I have always been able to bury my pets in the garden but it looks as if my lad won't be able to wait until we move home and are able to do that for him.

Cremation seems to be the best option, and much as I hate the thought of it I have been looking at companies that do this. I would not do it via the vet because of what I have read about mass cremations, surgical waste, landfill and even with individual creamtions, not getting back your own pets ashes.

If I am going to pay for individual cremation, I want to be sure of getting him, and not a mix of other pets. I have read that some of the 'individual' cremations actually involve putting the pet on a tray of its own but cremated with other pets at the same time, and due to the process (I will not go into this, it is rather upsetting) the ashes become mixed. I found out much more about this than I would have liked, and am now questioning everything.

I suppose I can never be completely sure I will get him back.

Has anyone had a cremation done where they have actually been 100% sure that their pet has been cremated alone and that they have their own ashes back?

Failing this, has anyone used a pet cemetary?

I am afraid I will be needing to make decisions soon and am finding it very difficult. I know his spirit will not be in the ashes, I just need soemthing to hold on to until I can let go of the grief.

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A friend of mine has actually been to a couple and checked them out. As she found one she trusted and then moved, so therefore had to locate another at a later date. You can actually take your animal and wait. both that she inspected were done truly individually. She found them originally through the Association of private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria. They do have a code of practice unlike some. To find out what would be your nearest member Pet Cremation | Pet Crematorium | Pet Burial Advice for the Public and Veterinary Practices | APPCC | Setting the Standards for Pet Crematoriums and Pet Cemeteries
Telephone Helpline 01252 844478.

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I had my Timmy (RIP ) cremated, will be three years this December. I too read up about it and also found out things that were upsetting and didn't like, because of this I was debating a pet cemetery, but there wasn't any close to home and I know I would want to visit regular to feel close.

I talked about it with my vet before hand as Tim was very poorly, he was diagnosed with FIP. My vet asked if I wanted a mixed or individual cremation, of course I wanted individual and was told it would be more expensive and take longer than mixed as he would need to be sent further away to Hereford. I was happy with that knowing I would have only his ashes and no one elses pet.

I have his ashes in a little wooden casket that has a plaque with name on and also a certificate with date and time of cremation.

I believe in my heart that I have just my Timmy

It may sound silly but I do feel that Tim is close to me having his ashes and I can take him with me wherever I go.

Sorry you have to make this decision, I do feel for you. You will know deep down what is right for you and your lad. Sending you (((hugs))) xx

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I think the best thing to do is give the crematorium a call and put your mind to rest - they will be more than happy to show you around upsetting as it may be it will put all your suspicisions to bed.

I have danes and always purchase a private cremation like you I want their ashes.

Hiya, didnt want to read and run, luckily enough i was able to have suki in the garden

Sending you hugs xxx

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One day i'll learn where the spellcheck is on my phone, so sorry for any mistakes

Thank you all for your replies.
I have found a few that do not deal in clinical waste, or at least either don't say they do, or in one instance, they actually say that they don't.

I have seen some where they say there is a viewing window so you can actually watch, which although it seems more certain you will get your pet back I really couldn't do that.

Needing to book in advance and pay more seems to be the common procedure for a completely individual one.

I would like to lay him to rest in a cemetary, but I would also want to be able to visit and that wouldn't be possible. Letting go is so hard.

We have a fairly local one but they deal with clinical waste, when we moved here I assumed that would be the one we used if needed, but hadn't looked into it until the last year or so, after being told that he only had months left.

Am still hoping that his tests show that he might be with us a while longer.

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I'm sorry it's such a worrying time for you - here is a link maybe you could give them a call and find out if there is a suitable place in your area.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PET CREMATORIA, BOSTON, THE MEERES

I live in rented accomodation and when my pets have died I have had them cremated. I didn't like the thought of them not being with me if I ever move. I use the crematorium recommended by the vets, 'Valley'. They guarantee single cremation and do a collection and delivery service. The last time I used the service was about a month ago for Jess (cat). The total cost was £92, that was £80 for the cremation and £12 for collection and delivery. Her ashes were returned in a ceramic urn. She now sits on my dressing table next to my bed. I have a certificate with the time and date of her cremation. I know she is no longer with me but having her ashes at home makes a difficult time easier. Sending a hug at this difficult time. xx

Dear maisiecat

Firstly, I want to say that my thoughts are with you. Secondly, I'd like to say that you are doing exactly the right thing by doing your research and thinking ahead (painful as it may be to do so).

Your question and reservations about who to trust and what goes on behind closed doors highlights the state of the pet cremation "industry" that has grown from nothing to a complex range of services in the past 30 odd years.

I hope the following information will be of use to you and the other people who have contributed to this thread. You are welcome to come back to me with any questions you may have on what I have to say below.

It saddens me to say that you are right to have reservations. Most vets contract to the service that is either the most convenient or gives them the best price (many vets mark up the disposal / individual cremation price and make a huge profit). When you think that some disposal orientated pet crematoria are charging vets a flat rate of either £4.20 inc VAT for a disposal cremation or £54 inc VAT for the individual cremation of ANY SIZE of dog it puts into perspective why some of them are so keen to sell you the service they are offering!

This is not a direct criticism of the vets but an indication of the rut that they have fallen into. If that wasn't enough you are right that all pet crematoria operate differently. The APPCC's members adhere to one code of practice that advocates "individual" must mean members place a pet alone within an enclosed chamber and remove all their ashes before commencing the next cremation. The definition of "individual" used by the other trade body mentioned here allows their members to cremate multiple pets in the same chamber as long as they are separated from one another (this usually means a tray cremation). For me, all pet owners should be allowed to make an informed decision - this would involve pet crematoria being up front about how they perform the cremation - the problem is that most offering tray cremations do not make their chosen method clear to customers who may have a very different image in their mind of their pet on their own when choosing the service.

Be aware that pet cremators come in all different shapes and sizes - some are no more than top loading farm incinerators and others are much like those used at human crematoria. You must therefore ask lots of questions to get peace of mind that the pet crematorium you choose will meet your expectations. I advocate complete openess at my own pet crematorium which is called Dignity (in Hampshire). Here is a link to a page on my site that lists, step by step, how each pet we look after is collected, transported, handled, cremated and returned. Pet Cremation working procedures

All pet crematoria will have different facilities and standards. We, for example, have an attended cremation service where people can view their pet being placed into the chamber. Many people telephone us and come the same day. The weekly disposal orientated firms do a "round" once (or twice if it is a bigger/busier veterinary practice) a week. If your pet dies just after the van has been then they will be collected the following week with their ashes being returned the week after that (when the can next does it's round).

Going direct to the pet crematorium avoids the freezer/bag/van scenario but any establishment is only as good as the people running it so you need to trust whoever you choose to carry out your wishes exactly. If the person placing your pet into the chamber or taking the ashes out does so without care and attention to detail then all the effort you have taken to give your pet the send off they deserve is for nothing.

In closing, there are some wonderful, caring and trustworthy people out there that view what they do as a service and not a business. By doing your research ahead of the final day you should find the right pet crematorium to suit your needs.

If you or anyone else has any more specific questions about any part of the process then please get in touch.

Take care,

Kevin

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Kevin Spurgeon
Partner, Dignity Pet Crematorium

For help and advice about pet loss please call me or visit the Dignity Facebook page

For your nearest approved crematorium visit www.appcc.org.uk

No need of afraid... i already cremated my two doggy... Rambo and lily... after the process body liquefaction....

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You can also have a miniature urn holding the ashes designed as a pendant for your cremation jewelry on Discount Urns.