Irreligion

• From service dogs and emotional support animals to the pet waiting to greet us at the front door, animals can bring joy, comfort and companionship to our lives.
• As that story highlighted, and as many others will note, burying, embalming or cremating animals is hardly a new practice.
• As it turns out, animals are more frequently getting mentioned in the obituaries of their human companions.

How obituaries are changing

• More importantly though, obituaries give the bereaved a chance to tell a story about someone they loved.
• As recently as 1990, not a single one of the 53 obituaries published on a given Saturday in the Toronto Star mentioned any pets.
• In a sample from 1980 to 2022 containing 3,241 obituaries, only 79 mention animals.
• However, this minor uptick points to a transformation in how people compose obituaries.

Telling personal stories

• The old standard was short notices stating the deceased’s name, age and where they died — all in the space of about four lines.
• In recent years, the mean length has grown to around 40 lines, with some reaching over 100 lines.
• Recent obituaries are also more likely to mention the deceased’s education, occupation or hobbies.

Our furry friends

• It has become more common to mention someone’s pet, or love of animals.
• Beyond the pet’s name, we learn whether they were a “hoity-toity poodle,” a “loyal companion” or “the best dog ever.” Occupation is another staple of obituaries.
• Unsurprisingly, groups like the Humane Society, the Farley Foundation and various nature conservancy groups are growing in popularity.

The new ways we grieve

• Namely, people are placing greater value on nature and non-human animals.
• But the evidence — in obituaries and beyond — suggests people are finding meaningful connection through the natural world and with other-than-human creatures.
• To commemorate the lasting memory of someone they loved, families want to share with the world what made that person special.

Chris Miller does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.