We know how hard it can be to lose a pet and have dealt with it ourselves. To help you deal with this grief, we’ve compiled many pet loss poems for you to use.

Whether you use this page to find condolences to share with others or read for your own peace of mind, we hope that it brings you comfort. You are not alone in your journey. At some point, all pet parents face this heartache.

It’s our sincere hope these pet loss poems will help express those sentiments that can be so hard to put into words.

Pet Loss Poems

A Dog for Jesus

(Where dogs go when they die)

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog.
As loyal and loving as mine.
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,
Would have followed Him all through the day.
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.
It is sad to remember that Christ went away.
To face death alone and apart.
With no tender dog following close behind,
To comfort its Master’s Heart.
And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
How happy He would have been,
As His dog kissed His hand and barked it’s delight,
For The One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine,
The old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
Knowing they’re in eternity.
Day after day, the whole day through,
Wherever my road inclined,
Four feet said, “Wait, I’m coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

– Rudyard Kipling

Missing You

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying. You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I’m not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “It’s me.”

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It’s possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew…
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over… I smile and watch you yawning
and say “Good-night, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out… then come home to be with me.

– Colleen Fitzsimmons

To Sneakers

She arrived in spring
Like a fresh gentle breeze
She was injured and starving
Curious and hopeful
A loving, trusting feline…
She was strong and unflinching
Vivacious and lively
She was radiant…she was youthful
She was ours…
We shared her raptures and sorrows
Her ups and her downs
Her life…

Now it is spring again.
But this time she has to go
Her spirit and essence will always live through us
She will eternally remain within us…
She will forever feel our love….

– Jeanne Fiedler

Knowing

If I had known that on that day our time was near the end
I would have done things differently, my forever friend.
I would have stayed right next to you deep into the night
but I thought I’d see you in the early morning light.

And so I said “Good night” to you as I walked in through the door
never thinking of the time when I’d see you no more.
But if I had known that on that day our time was at the end
I would have done things so differently, my forever friend.

– Sally Evans (written for Shoo-Fly)

Half a Day Left

Just half a day left
For this rag-tag cat
Just half a day left
In a gutter at that

But God whispered softly
From one heart to another
Until removed from the gutter
By someone called Mother

She took me to her own loving home
Warm cloths to gently clean my face
Then a special warm bed to snuggle
Where I was tended with grace

Food and water was offered
Though too sick to take much
The best nourishment she gave
Were soft words comfort and touch

Just half a day left
For this lovely black cat
Who now is in Heaven
Content in God’s lap

“All this is possible” the cat told God
“For in that gutter my life was waning
Yet now in Heaven healthy and new
Because my Mother blessed me with naming”

“Which allowed me to stand before you and say,
A name is the pass to Heaven Dear Lord”
“Someone cared enough to love me, so
My name is Edgar, please bless the woman below.”

– Sara “Maggie” Michael (for Edgar who passed away January 16, 2009)

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies
that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm
and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health
and vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and
looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your
special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head,
and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your
life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together

– Unknown

A Man and his Dog

A man and his dog were walking along a road.

The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him
that he was dead.
He remembered dying and that his dog had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of
the road.  It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken
by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch
that looked like mother of pearl and the street that led to the gate
looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate and as they got closer, they
saw a man at a desk to one side. When they were close enough,
he called out, “Excuse me,  where are we?”

“This is heaven, sir,” the man answered.
“Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the traveler asked.
“Of course, sir. Come right in, I’ll have some ice water sent right up.”
The man gestured and the gate began to open.

“Can my friend,” gesturing toward the dog, “come in too?” the traveler asked.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.”

The man thought for a moment, and then, turning back towards the road,
continued the way they had been going.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, they came to
a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.

There was no fence. As they approached the gate, he saw a man inside,
leaning against a tree and reading a book.

“Excuse me!” he called to the reader. “Do you have any water?”
“Yeah,  sure,  there’s a pump over there”. The man pointed to a place that
couldn’t be seen from outside the gate. “Come on in.”

“How about my friend here?”. The traveler said, gesturing to the dog.
“There should be a bowl by the pump” said the man.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an
old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink, then gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man
who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.
“This is heaven,” was the answer.”

“Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the
road said that was heaven, too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and the pearly gates?
Nope, that’s hell.”

“Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?”
“Nope, I can see how you might think so, but we’re just happy
that they screen out the folks who’ll leave their best friends behind.”

– Unknown         

Lend Me A Kitten

I will lend to you for a while a kitten, God said.
For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he’s dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three.
But will you, ’till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and, should his stay be brief
you’ll always have his memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught below I want this kitten to learn.

I’ve looked the whole world over in search of teachers true.
And from the folk that crowd’s life’s land I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take my kitten home again?

My heart replied, “My Lord, Thy Will Be Done”
For all the joys this kitten brings the risk of grief I’ll run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness; we’ll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we’ve known, forever-grateful stay.
But should you call him back much sooner than we planned.
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.
If, by our love we’ve managed your wishes to achieve.
Then in memory of him, who we loved, please help us while we grieve.
When our cherished kitten departs this world of strife,
Please send yet another needing soul for us to love all his life.

– Unknown

For When They Leave Us…

And God asked the feline spirit
“Are you ready to come home?”

“Oh, yes, quite so”, replied the precious soul.
“And as a cat, you know I am most able to decide anything for myself.”

“Are you coming then?” asked God
“Soon”, replied the whiskered angel.
“But I must come slowly
My human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.”

“But don’t they understand?” asked God –
“That you’ll never leave them?”
“That your souls are intertwined, for all eternity,
That nothing is created or destroyed,
It just is . . . forever and ever and ever?”

“Eventually they will understand” replied the cat
“For I will “Whisper” in her heart – that I am always with her.
I just am . . . forever and ever and ever!

– Unknown

Loving You, A Poem From Lucy To Papa

I remember our last moment, right before you said goodbye, I looked at you, and you looked at me while tears filled up in your eyes.

I know it’s hard to understand and I would have loved to stay, But at some point, our name is called, and mine was called today.

I’m grateful for your loving care until the very end, Your choice, however difficult, proves that you were heaven-sent.

For nothing speaks of tender love and sacrifice to me, Than one who’s heart was crumbling and yet still set me free.

The human term of “putting me down” is wrong, it is releasing, You gave me the most precious gift when you granted me peace.

So I will wait at the Rainbow Bridge until we meet again, And then it’s licks and tail wags for you, the best of friends.

I Love You, Papa, 

Lucy

-Jim Kieferdorf