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Okay, this is something I know that NO ONE wants to think about. I mean, I've seen companies set up informational booths and people walk by, no one wants to talk about it.

Since working in a clinic though, dealing with euthanasia on a daily basis. I can't help but start to think about it. I think I have time to decide, I'll make the choice when the time comes, but I've come to realize how many options there are.

I'm talking about cremation/burial services.

Now euthanasia in itself is not cheap sadly. Group cremation is generally included in the price. So if you don't want to spend money on such things, then they cremate your pet along with the other euthanasias that week and dispose of the remains. This is what my family did with my childhood dog, back then we thought that an extra 100-200 bucks for his ashes was just too much. But it killed me to walk out of there with nothing, to have nothing to turn to when I grieved. Depending on your state/province laws, you could bring the body home however, it is often illegal to bury animals over a certain size. My cat died at home so he was buried, it gave me great comfort to have a grave, as it does for Hope. However, when we moved, his remains were of course left behind. I have nothing now, and I know if the new owners decide to dig that area up for WHATEVER reason (pool, expansion etc) that his grave will be disturbed and his bones torn up.

The other option is private cremation/burial. This is pricey though, and there are still loads of options. Depending on the company. Your vet likely has a company that they deal with, however, if you make arrangements with a different company it shouldn't be an issue for THAT company to come collect the body instead.

A burial is actually the most expensive. Pet cemetaries are very pricey and they don't even include a casket!. Since I don't know of any pet cemetaries in my area, that seems like an unlikely option for me. Having a burial site seems pointless if you will never visit.

Cremation can be affordable depending the company. One company I've looked at gives you the options of returning the ashes in a bag, so you are not charged for the urn and you can bury or scatter the ashes. (This would allow for a burial in your own yard without breaking any laws).

If you're able to find a really good company, there are some additions that you can opt for that are really cool. Some companies include a clipping of your pets hair.

There's clay pawprints (the clinic I work for makes these before doing the group cremation so you don't have to pay for private to get a momento of your pet. The clinic I did my stage at did a pawprint in ink.)

There's many different urns to choose from

there are even jewelry and artwork that are made WITH the ashes embeded in them.


There is also where they spend their final moments to consider. For Rascal I'm convinced I'm doing at home euthanasia regardless the extra price. He hates to travel and I would not put him through that stress for his last moments unless it was like, an emergency euthanasia.



My personal opinion is that, well of course money is an issue, and I don't wana go into debt over it. I think worse case scenario I would opt for private with a return of the ashes in a bag. Like I said burial is not really convenient, since we could move and a pet cemetary is likely a good drive away and very very costly. The thought of cremating my baby with a pile of other animals and never knowing where the remains are really irks me. So ya, private.

Now I have this weird peeve against urns though. Sort of like how some people have their pet stuffed and, well, most people find that creepy. I kind of find the idea of a container of remains on my shelf to be creepy. However, I think the jewelry and artwork with the ashes in them is sweet. (I'm weird).

So for me, the ideal would be private cremation.($175-300)
(since rats are so small I would bury them)

A sealed "urn" that is either a picture frame or a stone of some sort. ($75-90)




The hair clippings which I would likely store in a safekeeping box.

The clay pawprint (since I have one of my childhood dog I absolutely want one of my babies.) ($25)


And a glass keepsake with fuzed ashes. I think the candle or sun catcher would be wonderful, but even just a necklace would really mean a lot to me. I could have a part of them close to my heart always. ($135-275)


So for Rascal $430-470 for private, with a small urn, clay paw print and glass pendant. This does not include the cost of the euthanasia, which is probably around 100-200 client price. Assuming I'm working in a clinic, it would be quite cheap. I know it seems really heartless to think of this and the cost of it all, but, rather now then when I am emotionally unstable. I think if that price is unrealistic, I would drop either the urn and just get the glass or the glass and just keep him in the urn. Keeping in mind that that money will provide me with a keepsake that can comfort me for years to come.

For Cowboy, it would be more like $470-510. Euthanasia cost probably 200-300 client price. Again I could drop the urn and just do a pendant if I'm not in a good place financially.

Just so you know, the prices and items mentioned all come from this company www.eternalcompanions.ca

If you click on merchandise you'll see they have a really incredible selection of keepsakes. I kind of feel like a sun catcher to hang in my window would be appropriate for Rascal and the pendant for Cowboy. Just cause Rascal is often found sun bathing in the window and Cowboy is never more than 5 feet from me if he can help it.

I'd really love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

Having just put my dog down three weeks ago I can tell you what we did. Due to such a large cost we had to do the group cremation, we also got her paw print in clay.
since her sickness was so sudden and her decline so quick (one week) all the testing to see what was wrong really drained our finances, so our only option was the group cremation, she came back to us in a decorative tin.

I've never actually had to deal with massive depression over the loss of a pet, we've always eased it, usually with another. When Angel was 9 we got Zimba, who was already 3, when he was 9 we got Sparky, when Angel passed we had the other two we had to focus on, and it helped to ease the loss and return things to normal faster. That will probably be the way I handle it when I'm out on my own and have my own pets.

