Marking your pet's resting place in Covina
By our estimate, about 18,000 households in Covina have a dog or cat, and roughly 1,500 of those pets are lost each year. Many end up remembered with a stone in a garden bed; here's how to choose one that lasts.
- Wording that fits a small stone
- Flush, raised or with an ashes compartment
- No pressure: a stone can wait until you're ready
Covina, California
Pet memorials in Covina: the local picture
Covina households come from many backgrounds, and plenty of families blend traditions: a candle and photograph for one generation, a simple engraved box for another. There is room for both. Some choose a pendant so a grown child can carry a share of the ashes; others prefer one urn kept at the family home on Citrus Avenue's older side streets. Think about who will want a piece of the memory before you order.
Covina's older neighborhoods north of downtown have deep lots, mature citrus and camellias, and many families have gardened in the same yard for decades. A memorial there can be modest: a flat engraved stone at the base of a lemon tree, a glazed tile set into a garden wall, or a bio urn planted with a new shrub. Pick materials that will not bleach in the valley's long summer sun.
Low ground floods, and rural land around Covina often has a creek or a wet corner. Before choosing the spot, think about where water sits after a heavy storm. A stone in a hollow can end up under silt, and the grave beneath may stay waterlogged. A slight rise, even a few feet higher, keeps both drier.
With roughly 49,404 residents, Covina is the 164th-largest of the 307 California communities we cover. The nearest larger centre is Anaheim, about 17 miles (28 km) away, which is where some providers serving Covina are based.
Our pages for West Covina (3 miles, a larger centre), Azusa (4 miles) and Walnut (4 miles) describe the same choices from those towns' point of view, and the providers overlap, so a quote from one often covers Covina as well.
Our estimate
18,000
Estimated dog- or cat-owning households in Covina
How we calculated this
49,404 ÷ 2.5 = 19,762 households; × 53% (dog) + 39% (cat) = 18,000. A household with several pets counts once.
Our estimate
1,500
dog and cat deaths per year in Covina, our estimate
How we calculated this
18,000 dog/cat-owning homes ÷ average lifespan (dog: 12.69 yrs + cat: 11.18 yrs) ≈ 1,500 a year. A floor, not a ceiling.
53%[1]
53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households.
12.69 years[2]
US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years.
39%[3]
39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households.
11.18 years[4]
US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years.
The published sources behind those figures are American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry and Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
Grave or ashes? The local habit in California
In high-cremation places such as California, with 70.5%[5] of human deaths ending in cremation, a pet stone often stands in for a grave that never existed. That can matter more than people expect. Having a fixed place to go on an anniversary, even a small stone in a flower bed, gives grief a destination that an urn on a shelf sometimes doesn't.
The California figure comes from NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). It describes people, not pets, so read it as a sign of local attitudes rather than a pet statistic.
When to install, and what the seasons do to stone
Where summers peak around 91°F, as they do in Covina in August, plants beside a memorial stone need to be tough. Drought-tolerant groundcovers, gravel mulch or a small native shrub look good without daily watering. Our memorial tree finder can suggest a tree or shrub that copes with local heat if you'd like something to grow beside the stone.
Garden watering in Covina is its own weather. Sprinklers running through August spray hard water across dark polished granite and leave a white mineral crust that dulls the lettering. Aim the heads away from the stone, or water the bed by hand, and rinse off any spots before they bake on and build up.
Pet memorial stone prices for families in Covina
Material sets the price tier. By our estimate, photo-etched or flat granite markers start at ~$158–$160[6] at two US sellers, roughly four times an entry-level engraved garden stone. Bronze-on-granite headstones run $1,098–$2,598[7] (per one large retailer). For most gardens in Covina, a flat granite marker gives the best balance of lasting lettering and cost; the table shows the full range.
For a line-by-line price table, see the California overview; for what's included in each option, see our services.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Where a pet stone can go in California
Pet cemeteries in California each set their own marker rules: size, material, whether upright stones are allowed and who installs them. Human cemeteries generally don't accept pets. If you plan a cemetery stone, get the rules sheet first. For a home memorial, here's what we know about burial and scattering locally.
The official California local government directory lists every county and city office, which is the quickest way to find who to ask in Covina.
Home burial and scattering are governed at the California level first; our California rules summary has the detail. Then check whether Covina or your HOA adds anything.
