We understand that, when preparing for the heart wrenching decision to say goodbye to your pet, you may not always have all the information you need to help you through this process. Petributes has supported Veterinary and Pet Cremation services for over 25 years and we are proud of our reputation for quality and service as well as the experience and knowledge we have gained. We hope this page can help by providing you with some guidance at this difficult time.
Firstly, you should talk to your veterinary surgery, as they can discuss with you the options they can provide for the afterlife care of your pet. Usually they will 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 your pet’s ashes back). An individual cremation service is very similar to a human cremation where your pet is cremated by itself in a cremator chamber. With a communal cremation your pet is cremated alongside other pets whose owners do not wish to have their ashes returned. Your pet can be cremated with their favourite toy, blanket or other comfort item if you wish.
Most veterinary surgeries have a relationship with just one pet crematorium and they will let you know who they use. We would recommend that you spend some time researching the pet crematorium so that you can make an informed decision over which you prefer to use. If you decide to use a different pet crematorium from the one normally used by your veterinary surgery it is important you let the surgery know as soon as you can, as alternative 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 for your pet. They can provide collection of your pet from your veterinary surgery 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 where you can take time to say your final goodbyes. They will often provide personalised services 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 the cremation if you wish. After the cremation your pet’s ashes will be prepared and then placed into a sealed bag and then put into the urn, casket or memorial of your choice. Pet crematoria take great care with labelling and identification of each pet throughout the process.
Most pet crematoria offer a wide selection of urns, caskets and memorials for you to choose from and it is always best to purchase your urn choice from the crematorium who have provided the service to you. We provide a guide, on our website, to give you an idea of the types of urns that are likely to be suitable for your pet, but your pet crematorium are the experts in knowing the correct size of memorial for your pet’s ashes and we recommend that you seek their guidance. Please do not be concerned if the urn you have chosen is not in stock at the pet crematorium, or they do not normally carry it. Our delivery service to pet crematoria is very fast and we can supply any item in our range. If you have any concerns about availability, you can always speak to one of us.
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 proportionate approach if it is not likely to cause any nuisance.
To find a pet crematorium that offers Petributes urns and memorials please use our Stockists page.
To find people who can help you through this difficult time, please see our Pet Bereavement page.
If you’d like to, you can create a free online memorial to your pet, along with a photo, on our Pet Memorial Wall and can use this space to express your feelings or record your memories. You can visit the memorial at any time and “light a candle” for your pet by leaving new messages. You can also share your memorials with family & friends if you wish. Simply create an account (no purchase is necessary) and you can create as many memorials as you wish. You can see all your pets’ memorials together on your own special Family Memorial Wall.
