Pet cremation makes a lot of sense for pet owners everywhere. Burial is often expensive – and you have to worry about another pet potentially digging them up if they’re buried in the backyard. Cremation is a compassionate way of dealing with the remains of a beloved pet – and cremation services are highly trustworthy.
One question you might ask is, how do I know if I got all pet remains from cremation?
This is an important question you want to ask.
- You want to make sure that you got the remains of your pet as opposed to someone else’s.
- It is the best way to pay tribute to your pet.
- You want to make sure that all of the remains are in your possession.
Unfortunately, there’s not really any correlation between the weight of your pet and the weight of the ashes that are produced when the cremation takes place. So, how do you know if you’re getting everything?
It’s all about choosing a reputable pet cremation service. Talk with the company to find out how long they have been in business. Ask questions about the entire process. And, most importantly, read reviews so that you can be sure that the company is entirely trustworthy.
It’s also important to know that there are various cremation services that are available. The only way to be sure that you received all of the pet remains from cremation is by choosing a private cremation. This is where only your pet is processed, allowing all of the ashes to be collected.
The other options involve other animals being cremated at the same time. The communal process produces ash with all of the animals – and as such, you won’t receive the remains at all. The partitioned process cremates multiple animals at once but there is a partition between each one. You will get the majority of the remains, but some may have moved across the partition walls.
Cremation is used as one of the ways to obtain the remains of your deceased pet. You can choose to embrace taxidermy so that you can get your beloved pet stuffed. Then, any final remains can be cremated. Or, you can choose cremation as the full way, providing you with ashes that can be scattered, buried, or placed in a box/urn for you to place on a shelf.
You can choose to have all or some of the remains sent back to you depending on how you want to memorialize your pet.
How Does the Cremation Process Work?
Understanding how the cremation process works, specifically at the crematorium that you choose to work with, will help you understand how much of the remains will be returned to you.
You can choose to drop your pet off at the crematorium or have them shipped. Often, your vet will be able to arrange all of this so that you can focus on processing your grief.
The pet’s remains are cremated intact. This means that the animal is not skinned or gutted before being incinerated. All of the organs and flesh will be dried to the consistency of dust to the high heat. The only type the animal is skinned and gutted is if you want some of the remains to be preserved through taxidermy. You will want to be specific so that everything is handled (and preserved) in the most humane way possible.
The remains will be incinerated using high heat, typically around 1800 degrees. The time it takes will depend on the size of your pet, though it will typically be around two hours for dogs and large cats.
Once the heat has been applied, there will be ash and bone fragments remaining. A magnet will be used to pull out any metal objects, such as pins, ID tags, and more. Then, the remaining bone will be pulverized, providing a consistent dust/ash that will be given to you.
In some instances, witnessed cremation is available. This allows you to see the entire process – and it can also help you to confirm that you’re getting all of your pet’s remains back after everything has been handled.
Once the ashes are collected, they will be placed in a bag, box, or urn so that they can be given/shipped to you.
How are Remains Prepared for Return?
The remains should be prepared carefully so that you get all of your pet’s remains. You don’t want to find that the box has been opened or damaged in the shipping process as it could mean that your pet’s remains have been disrupted along the way.
You should be working with the cremation service to determine how the remains will be prepared. Typically, the ashes are placed in a plastic bag until you identify how you want them sent back. They can be sealed in a plastic bag or placed inside of an urn or box. Various custom options may be available to you, too.
Depending on whether the crematorium is local, or you have shipped the remains, you will have the option of picking up the remains or having them shipped to you. Often, if you are struggling with the loss of your pet, is easier to have them delivered. This way, you don’t have to hold the box or bag in your hands right away. You can have some more time to process your grief.
If you have questions about what to do with the remains once they are back in your possession, there are plenty of options. Display them in your home, scatter them in a park, bury them in a biodegradable urn, or even have them turned into a piece of memorial jewelry.
Getting all of your pet remains back from a cremation service is always a concern. With a bit of research, you can be sure that the company you choose to work with is trustworthy. Your pet may be gone but you should be able to enjoy peace of mind that their remains have been handled with a high level of care.
