Pawprints: Memories in Stone

My GG was very ill and three of our family’s senior dogs were preparing to go to the Rainbow Bridge.


The news hit us like a ton of bricks. All four were expected to have only days to live. To love. And to be loved. We grieved, but, my family doesn’t go down without a fight. GG went on to enjoy another three-and-a-half months of life and laughter, Amigo the GSD gave us three more months of love, and Barnard the Chihuahua gave us six more weeks. Sadly, we said good-bye to Buddy, my aunt’s cocker cross that same week.

Big Buddy Love was a good dog.

My aunt adopted Buddy from the SPCA when I was just twelve. My aunt was my first baby-sitting client, hiring me to spend evenings with Buddy so he wouldn’t be lonely. My first tastes of freedom and Independence were experienced with Buddy by my side: My first time ordering in food alone, my first after dark walk alone, and my first overnight all by myself were all shared with sweet puppy Buddy. I had my own dog as a small child, a pit bull named Madonna, but no dogs of my own for many years. Buddy taught me all about the joy of chasing a dog around the park and the comfort and contentment of snuggling into bed with a dog. Even though Buddy wasn’t my dog, he was my Buddy Love and I miss his adorable expressive eyes, his big goofy personality and the way he would lean into your leg for some love.

If my heart hurt this much, I could only imagine how my Aunt felt.


I wanted to do something to help her remember Buddy, but I didn’t quite know what to do. The standard pet memory gifts just seemed…impersonal. Nothing felt right for a dog like Buddy, who shared so much with me.

Then I discovered Pet Memory Stone River Rocks

Aren’t they beautiful? What you are seeing up there are hand-painted portraits on river rocks from the American River in Sacramento, CA. Each one is crafted in the image of your pet, with exquisite detail. These portraits seem to me to be so much more than just the dog’s likeness. The artist, Donna, really seems to capture a bit of their personality and spirit as well.

Looking at the photos of the pups and their stones, I knew that this was the perfect way to remember my aunt’s heart-dog. Garden stones are a favourite of hers; she would make stepping stones with her kid’s hand prints and Buddy’s paw print for the kids to give our grandparents as gifts or for a fun craft project. The idea of having a stone of Buddy for her brought a smile to my face.

Donna doesn’t only make river stones, she also paints gorgeous custom portraits on Christmas ornaments or on beautiful crystal pendants. Her custom paintings done on jean are stunning! Check it out! Her beautiful stones make a wonderful addition to your garden or memorial spot and her other work is a lovely reminder to celebrate your lost pet.