diff --git a/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.cpp b/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.cpp
index d72a85892..9ef82ab7a 100644
--- a/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.cpp
+++ b/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.cpp
@@ -290,6 +290,9 @@ void PetComponent::Update(float deltaTime) {
 		return;
 	}
 
+	// Going back to the backpack, removed once the despawn effect has played
+	if (m_Despawning) return;
+
 	auto* owner = GetOwner();
 
 	if (owner == nullptr) {
@@ -921,7 +924,19 @@ void PetComponent::Activate(Item* item, bool registerPet, bool fromTaming) {
 	auto* owner = GetOwner();
 
 	if (owner == nullptr) return;
-	SetStatus(1);
+
+	if (registerPet) {
+		// Summoned from the backpack. Live constructed the pet in the spawning state, so the client plays its
+		// spawn animation, played the pet's "despawn" effect (the circles and stars) and then cleared the state.
+		SetStatus(1 | PET_STATE_SPAWNING);
+		m_Parent->AddCallbackTimer(RenderComponent::GetAnimationTime(m_Parent, "spawn"), [this]() {
+			GameMessages::PlayFXEffect(m_Parent->GetObjectID(), -1, u"despawn", "").Send(UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS);
+			SetStatus(m_Status & ~PET_STATE_SPAWNING);
+			Game::entityManager->SerializeEntity(m_Parent);
+			});
+	} else {
+		SetStatus(1);
+	}
 
 	auto databaseData = inventoryComponent->GetDatabasePet(m_DatabaseId);
 
@@ -1047,11 +1062,20 @@ void PetComponent::AddDrainImaginationTimer(bool fromTaming) {
 }
 
 void PetComponent::Deactivate() {
+	if (m_Despawning) return;
+	m_Despawning = true;
+
 	GameMessages::PlayFXEffect(m_Parent->GetObjectID(), -1, u"despawn", "").Send(UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS);
 
 	activePets.erase(m_Owner);
 
-	m_Parent->Kill();
+	auto* const movementAI = m_Parent->GetComponent<MovementAIComponent>();
+	if (movementAI) movementAI->Stop();
+
+	// Live removed the pet only once its despawn effect had played; removing it at once cut the effect short
+	m_Parent->AddCallbackTimer(RenderComponent::GetAnimationTime(m_Parent, "despawn"), [this]() {
+		m_Parent->Kill();
+		});
 
 	auto* owner = GetOwner();
 
diff --git a/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.h b/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.h
index c7e19b0ef..8670de5f3 100644
--- a/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.h
+++ b/dGame/dComponents/PetComponent.h
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ class PetComponent final : public Component
 public:
 	static constexpr eReplicaComponentType ComponentType = eReplicaComponentType::PET;
 
+	// Bits of the serialized pet status. State number N is bit 1 << (N - 1) (the client's StateNumToIndex,
+	// 0x00bd19b0); the meanings are what the live server sent (2014 packet captures) and what the client does with them.
+
+	// State 8: a pet constructed with it plays its spawnAnim (LWOPetComponent::Deserialize, 0x00cd1270). Live
+	// constructed summoned pets with 0x84 and cleared this bit once the spawn animation was over.
+	static constexpr uint32_t PET_STATE_SPAWNING = 1 << 7;
+
 	explicit PetComponent(Entity* parentEntity, const int32_t componentID);
 	~PetComponent() override;
 
@@ -344,6 +351,11 @@ private:
 	 * Pet information loaded from the CDClientDatabase
 	 */
 	CDPetComponent m_PetInfo;
+
+	/**
+	 * Set once the pet has been sent back to the backpack; it is removed after its despawn effect has played
+	 */
+	bool m_Despawning{ false };
 };
 
 #endif // !PETCOMPONENT_H