Loss of a Pet

There is probably nothing more painful to a pet parent than the death of their beloved pet. To make the matter even worse, you must decide what to do with the remains of that once vibrant, loving mass of fur, feathers or scales.

Most of us have never thought that much about it. It was brought to my attention recently, when, not only did I lose my own beloved Willy (Sheltie), but several other pet parents, clients and friends, have also lost their beloved pet. All had to answer the question: What do I do now?

I did an internet search and found several sites for Pet Grief Counseling, but very little information about the actual disposal of the body of the dearly departed pet.

When I lived on a ranch in the country, it was common practice to bury the pet in the backyard, garden or other place where we could visit the gravesite when we wished. It is illegal to do that in most cities. It’s now part of the required disclosure when you sell a house. If there is a pet buried in the backyard, the seller must pay to have the remains removed and disposed of properly.

Okay. So, what do you do?

I called my vet who gave me the name of two local companies who will pick up your pet and bury or cremate the remains for you. Or, I could leave the pet’s body with the vet, where the burial company can pick it up and carry out your instructions for end of life services.

Here, in San Diego, you have the choice of burial services or cremation. The burial services are usually more expensive and include a maintenance fee for keeping the site attractive.

Three types of cremation services are available: Communal or Mass Cremation means that the remains of your pet are cremated along with a number of other pets. The remains can be disposed of as you wish – scattered at sea or some other place the crematorium provides; Private Cremation places the pet in a separate compartment for the cremation. The ashes are then returned to the pet owner; the third type of cremation is Individual Cremation where the pet is cremated entirely alone.

You can have the ashes stored in your choice of urns. The crematorium will help you choose one to suit you, the pet and your pocketbook.

To find the burial and cremation sites near you, search the internet for “Pet Remains” and your city.