The Honoring the Bond Program has provided a Companion Animal Remembrance Ceremony every spring/summer since 2009.  OSU VMC Clients that have lost their companion animal in the previous year are invited to join us for this annual event. 

The typical agenda for the ceremony includes short speeches from a variety of people about loss and the celebration of the lives of our lost companion animals.  We show a slideshow that includes photos that have been submitted by owners that will attend the ceremony.  We also offer a personal remembrance at our Remembrance Tree area, located on east side of the Veterinary Medical Center.  The first three years, owners placed hearts on the tree.  This year, we wanted something a little more permanent. Owners wrote their pet's name and optionally, some words, on a stone/marker, and placed under the tree.

After the personal remembrances at the tree, many owners choose to stay for an additional activity in which we make a keepsake to take with us.  One year, owners made scrapbook pages with words, memories and/or photos of their animals.  In 2012, we made magnets with photos of our companion animals, as well as memory boxes.  Feedback from owners that have attended this part of the ceremony has been positive.  Owners have talked about this part being a nice way to actually talk with others that are experiencing similar feelings about their loss.  It is a nice way for owners to share their special memories about the lives of their companions that are no longer with us. 

Please feel free to click on the tabs to the right of this page for photos, slideshow and/or video from previous ceremonies.

Please note that, during the registration process, if you choose, we will ask for you to upload a photo of your animal, as well as write a brief quote about him/her.  You may wish to find your photo and think about your quote before starting the registration process.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR ANIMALS THAT HAVE DIED PRIOR TO MAY, 2013 ENDED ON MAY 10TH.  ANY LAST MINUTE RSVPS SHOULD BE GIVEN DIRECTLY TO JOELLE NIELSEN AT 247-8607 OR JOELLE [dot] NIELSEN [at] CVM [dot] OSU [dot] EDU

Register for the event

Parking and entrance for the Remembrance Ceremony: