When Your Dog Crosses the Rainbow Bridge: What to Do, Who to Call, and How to Honor Their Life
By Nine Line K9 Academy, Phoenix AZ
Losing a dog is one of the hardest things a person can go through. They're not "just a dog." They’re your best friend, your shadow, your family. Whether you’ve had years together or only a short time, the grief can feel overwhelming. At Nine Line K9 Academy, we know just how deeply these bonds run, and we want to gently help guide you through the next steps when you’re facing the loss of a beloved pet.
🕊️ What to Do When Your Dog Passes Away
Whether it happens at home or at the vet, losing a dog is never easy. Here are the first steps to take:
If your dog passes at home:
Give yourself a moment. Sit with your dog, breathe, cry, hold them. You don’t have to rush.
Contact your vet. They can provide next steps for cremation or burial and help you understand your options.
Contact a pet cremation service directly. In Phoenix, services like PALS (602) 455-6677, or All Pets Great & Small Cremation Services (480) 668-8500. Both offer compassionate at-home pick-up and respectful handling during this difficult time.
If your dog is euthanized at the vet:
You will often have choices in the moment regarding cremation, communal or private ashes, or taking your pet home for burial if permitted.
Many vets offer a clay paw print or fur clipping as a keepsake. Ask for this if it’s not automatically provided.
🌈 6 Beautiful Ways to Honor Your Dog’s Life
Grief doesn’t have a timeline. But celebrating your dog’s memory can help with healing and give you a way to keep their spirit alive.
Here are some meaningful ways to honor your dog:
Create a memory box – Include toys, collars, photos, and written stories or drawings.
Commission a portrait – There are local Phoenix artists who do beautiful pet portraits, or try Etsy for custom options.
Plant something: A tree, succulent, or even a flower in a pot that your dog used to dig up.
Make a paw print stone: Kits are available online or through your vet.
Donate in their name: Local rescues like Saving Paws Rescue, Lost Our Home Pet Rescue, or Soldiers’ Best Friend welcome donations or supplies.
Schedule a memory day: Revisit your favorite walk or café, light a candle, and remember all the joy your dog brought into your life.
🧸 How to Talk to Your Kids About the Loss of a Pet
Honesty matters, so does hope.
Use gentle but clear language like, “Buddy died today. His body stopped working, and he won’t be coming back.”
Avoid saying the dog was “put to sleep” without explanation; this can cause confusion or fear around bedtime.
Invite them to express their feelings through words, art, stories, or memory books.
Share stories of your dog. Laugh. Cry. Let it be okay to grieve out loud.
If appropriate, let your child participate in the process of saying goodbye, choosing a memorial spot, or writing a note to your pet.
🐕 When You're Ready Again
You may feel like you’ll never be ready to love another dog — and that’s okay. But when you are, we’ll be here.
At Nine Line K9 Academy, we’re honored to have walked beside you in your dog’s journey, whether in training, boarding, or just as a friendly face in your pet’s life. And when you decide the time is right, we’d love to meet your next companion and help guide the new bond from day one.
📍Nine Line K9 Academy
24 E Tumbleweed Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85085
📞 602 501 7304