Dozens of photographs of dogs and cats now cover an altar inside Unity Bulldogs, a San Jose pet grooming business where owner Mario Rodriguez has spent the past six years helping grieving pet owners say goodbye. What began with just a few photos has grown into a full community ofrenda, and this week it became the centerpiece of a Día de los Muertos observance honoring animals that have died.
Rodriguez built his first altar at the shop six years ago, and clients and community members have steadily added their own photos and mementos ever since, according to NBC Bay Area. The tradition carries personal weight for Rodriguez this year: his own dog, Drago, died last month, and he said the altar helps him heal after the loss.
A Community Altar Built Photo by Photo
The Unity Bulldogs ofrenda now displays dozens of photos of pets that have passed, the station reports, with clients and neighbors contributing their own tributes alongside Rodriguez's. NBC Bay Area reporter Marianne Favro said she was among those honoring a pet at the altar, placing a photo of her recently deceased dog, Sunny, among the memorials. Ezequiel Gatica, who visited the altar, said seeing photos and reminders of people's good times with their pets was nice.
The gathering fits into a wider custom spreading well beyond San Jose. Pets' souls are traditionally said to return on Oct. 27, just ahead of the broader Día de los Muertos celebration that runs Nov. 1 through Nov. 2, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. That outlet reports that families in Philadelphia and elsewhere have begun recognizing, in its words, not just human relatives but those with wings and whiskers when they build their altars.
Second Gathering Planned Near the SAP Center
A separate pet tribute is taking place tonight at a dog park near the SAP Center in San Jose, organized by David Trinh. The gathering, per the same NBC Bay Area report, will include an opportunity for attendees to record a phone message to a deceased dog or cat. Trinh said pets offer unconditional love and are with their loved ones for only a short time, and he believes mourning together as a community can help people heal.
A Tradition Taking Root Beyond the Bay Area
Similar pet ofrendas have popped up elsewhere this season. In Houston, a reporter and his wife built an altar for their three dogs, Toby, Sidney and Charlie, as part of what one report there called a heartfelt observance honoring the pets people have loved and lost, according to click2houston.com. That outlet notes that pet altars commonly include a bowl of water for the long journey home, a candle to light the way, favorite treats, and a toy or two.
In Philadelphia, the Italian Market planned a Nov. 2 community event where attendees could place photos of relatives and pets on a decorated altar, per the Inquirer's reporting. Whether in San Jose, Houston or Philadelphia, the same idea keeps surfacing: a shared altar gives grieving pet owners somewhere to put their memories, and company while they do it.
