When the Veil Opens for Our Animal Companions: Honoring Beloved Pets on Día de Muertos

Every year, as October wanes and the veil grows thin, we prepare to welcome our dead home — lighting candles, arranging marigolds, whispering names into the dusk.

But before the ancestors and human spirits make their way back across the veil, the spirits of our animal companions are said to return first.

In many traditions of Día de Muertos (literally “Day of the Dead” — often called Día de los Muertos in the U.S.), October 27th and 28th are devoted to honoring the animals who have crossed over. These are the days when we feel the brush of a familiar tail in an empty room, hear the faint jingle of a long-silent collar, or dream of a warm body curling at our feet again.

Why We Honor Our Animal Dead

Animals hold a kind of uncomplicated love that goes beyond words — a soul-level connection that reminds us what devotion looks like in its purest form.

When they die, the grief can feel as deep and bewildering as any human loss.

In remembering them, we practice the heart of Día de Muertos: that love doesn’t end with death — it changes shape.

Honoring our beloved animals helps us acknowledge their place in our lineage of love, care, and companionship. They are family, too.

Creating an Ofrenda for Your Pet

An ofrenda (offering altar) doesn’t have to be elaborate — only made with love. You can create a simple space to invite your pet’s spirit home:

• Photo or memento: A picture, tag, collar, paw print, or even a favorite toy.

• Candlelight: One candle for each beloved pet who has crossed.

• Marigolds: These bright flowers are said to guide spirits with their scent and color. Scatter petals in a small circle or trail leading to your altar.

• Offerings: Leave something symbolic — a treat they loved, a dish of water, or even their favorite blanket.

• Personal touch: Add crystals, bones, feathers, or charms that connect you to their spirit. (One of mine includes a mini harmonica and a rabbit made of amethyst— because Sara loved to howl along to the harmonica and chase rabbits every chance she got.)

If you have already built an ancestor altar for the season, you can include your pets there — or create a smaller one just for them. There’s no wrong way to honor love.

A Moment of Connection

When you light your candle tonight, take a breath. Picture your pet as they were in life — bright-eyed, tail wagging or purring softly, full of presence.

Say aloud:

“You are loved. You are remembered. You are home.”

Then sit in the quiet, and notice what you feel.

Sometimes, remembrance is the ritual itself.

The Lesson in Their Return

Día de Muertos teaches us that death is not a wall, but a door — one that swings gently open when we remember.

Our animals remind us of devotion, joy, and unconditional love — qualities that bridge even the distance between worlds.

Tonight, as the veil thins for them, may your heart open too.

Welcome them home with tenderness.

They’ve missed you, too.