Honoring Our Cherished Companions: The First Beloved Pet Ofrenda at the Little Rock Zoo

LITTLE ROCK (September 19, 2024) This October, the Little Rock Zoo invites you to join us in a heartwarming celebration of love, remembrance, and cultural heritage with our first Beloved Pet Ofrenda. This special event is designed to honor the memory of our cherished animal companions that have passed away, offering a unique way for our community to come together and celebrate the lives of the pets who have touched our hearts.

A Community Altar for Beloved Pets

The Beloved Pets Ofrenda is a beautiful altar created to honor our furry, feathered, and scaled friends. Meaning “offering” in Spanish, an ofrenda is a traditional altar that plays a central role in Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, observed on November 1 and 2. These altars are often adorned with colorful symbols, photos, flowers, and meaningful items that represent the lives of those who have passed, making them a vibrant and emotional tribute.

At the Little Rock Zoo, our ofrenda will be open to all guests who wish to participate. Whether you’ve lost a beloved dog, cat, bird, reptile, or any other pet, this is an opportunity to remember them with love and joy. Throughout the event, the Zoo’s Learning & Engagement team will be on hand every Saturday and Sunday to assist guests in co-creating the altar. During these times, you can draw a picture of your pet using our art supplies, and even decorate a special frame to place your pet’s photo on the ofrenda. While staff will be available to help on weekends, the altar will be accessible during all Zoo hours, allowing guests to contribute at their convenience.

A Celebration of Cultural Heritage

The Beloved Pet Ofrenda is more than just a tribute to our pets—it’s also a celebration of Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx cultures. The tradition of Día de los Muertos is a time-honored practice that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away, bringing families and communities together to honor their memory with more joy than sorrow. At the Little Rock Zoo, we’re proud to embrace this tradition, recognizing the deep connection between humans and animals, and the importance of empathy and respect for all living things.

Our community altar is inspired by a long-standing partnership between the L.A. Zoo and Plaza de La Raza, a community art school in Los Angeles that serves historically excluded communities. Their resident folklorist artist, America Madrigal-Herrera, along with parents and students, co-created an altar at the L.A. Zoo’s Sea Life Cliffs, highlighting the significance of this cultural tradition. Now, we at the Little Rock Zoo excited to bring this meaningful experience to our own community here in Little Rock.

A Healing Tribute

The Beloved Pet Ofrenda offers a space for healing, reflection, and celebration, allowing us to honor the animals who have brought so much joy into our lives.

We invite you to be part of this special event, to share your memories, and to celebrate the unbreakable bond between humans and animals. Whether you’re adding a photo of a beloved pet or simply visiting to admire the colorful tribute, the Beloved Pet Ofrenda is a touching reminder of the love we share with our animal companions.

Join us in this meaningful celebration from October 12th to October 26th, and let’s honor our pets together, embracing the beauty of Día de Muertos in the heart of the Little Rock Zoo.

Learn more about activities and events in October HERE.