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What Are
My Options?
Putting
a Pet To Rest
If you can
afford the expense of a pet cemetery then it is a good idea to
bury your pet in one; there are many throughout Canada alone (to
find a pet cemetery closest to you search
our directories). Pets can often become close, loved companions,
so organizing a burial site for one's pet can be beneficial for
the owner as he or she may feel that they have done what they
can for their pet. Although some people can be cynical about the
idea of pet cemeteries, there is nothing unusual about wanting
the best for a loved one.
Alternatively,
having your pet cremated and it's remains scattered over a pet
cemetery can also mean that you have the option of visiting the
resting place of your pet whenever you want. This option is not
for everyone though, and some may prefer to have their pet's ashes
stored safely in an urn. In this way the owner can choose a meaningful
location (perhaps a favorite room) for their pet to rest.
At
the time of the loss of a pet, what options are available?
There
are several options available. They are:
Burial
in a Pet Cemetery
There
are many pet cemeteries throughout the United States, Canada,
England, Russia, Poland, Brazil, Japan and other parts of the
world that provide burial services. Types of burial services are
private or communal.
With
private burial, a pet is separately prepared and buried in an
individual lot or grave site where memorial markers can be provided
for the pet. There are many variants from cemetery to cemetery
depending on the geographic location, local regulations, available
facilities and range of services. Pet cemeteries and pet funeral
homes provide a wide range of choices, enabling the pet owner
to select a casket, vault and plot that meet both emotional and
financial requirements.
Another
method is mausoleum burial where a casketed pet body is placed
in a crypt. Again, this is more expensive and not available in
every pet cemetery.
Some
pet cemeteries provide a common or communal burial area where
pets are buried along with other deceased pets. Memorials may
or may not be available in these areas, but many pet cemeteries
provide areas with some form of memorialization. One method is
to provide a memory wall where plaques or plates are displayed
honouring the deceased pets. Others provide areas where individual
memorializing is allowed. Some cemeteries offer trees, flower
gardens, benches, etc. to be dedicated in memory of a pet and
an acknowledgment plaque is affixed to these memorials.
Pet
funeral arrangements, not unlike funerals for humans, are available
at most pet cemeteries. Unlike human cemeteries, pet cemeteries
perform the duties and services of both a funeral home and cemetery.
Cremation
Cremation
is the process of reducing matter by exposing it to intense heat.
Through high temperatures and evaporation the body is reduced
to skeletal remains or cremains. These cremains are then processed
to reduce them to small fragments. Cremation service is offered
both on an individual (private) or group (mass) basis.
Home
Burial
A
pet belongs to its owner and aftercare is at the owner's discretion.
Although some municipalities have regulations governing the burial
of pets on residential property, home burial may be a possible
option. Usually caskets, vaults and memorial markers are available
for home burial from a local pet cemetery. Many people find later
that they may have to remove the pet from their property in the
event it is sold. Burial should be deep enough (3.5 to 4 ft.)
to discourage predators from disturbing the pet's body.
Veterinarian
Provided Disposal Service
Most
veterinarians offer disposal service and one should find out,
"what will happen to my pet?" These services vary from one veterinarian
to another. Depending on local regulations and situation of the
veterinarian, the service can mean that the pet is sent to the
local animal shelter for mass disposal, to a rendering company
or landfill. It can also include mass "communal cremation" or
in some instances the pets may be "communally buried" with other
daily trash. It is prudent to find out "hospital/clinic policy"
for disposal of your pets remains so that your wishes can be carried
out satisfactorily. In most cases your veterinarian will work
with you to that end.
 
(Options
courtesy of International Association of Pet Cemeteries)
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