14 price bands. Shipping within the contiguous US is included in the price, so the number you see is the number you pay.
Which frame should I choose for a memorial piece?
Three real wood frames - Teak, Light Wood and Black - all at the same price, and the frame is part of the artwork rather than an add-on. Teak is a warm dark walnut, Light Wood is pale maple and Black is a near-black matte. The print arrives stretched, framed and ready to hang.
How long does a memorial painting take to arrive?
Production takes 3-5 business days after you order, then standard shipping within the contiguous US takes 7-14 business days. Total delivery window: 10-19 business days. You receive a tracking number by email once the carrier scans your package.
Can I return a memorial painting if I am not happy with it?
Each portrait is custom-made to your pet and cannot be resold, so all sales are final once production starts. If your portrait arrives damaged or has a quality defect, contact us within 7 days of delivery with a video showing the issue and we will arrange a replacement or a full refund.
More detail on the product itself lives on the product page, with our shipping policy and refund policy.
Ready to make their portrait?
Upload a photo of your pet, preview the oil painting for free, then order the framed canvas when it looks right.
Start from a photo