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
• Cremation
• Home Burial, or
• Disposal Service.

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)