The story of Pet Declaration didn’t begin with a business plan; it began with a loss. Years before the company was even a thought, Gena Norris faced the heart-wrenching task of finding a final resting place for her beloved Chihuahua, Poncho. After struggling to find a tribute that truly resembled his cherished spirit, she was forced to settle for a generic option that felt unworthy of the bond they shared. Little did she know then that Poncho’s passing had set the path for her future.
That lingering frustration eventually became the catalyst for change. Driven by the belief that our companions deserve a memorial as substantial as their legacy, Gena transitioned from pet parent to inventor. In
October 2017, Pet Declaration was founded to create a tribute for all pets.
The innovation was so distinct that when Pet Declaration filed for a patent in September 2018, it was approved by April 2019. Receiving a patent in less than eight months is nearly unheard of—a process that typically takes 18 to 24 months. This rapid approval confirmed that Gena had truly created something the industry had never seen.
Over the next several years, the mission remained simple but ambitious: to create a new standard of permanence through dedicated research, development, and engineering. As the culmination of nearly a decade of work in development, on May 1, 2026, Pet Declaration officially launched in Tampa, FL—starting with the Chihuahua breed that inspired it all.
The Standard of Permanence
We designed these memorials to bridge the gap between loss and closure. To achieve a higher level of realism than the industry standard, we had to innovate from the ground up.
- Patented Closure at the Neck: Most animal-shaped urns on the market open at the bottom, which restricts their design to a generic look. By engineering a closure at the neck, we are able to offer a variety of specialized heads that truly resemble your pet’s unique features, ensuring a more lifelike and dignified tribute.
- Medical-Grade Materials: We chose medical-grade aluminum because it is pure and non-corrosive. Utilizing a precision-sculpted casting process, each piece is hand-finished to ensure museum-quality detail.
- Substantial Quality: When you hold a Pet Declaration memorial, you feel the approximate 4.5lb weight of that quality. Finished with industrial-grade powder coating for protection, these aren’t just urns—they are permanent sculptures engineered to stand the test of time.
A Message from Our Founder
“Grief is not just an emotion—it’s an unraveling, a space where our beloved babies once lived but is now gone. It carves through you, leaving a hollow ache where their warm presence once resided.
After I lost Poncho, I realized that you never truly ‘move on’ from a love like that; you move with it. I spent years developing Pet Declaration because I wanted to give other pet parents what I couldn’t find: a tribute as heavy and as real as the love we carry. I said to myself,
the world has been waiting on this; they just don’t know it yet. Honor your grief, for it is sacred. It is a testament to the depth of your heart and the bond you shared.”
Our Promise
We are starting with the Chihuahua, a breed of legendary spirit—but our patented mission covers every dog, cat, and other pets that has ever left a print on a human heart. We aren’t just making products; we are declaring that your bond is worthy of the highest level of innovation.
Welcome to the future of remembrance.
Gena Norris Founder & Inventor, Pet Declaration Inc.
