If you’ve ever suffered through the heartbreak of losing a pet you know how devastating it is. The terrible void it leaves in your life. It’s not just the loss of a dog, it’s the loss of a family member, a friend.

For those that aren’t dog lovers, they will never understand the importance of being able to say a proper goodbye. Being able to grieve without being criticized, share your feelings without anyone saying it was just a dog. There’s an online site Peternity, where you can go to connect with others that are going through the grieving process. They have a place where you can post free online memorials, a wonderful way to honor your dear friend.

Peternity also has an online store where you can purchase a vast array of memorial products. You can get everything from custom blankets to urns. They also have a terrific new service for children, Kidoodlyrock, to help them deal with the loss. It includes a stone memorial marker with your child’s drawing, and a place for them to post a picture and share some special words on their Kidoodlyrocks gallery page.

We created Kidoodlyrocks, right here at Peternity, because we wanted to figure out a way to help children through the difficult experience of loss. A Kidoodlyrock is a pet memorial marker that is engraved with your child’s drawing of their pet. These precious stones are very near and dear to my heart, as I experienced loss at the tender young age of 4 when I lost my mother to breast cancer. Through Kidoodlyrocks, I feel that I can give back, by helping children to find their way through the first loss that most of them experience, the loss of a pet.

For any Dogsters that have lost a pet, thanks to Peternity’s generosity, you are going to have a chance to win a personalized blanket. It’s a cozy chenille blanket, pictured above, with words of affection discreetly embroidered in the corner.

To enter the contest all you need to do is leave a comment in the comment section sharing the name of the pet you lost, and a story if you like. The contest will run today through Monday, March 23, when I will choose one winner.

If you’ve lost a pet or know someone who has keep Peternity in mind for all your memorial needs. It’s a great place to order yourself a special keepsake, or to buy a gift for the dog lover in your life who has suffered a loss.