Handling the Remains of Your Pet
If your pet crosses the rainbow bridge in the vet, your friendly veterinarian can assist you with handling your pet’s remains, whichever option you decide to take. Otherwise, if they pass away at home, you can follow these steps to ensure your pet’s remains and household are managed carefully.
- Ensure your pet is deceased, as they may simply be asleep. Check for their pulse or signs of breathing.
- Wear gloves when handling your pet’s remains. If you intend to send their remains for pet cremation, place them in a box, crate, or mat. Ensure that underneath them is a layer of absorbent material to soak up any fluids their remains release, followed by a water-resistant layer like plastic to prevent excess fluids from leaking. Place towels under their tail and mouth for extra protection.
- You can leave your pet’s body in a cool room, such as the basement or garage, for no longer than 24 hours. Rigor mortis will stiffen your pet’s remains after several hours, so you may need assistance moving larger pets.
- Use a disinfectant to clean any surfaces on your property that have come in contact with your pet’s remains and fluids. This can minimize the spread of germs around your home.
Remains Disposal, Burial, and Pet Cremation
Whether your pet passes in the vet or at home, you have several options available. Many pet owners who have built a special bond with their furry friends may want to explore different ways to honor their pets.
Remains Disposal: If you’re already at the vet or feel your vet’s remains disposal services are most convenient and helpful for moving on, you can ask your vet if they provide this service. Not all vets have pet cremation facilities, and those that do are often for group cremations, so there’s a chance that any ashes you receive aren’t all from your pet.- Burial: You can bury your pet at home or in a cemetery, so consider the pros and cons of either. Burials have helped many families mourn the loss of their pet, as having a designated resting place can help you come to terms with your loss.
- Pet Cremation: If you want a more practical way of memorializing your pet while keeping a part of them with you, you can opt for pet cremation services. Unlike group cremation, your pet’s body is handled on its own to ensure that the ashes you receive are only from them. You also receive an urn that you can personalize and keep in your home, so you never have to worry about leaving them behind if you move far away.
What Are the Different Pet Cremation Options?
Pet owners can choose between three types: communal, semi-private, and private pet cremations.
- Communal: Your pet will be placed in a crematory with other pets. There’s no way to determine your pet’s ashes, so the crematorium staff will dispose of the ashes. You can ask your cremation service provider how they dispose of their ashes to ensure your pet’s remains are handled with the dignity they deserve.
- Semi-Private: The process is similar to communal pet cremations, except there is a division barrier and an identifier tag to ensure most of the ashes placed in your designated urn come from your pet. It’s a more cost-effective solution, though there’s a possibility that not all of the remains are your pet’s.
- Private: Your pet’s remains will be cremated on its own with no other pets. This ensures that, aside from minimal residual ashes in a crematorium, the ashes in your urn belong to your pet.
What Do I Do with My Pet’s Ashes After Cremation?
What you do after the cremation process depends on what you think is the best way to honor your pet.
One of the most significant advantages of pet cremation is portability. Many pet owners choose to keep their pet’s ashes in traditional or creative urns and place them in a designated area in their home. Other pet owners opt to take some of their pet’s ashes and put them in keepsakes such as necklaces. If you need to relocate, you don’t have to worry about saying goodbye to your pet’s remains on the property or living far away from a pet cemetery where visiting your pet is impractical.
Other pet owners opt to scatter their pet’s ashes in meaningful locations rather than burying them or keeping them at home. For example, you can sprinkle them near their favorite tree, along their favorite route for a walk, or in any outdoor location that has significance for your pet.
If you plan on spreading their ashes around plants, keep in mind that your pet’s remains are high in alkaline and sodium, which are harmful to plant growth. You can sprinkle a thin layer of ashes around well-established trees and shrubs.
Your Pet Deserves a Dignified Send-Off With Precious Pets Cremation Services
Your pet’s passing can be a difficult task to handle. However, when managed and assisted by caring and compassionate professionals, you can get through these trying times by giving your pet the grace they deserve.
At Precious Pets, covering the entire Fort Worth, Arlington, and Keller area, we understand the importance of handling your pet’s remains with respect and care. We would love to help you explore low-cost pet cremation solutions that honor your furry friend and give you and your household the closure you need to move forward.
For any questions about pet cremations, please call us at (817) 862-7000.