With Zim I had to do the included disposal, which isn't always cremation depending on the fine print to your vet paperwork. [at least here in the states, some of the pets go to those lovely classes that dissect them.] But, seeing as his vet bills tallied out to nearly 700$ [400$ alone for the euth.] I couldn't afford anything else. I laugh sometimes because I still find his hair, I use his faux sheep skin as a throw blanket. [The other dogs avoid it still even after it being washed multiple times.] And mom thinks I'm strange because I will never reuse his collar, it will forever be in my keepsake box with his name/number tag, and his rabies tags. So all in all, I have his collar, blanket and pictures, enough to touch, and remember, but not enough to clutter.

I know it sucks, I got the idea to look into it after helping eternal companions load the privates into their van. I had a knot in my throat the entire time I was searching their site. At the same time it's comforting to know these options exist, that even if I'm absolutely poor, I can fork out 175-200 bucks and at least they will return the ashes and the. I can just hold onto them until I can afford an urn or something.

I haven't mentioned yet but I'm getting Rascal's paw print tattooed on my foot when I graduate, Cowboy is the one who got me into this program, but Rascal has been with me for so long now, and his prints would fit well on my foot. I'll post a pic that the artist did for a friend of mine. And no, the ashes doesn't sound nuts, I've thought about it, I'm just scared my body would reject it or get infected.

@Levina-jade, sorry for your loss, at least you wer able to have the clay paw print without having to pay for private, not every clinic will take the time to do that.

@clestial fireflies, I can't say that I cry, but, I often sit rascal down and inform him that he is to live at least another 6 years. He is to live until 20 and he's not allowed to leave me. Oh ad it goes without saying I'll be right by their side, for each of my fur babies. Even my rats, which normally clients are not allowed to watch because we...well we anesthetize them by using the dog mask as a chamber, once they're asleep we inject directly into the heart. So owners can't really hold or pet them any way. I told my boss she will never take my rat away from me, and she told me the rules don't apply to techs, since we already know what's going to happen its not like they're saving us from anything. Rascal, if I ever have to make that decision, will go in my arms or snuggle next to me, in our house, probably in my room. The vet will come to us regardless the cost.

@Aki, that is essentially what I have of my first dog, plus the paw print. His collar, leash and Xmas sweater are kept with some photos in a clay dog house/box that I made several years later in art class.

@Krissim, yes, the at home euthanasia seems like the best idea for those people strong enough to stay by their pets. It sucks being in a clinic, having to walk by all those people staring at you, or knowing the people outside the room can hear your cries. Some newer buildings have a nice family room, where you can stay as long as you like, and a back door to exit. And even though Cowboy enjoys the traveling it's something I would consider for him as well, but for Rascal, it's am absolute necessity.


The reason I'm talking about all this however, is so you all understand not just the decision, but the planning that may need to be done prior. I'm lucky that my vet works with such a great company that offers so many things. This may not be the case for you. When they hand you that euthanasia form, and your only option is group or private, it migh be a real disappoint,end if you wanted a piece of art or jewelry with ashes or hair fuzzed in. That's why I'm recommending to check what the companies in your area offer, and then when you circle private, you can inform your vet that a company of your choice will come for your pet.

I want to ask the guy who did THIS tattoo

to do MY tattoo, but mine will be of my cat's and two on my foot. Then when he does pass, I could always have it touched up with the ashes if I ever decide to do that

all my small animals get burried in my dad's backyard, its how ive been doing things since i was little and it would seem weird to start burrying my pets in a different location even though now i have a house and yard of my own. plus stowrm and her terrier friends dig

with cats and dogs we always just left the bodies with the vet. the only animal we didnt do that to wsa my mother's toy poodle and i think that was because he had meant so much to her and it had only been about a year since she died

i think i will have my cats cremated, fluffers will be put into a necklace for me to wear, reign im not sure, probably a little urn. fluffers gets special treatment because to me he isnt a cat or a pet, he is someone who ive been through the worst parts of my life with and when i wasnt allowed to complain or be sad i had him to express those emotions to. and i dont think i would be able to not have some part of him with me at all times

i have no idea what ill do with stowrm, probably have her burned too, i cant think of anything else. i may get a tattoo of her pawprints one day since they are so strange looking

Always bury. All of our rodents are under "the climbing tree", a tree with great climbing branches and great shade. Kayda is in a little burial site in the backyard that's just her own. We actually planted an oak tree over her grave (A Kaydoak tree -badumtish-), so that she can forever be honored by a tree that'll, hopefully, harbor squirrels and birds (some of her favorite prey). The cats will likely also go into my dad's backyard, with different tree planted over their graves so that their bodies can help make something beautiful.

I will spend their lifetimes creating amazing memories with them and that way I will always have them with me.

And I keep a little lock of fur from each of my ferrets. Apart from that it's just photos and lots and lots of memories.