Pet Cremation Facts

The death of a pet that has been a beloved companion or member of your household for years can be a painful loss. Often we don't realize until the animal is gone just how much comfort and joy it gave us over the years. We want to remember our faithful companion, but burial in a pet cemetery is a large expense or we may prefer cremation. Death can come suddenly and usually we are completely unprepared for it. What do you do when your pet dies unexpectedly? Who do you turn to for help? How do you make arrangements for a pet cremation? What do we do with the cremains of our companion animal?

Often, a pet passes away unexpectedly. If it is in the middle of the night or at any other time when you are unable to immediately make arrangements for the animal's removal and cremation, it is very important to be aware that decomposition begins very quickly and within 6 hours of death at 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15C), the body will begin to emit an unpleasant odor, which rapidly gets worse. The cooler the temperature the remains can be kept at, the slower it will decompose. While it may not be a pleasant task, you may need to wrap it in plastic and ideally place the body in a freezer. A second option is to put it in a refrigerator. If neither of these options is possible, then find the coolest location you can, in a bathtub or on a concrete floor, for instance and place bags of ice around the body.

This will be a temporary measure, to give you time to contact the cremation service of your choice. If you have not made prior arrangements, you can contact your veterinarian, who will no doubt know of a service or may even offer the service himself. He or the crematory will be able to supply transport if you do not have a vehicle or are too distressed to drive, but it will be costly, so bear that in mind.

FUNERAL PLANNING GUIDE: What everyone needs to know about funeral arrangements. This complete guide to saving money on funeral expenses is available for instant PDF download with a bonus funeral planning checklist.

If the pet is hit by a car or dies by some other means away from the home and you are not there to take its remains, your local animal disposal unit may take its body. It is very important that you contact them immediately and make arrangements to claim the body before they dispose of it. You can find the contact number from your vet, the local police or the local RSPCA.

There are three different ways that pets are cremated. The first way is the individual cremation. This is the quickest way, because it can be done virtually on demand. However, it is also the most costly. A second option is a private cremation, in which several animals are cremated at the same time. Reputable services will keep each body in a separate receptacle and identify them by owner, so that you know the cremains that come back to you are those of your pet. A third option, if you have limited means, is to have the animal cremated with many others and disposed of by the crematory. This is called a communal cremation.

After the pet cremation, your companion animal's cremains will be given to you in a plain cardboard or plastic container, unless you have previously chosen a cremation urn at the crematory. You can probably find a much wider assortment of pet cremation urns online at significantly lower prices, so bear this in mind. These specially designed urns come in a huge variety of styles and sizes and are priced anywhere from under $20 to several hundred dollars, depending on the materials they are made from, the complexity of design and other factors. If, on the other hand, you wish to scatter your pet's ashes, there are no legal restrictions against doing this.

In the midst of all the chaos of dealing with a companion animal's death, it is easy forget to take care of yourself. You will go through a grieving process, as will the other members of your family. Don't be surprised if you find yourself becoming irrationally angry with the pet for dying or for running in front of a car. Anger is a common initial emotion for the bereaved, who are often still in a state of denial about what has happened. Allow yourself to feel all the emotions one feels when a loved one dies. This was not "just an animal." It was a big part of your life and you will feel its loss acutely.

After the pet cremation has taken place, the choosing of an urn or the scattering of your pet's cremains are excellent ways to help you and your family through your period of grief. The expense is secondary to the sentiments, so don't feel compelled to give it a lavish sendoff if it is beyond your means. By honoring your pet and your relationship with it, you and your family will remember it with fondness and joy in the years to come.