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Whatever you decide about after-death pet care, make certain that your
choices are based on your values, beliefs and your emotional needs as well
as financial requirements.
Ask yourself:
How do I know that I will get my pets cremains, can I witness the
cremation or tour the facility?
What is my financial
status, can I afford the option I prefer?
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Pet and Animal Cremation
SEPARATE: When the owner wishes to have the cremains of their pet returned, either to keep,
scatter or bury.
Method
- An individual pet is kept separate from those of other pets in the
cremation chamber. The process is usually completed in one or two
hours and results in a quantity of ash and fragments of bone, which are
processed and returned to the owner in a temporary container or special
urn. Cremated remains are odorless and can be stored indefinitely. Their
weight and amount will vary depending on the pet's overall body structure. Urns (permanent receptacles specially made to hold cremains) are available in a wide variety of styles, shapes, sizes and materials.
(See product page
)
Advantage - Separate cremation offers you
more flexibility than other options. It allows the individual
time to determine the best method of memorialization. Cremains can
be easily buried in a special place, scattered in a meaningful area, or
placed in an urn. The choice is yours. You can choose to view your
pet prior to cremation, and you can ask to be present while your pet is
cremated. Most facilities charge an additional fee for these
services.
Disadvantage - Separate cremation is more expensive than a communal
cremation.
Key Question - Most reputable facilities
will allow you to be present, or witness, the cremation. Even if you choose not to witness the cremation, you should ask whether it is permitted. Reputable pet crematories will respect your wishes in this matter, and your suspicions should be raised if they don't.
COMMUNAL: A commonly used option and a sensible one if you do not wish to have your pet's cremains returned to you.
Method -Together with other pets, your pet is reduced to mineral form by exposure to intense heat. Thus your pets remains, properly termed "cremains", are co-mingled with those of several other
pets.
Advantage - Economical means of cremation. Cost is relatively low when compared with separate cremation.
Disadvantage - Since cremains are co-mingled, it will not be possible to separate one pet's cremains from those of another, so you'll never have access to your pet's cremains, no matter how much you may wish to have them later.
Key questions to ask when inquiring about a facility and its services:
1. Is the pet crematory a reputable one?
2. Can you tour the facility?
3. What services are available, and what are the costs?
4. Are pre-planning and pre-payment plans available?
5. Does the crematory offer separate cremation, and how is that defined?
6. Will the crematory permit you to be present during the cremation of your pet?
7. Will a crematory representative pick up and transport your pet's remains?
8. Will the crematory prepare your pets body for viewing?
9. How will your pets cremains be returned to you, and in what time frame?
10. How will your pet be handled during the entire process?
services
PALS services (Pet and
Animal Cremation)
