At our studio, we create custom pet memorial items by hand—and at the same time, we listen to many stories from people coping with pet loss. Through these conversations, we’ve learned a lot about what helps people through grief. In this post, I’d like to share some advice based on real stories from our customers.
The Power of Emotional Support After Losing a Pet
One thing I’ve learned is that having someone who truly understands your feelings can make a world of difference. When I went through pet loss myself, it was a few simple words from my wife that brought me incredible comfort.
(You can read more about that experience [here].)
One customer, a woman in her 60s, told us that she had been deeply grieving the loss of her beloved dog. She cried for days, overwhelmed by sorrow. During that time, her husband said something hurtful, which made her feel even worse. Looking back, it seems likely he was struggling too—perhaps trying to move on quickly, and in doing so, said something he didn’t truly mean. But misunderstandings like that can be hard to fix.
Later, while browsing online, she came across our memorial knit cushions and decided to place an order. It was her first time ordering from an online shop, so she called us several times to make sure everything would go smoothly. We worked closely with her and completed the piece with care.
Then something unexpected happened: her husband secretly paid for the cushion and gave it to her as a gift. She called us in tears, telling us she had believed he didn’t care—but realized it was a misunderstanding.
In truth, it wasn’t the cushion alone—it was the love behind it, and the presence of her beloved pet that seemed to come alive again through the knitting.
Even a small gesture can open the door to emotional healing. And sometimes, a handmade gift can be the bridge that reconnects people—and helps them move forward.
Loneliness May Never Disappear, But Healing Is Still Possible
The feeling of loneliness after losing a beloved pet may never truly go away.
One of our customers once said, “This sadness will stay with me for life.”
But then they added, “As long as I have this cushion, I feel like I can keep going.”
Some of our customers have shared powerful thoughts like these:
“The sadness I feel is proof of how deeply I loved my pet. And I don’t want that sadness to disappear.”
“The greater the loneliness, the greater the love I had for my dog. That’s why I believe I can find happiness again.”
Hearing these words moved me deeply, and I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly.
Even when the sadness lingers, we can still carry it with us—and find a way to move forward, one step at a time.
My Work
I create my crafts while thinking about ways to help people recover from the loss of a pet.
I don’t know if these feelings are transmitted to my customers, but I am happy to be able to convey the bond, love, and happiness I feel with pets through my knitting.
Knit artist: Toshiyuki Miasa
When I started making knit designs of beloved dogs, I received many requests to make them, and I started receiving requests to make them online. The photos of people who have lost their pets and those of pets who are still healthy are used for home use as well as gifts.
