Woman Shocked by Neighbors’ Response After She Sets Up Día de Muertos Altar as Tribute to Beloved Dog

Hoboken Woman Turns Día de Muertos Tribute to Beloved Dog into Community Celebration

Sandra Manay is celebrating Día de Muertos this year in a way that is both deeply personal and unexpectedly communal.

For the Hoboken, New Jersey, resident, this year’s ofrenda — the traditional decorated altar used to honor deceased loved ones — is dedicated to Yogi, her cherished family dog who passed away in 2022.

“We were actually planning to move into this home with him, but he passed just a week before our closing,” Manay, 33, tells PEOPLE. “Since then, we’ve built an altar for him at home every year.”

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@thesandraduran as mexican and dog mom, this wrecked me 😭😭😭 one of the most beautiful ofrendas and altares that I’ve seen 🥺🧡 #diademuertos #altardemuertos #ofrendaparamascotas #dayofthedeadpets ♬ El latido de mi corazón – Rosio🎼

Now settled into their new neighborhood, Manay decided to bring the tradition outdoors and share it with the wider community.

“We wanted to create it outside and let neighbors participate,” she explains. “Día de Muertos felt like the right way to honor him and bring his spirit into this space.”

With help from her husband, Tom Konik, 41, the couple built the altar’s structure, lining it with felt so neighbors could easily pin photos of their own pets. They adorned it with framed pictures, mini dog statues, candle holders, and vases sourced from Latino stores across the U.S. At the center stands a vintage Italian greyhound statue, representing all dogs who have crossed the rainbow bridge.

“We planted fresh marigolds in our backyard to keep flowers blooming throughout the month,” Manay adds.

What began as a private act of remembrance quickly became a community phenomenon. Neighbors stopped by to add photos of their pets, bringing flowers, treats, and toys, transforming the altar into a vibrant, shared display of memories and love.

“It became more than just for us,” Manay says. “It’s a way to connect with others who have also loved and lost their pets.”

Content creator Sandra Duran happened upon the ofrenda, filming it and posting the video to TikTok. “As a Mexican and a dog mom, this wrecked me 😭 One of the most beautiful ofrendas I’ve seen 🥺🧡,” she wrote. The video quickly went viral, garnering over 2.7 million views and thousands of comments.

Messages poured in from around the world — including friends of Manay who were stunned to see the altar online.

“Seeing it touch so many people was emotional and heartwarming,” she says. “Animal grief can be isolating. To many, they’re ‘just animals,’ but for us, they’re family, and losing them can be devastating.”

For Manay, the most meaningful moments are the quiet ones: people stopping to hang photos, share stories, or simply stand in reflection.

“Some smiled, others teared up,” she recalls. “It became a space where people could feel connected, even if they didn’t know each other. That sense of shared understanding was incredibly powerful.”

“It’s become more than an altar; it’s a living tradition that keeps their memory alive,” she adds. “We’re saving all the photos from this year in a binder so their stories remain part of the ofrenda for years to come.”

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