Ordering a pet memorial stone, step by step
- Decide whether the stone should travel with you. Renters and anyone likely to move soon should choose something they can lift.
- Pick a spot you'll see every day, somewhere in view from the kitchen window or the step, not tucked away where you seldom go.
- Keep it clear of pipes and roots. Check for underground lines before digging and leave space from any tree trunk.
- Order a stone rated for outdoor use in your climate, and ask for the letters to be sandblasted no shallower than an eighth of an inch.
- Check the proof carefully. Names, dates and punctuation can't be changed once the stone is cut.
- Install it, then look after it lightly: a gentle brushing with clean water a couple of times a year is all it needs.
Around the stone: plants, benches and small rituals
Some Covina families like to commission something personal: a custom engraved stone with a name and dates, a framed collar and photo, or a paw print keepsake made before collection. If a paw or nose print matters to you, ask about it when you arrange aftercare, since it is easiest to take early. Many families also split ashes among relatives in matching mini urns.
The services page is the place to compare what is included, try the free planning tools, or see what other families chose in the poll results, read our guides and latest articles. You can also browse every city in the United States. Nearby, we also cover San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno and Los Angeles, and every city in California.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Where would your pet's stone go?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Which stone would you choose for your pet's marker?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Free tools to help you plan
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Memorial stone planner
Plan size, material and engraving length so your wording fits the stone.
Memorial tree finder
Pick a tree for a planting urn that suits your climate, space and pet.
Questions people ask
Why does the Covina page quote a human cremation rate?
Because it is the best local signal we have. NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024) reports about 70.5%[5] of California residents are cremated. There is no official pet equivalent, and inventing one would be worse than quoting a real, clearly labelled number.
Where are the providers that serve Covina actually based?
Some are local, and some run from Anaheim, about 17 miles away. That is normal for a town this size. What matters is the collection time they quote for Covina and whether the drive is priced into the total, so ask both up front.
How many pet owners live in Covina?
By our estimate, about 18,000 households in Covina have at least one dog or cat, and around 1,500 are lost each year. We calculate this from the city's population of about 49,404, the average household size and national ownership and lifespan figures, so treat it as a floor rather than an exact count.
How does Covina's weather affect pet aftercare?
August is the hottest month in Covina, with average highs around 91°F, so prompt collection matters most then. Winters are mild, with average lows staying above freezing, so outdoor burial or scattering is usually possible year round.
What does engraving cost on a pet headstone?
Small online pet stones usually include a few lines of text in the price. Monument engravers who cut full-size headstones often charge by the letter, typically $8–$35/char[9], or a flat $50–$150/line[10]. A laser-etched portrait costs about $500–$800[11] (per one large retailer). Short wording on a smaller stone is the easiest way to keep the cost down.
Can I add a second pet's name to an existing memorial stone?
Often, yes, if there's room and the stone is suitable. Many monument engravers can cut new lettering on site or in the workshop, and matching the original typeface and depth is easiest if you know who made the stone. If you're ordering now and expect to add a name later, ask for blank space to be left below the first inscription.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [2] US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [3] 39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [4] US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [5] The NFDA projected California's cremation rate at 70.5% for 2024. NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage), 2024.
- [6] Photo-etched or flat granite pet markers start at about $158–$160 at two US sellers. Our estimate: Memorials.com flat granite from $157.95; Comfort Co. photo granite from $159.99. How we calculate.
- [7] Bronze-on-granite pet headstones at Memorials.com run from $1,097.95 to $2,597.95 (with vase). Memorials.com – Pet Memorial Stones, 2026.
- [8] Opening and closing the grave makes up 33–47% of a whole-body pet burial at a natural burial ground. Our estimate: $250/$750 (small) to $450/$950 (large). How we calculate.
- [9] Headstone engravers charge $8–$35 per character; a standard 40–60 character inscription totals $500–$1,200. Memorials.com – Headstone Engraving Cost, 2026.
- [10] Some engravers charge a flat $50–$150 per line of text, depending on stone and provider. Memorials.com – Headstone Engraving Cost, 2026.
- [11] A laser-etched portrait on a headstone costs about $500–$800, and a porcelain photo $200–$600. Memorials.com – Headstone Engraving Cost, 2026.
Find a stone maker who serves Covina
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