Love does not die, it only changes form

For the Animals Who Never Leave Us

Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, was born in Mexico, where ancient Indigenous rituals of honoring ancestors intertwined with Catholic traditions brought by the Spanish. Around the world, November 1st is observed as All Saints’ Day and November 2nd as All Souls’ Day. In Mexico, these dates became something more, a luminous celebration that welcomes back the spirits of those we love. Families build altars covered in marigolds whose fragrance guides the way, candles that light the path home, and offerings that whisper: you are remembered, you are still part of us. This tradition teaches a simple truth: death may end a life, but it can never end love.

Each year on November 1st and 2nd, the living and the departed are reunited through memory, story, and love. On these sacred days, many also choose to honor their pets, because their spirits remain as present in our families as those of humans.

This altar is dedicated to every animal who once stood guard at our doors, brightened our mornings, and filled our days with joy. It is for every companion who asked for nothing but to be near us, and in return gave us everything. This altar is meant to be a shared space of remembrance, where tributes and memories keep their spirits alive and remind us that love is never lost, only transformed.

We especially honor Yogi. He was the dog who changed us forever, and his absence revealed that love continues to exist in many forms. Yogi entered our lives in 2013 and left this world in 2022, yet the love he gave us remains. His paws no longer touch the earth, but his presence is everywhere, in our memories, in the warmth of our days, and in the way we carry his love forward.

To anyone who has lost a pet, this grief can feel unbearably lonely. Too often it is dismissed, hidden, or silenced. People may say they were “just animals,” but we know the truth. The bond we share with them is unconditional. Their absence can hollow us, because they gave us a love that was constant, unselfish, and pure.

This altar is a place where that grief is welcomed. Here it does not need to be hidden. Here it is sacred, honored, and shared.

May it remind us that our animals never truly leave us. Their loyalty, their joy, and their love remain with us always.