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History informs us that people worldwide for many centuries have honored both their loved ones as well as their pets upon their passing away via intricate human funerals, as well as holy pet memorials. Cremation began around 3000 B.C. in the Near East, later across northern Europe, going to the British Isles and what's now Spain and Portugal around the time of the Bronze Age -- 2500 to 1000 B.C. During the Roman Empire around 27 B.C. to 395 A.D. cremation is now employed all over the kingdom and the use of intricately decorated jars to hold the ashes became a custom. By 400 A.D., Constantine's Christianization of the Empire resulted in earth burials completely replacing cremation. For the next 1,500 years, this kind of disposition has remained the standard all throughout Europe.

An example is the uncovering of an old pet cemetery along with the graves of 1000 dogs that can be traced back to the Persian rule in Palestine around 539 to 332 BC.

Modern cremation and pet memorials began a little over a hundred years ago in the United States. Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory is the earliest and most prestigious pet memorial and burial area. Established in 1896, close to the end of the War there were more than 2,000 burial plots in this Westchester County, New York cemetery. In this place pets are placed to rest in coffins and urns made especially for them along with custom made gravestones and pet memorials services at the graveside. There are more than 70,000 pets buried there today.

The Le Cimetiere des Chiens D'Asnieres-Sur-Seine in France has put up a huge sculpture of a Saint Bernard and a child. A dog named Barry lost his life while attempting to save the 41st person in the Alps; he already saved 40.

In the last few decades, there has been a dramatic rise in cremation in comparison to ground burials, which has increased the need to find a final resting place for a pet's remains. Some individuals choose to spread their pet's remains, but the majority decide to place them in a permanent cremation urn which can be kept at home.

At present a new style has emerged and this trend is labelled as tribute paintings where painters are commissioned in order to paint a portrait of their beloved pets and loved ones.

with the use of the cremated ashes. These remains, and or a few strands of the hair are painted into an abstract expression of a loved one's life. Abstract art is the type of artwork that follows a narrow trail behind religious art except that it is not religious art and it concentrates more on color and form.

Testimonies confirm the fact that tribute paintings as pet memorials help people through the healing process after their loved one has passed on.