For anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet, the Los Angeles Zoo and Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center for the Arts and Education is hosting its Beloved Pets Ofrenda days to observe national Hispanic heritage month and Día de los Muertos.
L.A. Zoo visitors are invited to participate in this year’s Beloved Pets Ofrenda to honor the memory of cherished pets they have lost. Zoo guests are welcome to bring photos or drawn pictures of their pets and leave their images — or mementos — on the altar at the zoo’s front entrance plaza near the sea life cliffs.
Coral Barreiro, L.A. Zoo manager of community programs, said in a prepared statement, “No matter your background, grief surrounding the loss of a pet is a universal feeling.”
An ofrenda — “offering” in Spanish — is an altar to honor loved ones who have died. Displays are decorated with photos, flowers, memorabilia, symbols and other meaningful items, “an essential part of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, which Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx cultures observe on Nov. 1 and 2,” a statement from the zoo explained.
The project won an award at the 2024 Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ‘Beloved Pets Ofrenda’ is open each weekend through Sunday, Nov. 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. More information at https://bit.ly/LAZooBelovedPetsOfrenda.
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