A Peaceful Goodbye: Pet Cremation Services

Losing a pet is losing a member of the family. Pets are companions and playmates, friends and fonts of unconditional love. To those that love their furry, feathered or scaley friends, the loss is true heartbreak. Pet cremation services are a peaceful a means of giving your pet a respectful send-off for anyone who cannot have or does not want a traditional burial for their pet.

The question of what to do with your pet's remains immediately after their passing is stressful. Most animal shelters and veterinary clinics offer pet cremation services, but in recent years many private facilities have become available. Some are stand-alone, handling only pets, but many are attached to funeral homes. If your pet passes at a veterinarian's office, the veterinarian will offer options right away. If your pet passes at home, you can take your pet to your veterinarian, local ASPCA, or find a private crematorium. Your pet's remains need to be kept cool- refrigerated if possible- until you can deliver your pet for cremation. Many private crematoriums will pick up your pet for a fee.

Several types of cremation are available. In private cremations, your pet alone is placed in the cremation chamber. Some facilities allow you to view the process. If you do not want ashes returned, your pet is placed with others in the cremation chamber. This is called a communal cremation and is the most common type of cremation for pets. Ashes are interred in a communal grave.

Some facilities have flat fees for cremations while others base the fee on the weight of your pet. Cremation facilities have a special chamber for pets. The chamber is heated to between 1500 1600 degrees for the process. Cremains are not in fact true ashes but bone fragments. These fragments are removed from the chamber and reduced to a fine powder.

If you have requested your pet's cremains returned to you, they are collected in a sealed plastic bag and placed inside a temporary urn. It is usually possible to ask that the remains be split into multiple smaller urns if more than one family member would like them. Many urn options are available from veterinary clinic partnerships, private facilities or online.

Some local ordinances do not allow the burial of pet remains on private property. If this is the case or you simply wish for the option, pet crematoriums often have private cemeteries. You can purchase a headstone for your pet and visit them as you would any other loved one.

Cremation facilities are clean and handle remains with respect. Many private facilities will have quiet rooms for mourning and may offer funeral services. Saying "goodbye" to your four-legged love one is difficult, but knowing his or her remains were handled with care may make this a little easier.

Standards and procedures in pet cremation services vary greatly. To understand which pitfalls to avoid in choosing a pet crematorium the author recommends a visit to http://www.petcrematorium-petcemetery.co.uk