Categories: PETS

New tradition honoring pets on Día de los Muertos

San Diego County Animal Services is honoring pets that have crossed the rainbow bridge during Día de los Muertos.

BONITA, Calif. — Día de los Muertos is officially on Friday and Saturday, but many San Diegans are honoring the dead in several celebrations across the county this week.

“Recordando nuestro angelitos” translates to “remembering our little angels.”

Pictures of pets who have died are on display on an alter at the San Diego County Animal Services shelters in Bonita and Carlsbad.

“This is our first year,” said Vaughn Maurice, San Diego County Animal Services Director. “It’s been a tremendous success.”

Maurice adds that staff came up with the idea of creating an ofrenda during Día de los Muertos that shows photos of pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge.

“We had some employees last year that mentioned it and thought it would be a really fun project to do, but we were a little bit late last year in doing it, so we made a note of it on our calendar and went ahead and did it this year,” Maurice said.

Throughout the month people have brought in pictures of their cat or dog that are gone, but the Día de los Muertos celebration is keeping their memory alive.

“It’s always hard when you lose a pet, and it can be a very difficult situation for people to want to replace their animal, but this gives people the opportunity to honor their past pet while adding to the family,” Maurice said.

People can still bring in a picture of their pet until Saturday. If they do it during Día de los Muertos, County Animal Services will waive the adoption fee at its campuses in Bonita and Carlsbad.

“We have almost 300 pets right now, dogs and cats and bunny rabbits and a pot belly pig or two, so come on out and get an animal,” Maurice said.

Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, but many spent the past month and weekend honoring the dead in Old Town, Encinitas and Barrio Logan with marigolds and ofrendas, a tradition that is believed to have been started from ancient Aztec roots.

While the tradition to honor lost pets during Día de los Muertos is new at County Animal Services, the tradition to devote their memory on an alter lives on.

“They’re part of the family, and this is a great way to honor them and show respect and move forward as we do honor them,” Maurice said.

Other Día de los Muertos events this week:

Día de Los Muertos story time and sugar skull craft kicks off on Monday at the San Ysidro Library branch and will be offered at multiple libraries.

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024

Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Mortuary