How to Get Your Animal Cremated
When your pet or animal passes away, cremation of the remains is an option. When a pet is cremated, the remains are burned, and the ashes are often saved by the pet owner. Cremation ashes are often kept in urns as a lasting memorial.
- Search online or use a phonebook to find a pet crematorium in your area. You can also search for pet funeral homes because many of them perform this service.
- Choose how the pet will be taken to the crematorium or funeral home. You can bring the pet in yourself, or you can arrange to have the pet picked up from your home.
- Decide whether you would like to have a ceremony or to see your pet before it is cremated. Many pet funeral homes allow this and often encourage it. If you do not wish to have a ceremony or see the pet, let the funeral home know beforehand so that it can begin the cremation process as soon as it receives the pet.
- Decide whether you want to keep the pet's remains or have the crematorium or funeral home dispose of them. If you would like to keep them, you can purchase an urn to store them in. Urns can be purchased from funeral homes or can be ordered online from specialty stores. Talk with the person who will be cremating the pet to determine what size urn to purchase.
- Pay the crematorium or funeral home for the services and pick up your pet's ashes if applicable. If you have chosen to have a ceremony, it will take place before you are given the ashes.