We have a long history of commemorating our pets after death, from ancient Egyptian pet cemeteries and mummification to spiritual rituals to help our beloveds pass to the afterlife.

We certainly have more contemporary practices of our own now. The most common way to commemorate a pet is via the process of cremation. Often, we keep the ashes in a special urn that symbolizes our memories with our 4-legged companions.

We already have a basic understanding of what happens. We know we are going to get ashes back from our dear pet. That’s about the extent of our knowledge on the topic. Often, people want to know more. So what, exactly, is cremation? How does it work, what can we expect, and what are the most common concerns surrounding cremation?

1. After the last visit to the vet clinic, pets are often placed in a plastic bag that is labelled and placed in a freezer. The veterinary facility will store the remains until the cremation company picks them up and transports them to their facility, usually 1-7 days after passing.

2. There are two common options for cremation: Communal cremation, and Private cremation. Communal cremation is where the pet is cremated with other pets and their ashes are scattered together. Each crematorium has a different way of doing this. Speak with your local vet clinic or contact the crematoriums directly to ask what they do and where they drop the ashes. The second option is private cremation, where the pet is cremated alone, and the ashes are returned to you.

3. What is the process of cremation?
Pets are placed with the bag they were brought in with onto a metal plate which will go into the cremation chamber. The chamber runs at high heat, about 900C or 1600F. Depending on the size of the animal, this process takes about 4 hours.

4. At the end of cremation, the body of the pet is now reduced to its skeletal remains as well as the calcified bones which cannot be reduced further from heat.

5. The bones must be further processed by undergoing an additional step called cremulation (not many people know about this step) which is where the bones are reduced into the ashes. Essentially, they are crushed in an industrial blender. This will give the final product of the ashes.

6. When the crematorium is done processing the ashes, they will call the veterinary clinic or the individual to let them know their pet’s ashes are ready. You have the option to have the crematoriums return the ashes in various ways: urns, boxes, and a variety of more specialized ways like necklaces and pendants of their paw print, etc. Each crematorium has their own products or you can find artists who create specialized items for you.

7. Can the crematorium mix up my pet’s ashes with another animal?
That is the most common concern people have regarding crematoriums. Many crematoriums place the pet with a metal ID tag throughout the entire process so they will not lose track of anyone’s pet. Another way crematoriums handle this is by using a bar code attached to the bag the animal is in. It is always encouraged to ask your veterinary clinic for their recommendations on crematoriums or give the crematorium a call yourself. The majority of crematoriums welcome you come to visit to see how they operate, and should be transparent about this.

8. What if I receive my urn and it spills?
There is no need to worry here. If ashes are returned in an urn or box, they are placed in a sealed bag within the urn, so they won’t spill.

9. What are some creative things people do with the ashes other than placing them in an urn?
One eco-friendly way that is becoming popular is planting a tree in honor of your pet with their ashes. Some get a paw print tattoo with their pet’s ashes embedded in the ink, some simply get a portion of them embedded in a necklace or other heirloom. There are wonderful artists and creatives who can help you with ideas if you want something more personalized. Some people even ask if they can be cremated at the same place their pet has been cremated. Unfortunately, this is prohibited. However, many people request that after their own death to be placed in the cemetery with their pet.

10. Is cremation the only option for pets?
Certainly not: You are able to bury them as long as the state/province legislation’s compliances are met. Many families want to bury their animal in their backyard. Most of the time, burying in urban and suburban areas is prohibited in most of North America. If you want this option and are unsure of how to check your local laws, I recommend checking here for all the necessary information you will need for further questions. Another option is to have your pet processed via a technique called aquamation, where the bodies are decomposed via a very hot liquid water solution. This technique is newer and deemed healthier for the environment.

Aftercare is a difficult topic for us to process. Our pets give us so much, and when their time comes it is challenging to wrap our head around so much information. There are just so many choices. The details of aftercare are sparsely discussed, and this can leave us wondering more. The above information should provide a rough outline, but if you want to know more details about how your local crematorium functions and what products and services they offer, I encourage you to contact them directly and they will provide all the information you need to know.

One thing I would recommend looking into is a product called Euthabag. Euthabag is a body bag honoring the bond between human and pet. It’s environmentally friendly and made specifically for cremation or burial. More than that, it is a symbol. A symbol of the respect we have for our special human-animal relationships. We want to say goodbye to putting our pets in plastic bags and change the standard of care we give them.

You can see which clinics are using Euthabag here. Or you can simply request your veterinary clinic to order one on you and your pet’s behalf. The more we know, the more we feel we can make the best decision for us and our fur families.

Euthabag’s mission is to honor the bond between families and pets.