Losing a much-loved family pet can a very upsetting and traumatic experience. In the past decade, there’s been an increase in the popularity of pet funerals and memorials giving families the opportunity to say a proper farewell to their pet. Adam Masters, MD at Petributes, explains the options for pet owners when the time comes to say goodbye.
In years gone by, losing your pet would have usually meant a quick visit with the vet leaving you returning home with only their belongings by way of a treasured keepsake. The option may have been offered for you to take your pet home for a burial in the garden, but not everyone has the space or even the emotional capacity to manage this. As well as being a challenging task to undertake, a burial in the garden can create a further distressing point down the line if you move house, leaving you having to say goodbye once more.
Today things have changed considerably, and there are lots of options for you to hold a funeral, cremate your pet and choose a fitting memorial to keep with you. There are now more than 250 pet crematoria in the UK, offering a range of services including individual cremations and funeral services. And there are growing ranges of memorial items which you can choose to help you best remember your beloved animal.
The first step when you’re facing the loss of a pet is to talk to your vet; they can discuss the options which they can provide for afterlife care. Usually, they’ll be able to offer an individual cremation service (where you will receive your pet’s ashes back) or a communal cremation service (if you prefer not to receive the ashes). An individual cremation service is very similar to a human one, with your pet cremated by itself. With a communal option your pet is cremated alongside other animals whose owners do not wish to have their ashes returned.
Most veterinary surgeries have a relationship with just one pet crematorium, but you can research other options so that you can make an informed decision over which you prefer to use. If you decide to opt for an alternative, it’s important to let your vet know as soon as you can, as other arrangements may need to be made for the care and transportation of your pet.
Pet crematoria have considerable experience and will offer you a comprehensive afterlife care service. They can provide collection of your pet from your vet’s practice or your home, although you can choose to accompany your pet on their last journey if you prefer. Most will have a private chapel of rest or farewell room where you can take time to say your final goodbyes ahead of any service. They will also often provide personalised aftercare such as taking an impression of your pet’s paw print or a lock of fur for you to keep.
Great care and respect is given during the cremation and some pet crematoria will allow you to attend an accompanying service if you wish. After the cremation your pet’s ashes will be prepared and then placed into a sealed bag before being put into an urn, casket or memorial of your choice. Pet crematoria take great care with labelling and identification of each pet throughout the process, so you can rest assured of their sensitivity and attention to detail at all times.
Just as happens with human services there are now wide selections of urns, caskets and memorials for you to choose from to store your pet’s ashes. It’s usually best to purchase your preferred choice from the crematorium who have provided the service to you – they’ll be best placed to help you choose the correct size of memorial. Today there are many options from wooden caskets to hand crafted figurines of particular breeds, helping you memorialise your pet in a way which fits best with the wishes of you and your family.
Some pet crematoria have cemeteries or gardens of remembrance, where you can choose to scatter your pet’s ashes and return to visit. You are allowed to scatter, or inter, your pet’s ashes in your own garden if you own your home, but you should speak to the relevant local authority for guidance if you wish to scatter your pet’s ashes in a public place, such as on their favourite walk. Most public bodies such as a local authority or the Environment Agency will take a balanced approach if it’s not likely to cause any nuisance.
Most people nowadays see their pets just as much a part of the family as any other. They want to celebrate their lives and remember them with something special. So, there are a number of other options for remembering your pet too, and some families now choose to share a pet’s ashes, so each family member can have a keepsake of their beloved companion. Keepsake items, with small memory capsules, can be used to share ashes or remembrance mementos such as a collar tag or lock of hair. These keepsakes can be personalised too, with many manufacturers and crematoria offering an engraving service.
Losing a pet is a very difficult and emotional experience, but there are now lots of options to enable you to say your goodbyes, and, if you prefer, keep your cherished animal close by in the perfect resting place.
Article by PetTributes
Article published in Edition 10.
