Cremation vs. Burial - Pets
Jacwhite22
Posts: 7,010 Member
in Chit-Chat
So serious question for pet owners/lovers......If you were to lose a pet you have had for a very long time.......a part of the family............how would you dispose of the body.......This is a decision I have to make very shortly and am having a very difficult time with it. If we choose burial it is a lot cheaper ($250-$550 for cremation + $$ for urn etc.). I could bury him in the yard but when we leave we would leave him behind. If we were to cremate we would have his ashes which we could take with us if we leave. I think my wife would prefer cremation and I am not sure.....I have not really thought about it. Part of me likes the idea of having the ashes of having him with us........Part of me feels like it is kind of morbid and he isn't really around anymore anyways......bury the body and move on and have him with us through pictures/memories.......What are your thoughts? How would you decide.
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My mom has all of her dogs in cremation ashes in little wooden boxes with gold nameplates around the house....they just look like bookends and work with the decor, it's very discreet and yet...her babies are with her....and move with her as she just recently downsized her house...
so yeah...0 -
If I had to decide, I would chose either cremation or bury my pet in a location only known to us - someplace special. I would mark it with a rose bush (or a hearty plant that will grow well in that area)0
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taxidermy0
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I would bury our pets. To me, I would not spend the money on cremation. We adore our pets but would not put that kind of $$$ towards their death.
However, if you feel cremation will be best, do it. You don't want to be left feeling bad over that.0 -
You could always cremate and spread his ashes in the ocean or a favorite pond/lake that he liked to go to maybe. Or plant a tree or plant with his ashes mixed in that you could take with you?
I was never given the option with any of my pets. The first we gave away when we moved to NY from Florida, my second ran away (or was stolen) and my third was again, given away after I moved. I would've loved to have been able to have had a choice.
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I just had to bury my sweet dog last week. My son made a "headstone" for her and it made him feel MUCH better that he was included in the process. I am with you...not sure that I could cremate my pet...but that's just me!0
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I'm so sorry you're having to think about this now.
This morning I had to put my cat down. Here is what and I how I decided - would I like to have had her buried, or cremated and kept the ashes? Yes. But I chose not to. I did the cremation and let them dispose of the body. The reasons I chose it is because I don't have a big place, and a place to keep an urn. I decided to let her memory live in my heart/mind. If I had a house or yard of my own, I'd have buried her.
My vet does a nice thing though - after the cat has passed, they make an impression in clay of her paw prints with her name and give it to you. So I have that also.0 -
We cremated our dog when he died a few years ago. And then we buried the ashes next to my childhood dog at my parents' house. Now we visit both of them a couple times a year and like to think they're running around together in doggie heaven....0
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I've purposely not commented on your statuses regarding this because I don't like thinking about and we just went through it a little over a year ago. There was no way we could afford cremation and I don't think we even considered it. We are planning on moving so location of burial was important. My sister and brother-in-law bought a house a few years ago, and we expect them to be there for a long time. Their back yard backs up to a wooded area. That is where we chose, and every time I go over there, I make sure to go see her.
And now, I am tearing up thinking about it...which is why I wasn't responding to your statuses.0 -
Some people think I'm a freakin weird-o but fu*k them. I have gotten pets cremated in the past. The price you listed seems EXTREMELY high....shouldn't be more than $200 including urn. I would look around for other places if I were you. Google it, it's more common than you might think.
Sorry you're having to go through this, stay strong!0 -
For all of our cats, who we loved but it was a little too expensive to cremate their tiny bodies, we buried them in the yard. We marked their graves with a green bush or flowers, so now they're apart of the garden. And trust me, I cried when we moved and had to leave them there.
We cremated our family dog that we had for 10 years. My dad still has his ashes and brought them with us when we moved. His girlfriend is trying to convince him to get rid of them, but he refuses. That dog was like our third child/sibling and we still miss him.0 -
I buried my dog in my garden..I won't be leaving this house so feel safe knowing she is still with me.
Yes it's illegal to bury pets in garden in the UK but I don't care.0 -
My husband's family had such a dog - big part of the family. They had her cremated and keep the box with her ashes and a big picture up on their mantel. It's sweet how they always talk about the crap she got into, how loving of a dog she was... whatever you do, I know you'll keep their memory alive for your kids.0
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When each of my dogs died as a child, we buried them at a friend's ranch (the ranch has been in my friend's family for years. They're never going to lose it or move.) Each of the dogs has their own little headstone, and I go out on their birthdays and put flowers on the graves. My friend always make sure the headstones remain intact. We also did this for our cats, and my friend (the owner of the ranch) does this with all of her beloved pets as well.
Yes, some people might think it's a bit much to do for pets, but all of them were very dear to me and my family. We treated their deaths the same way we would treat the death of a human family member.
The only reason we didn't do cremation, is because my mom and dad both thought it was a bit on the morbid side. Also, we had so many pets when I was growing up....the entire mantle would have been covered with urns.0 -
Personally, definitely cremation.
But talk to your vet about what other options are available. I worked at a vet clinic, and the company we used to cremate or dispose of euthanized pets, had a whole brochure that had different creative ideas to remember your pet by. One idea was taking a clay paw print of your pet. You could do the paw print yourself probably as something to always remember him by, and then bury him rather than cremate if you're trying to save money.
http://www.gatewaypetmemorial.com/products.php
I'm sorry for your upcoming loss though. It's never easy to go through.0 -
I think you just have to go with your gut on this one Jac. It all comes down to what will make you feel better.
A potential middle ground would be to bury him in the yard in a biodegradable container and plant a sapling tree over him. His physical components would nourish the tree - new life from death. Then if you were to move home, you could dig up the sapling and take it with you to your new property.0 -
I cremated my cat of 15 yrs...0
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I'd choose cremation and let the vet dispose of the ashes.0
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I always opt for cremation with ashes returned. I don't get an urn, though. I like knowing I have them with me, and when I feel it's time to let go, I spread the ashes in one of our favorite places. That place is unique to each pet, and then you don't have to worry about leaving him behind if you bury it in the yard.0
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My mom has all of her dogs in cremation ashes in little wooden boxes with gold nameplates around the house....they just look like bookends and work with the decor, it's very discreet and yet...her babies are with her....and move with her as she just recently downsized her house...
so yeah...
Colleen? Are you my sister?
I prefer cremation, but the burial is nice, too. It's a tough choice, but in the end whatever you decide will be the right decision. I'm so sorry you're going through this. *hugs*0 -
My vet does a nice thing though - after the cat has passed, they make an impression in clay of her paw prints with her name and give it to you. So I have that also.
Our vet did that for us when we had to put our dog down...I made a scrapbook page of pictures of her and then put that, along with the paw print, in a shadow box.
And, **hugs** to you Jac...I'm so sorry you're going through this
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Lifegem.com
Seriously, cremate and scatter the ashes at a favorite park or beach. I think your pet would like the idea of his/her remains playing around in the wind.0 -
When we lost our dog, we buried him. It was a family decision.
When I was in college, my guinea pig passed away. I had my boyfriend watching him since I lived on campus and couldn't have pets. I had to give my okay over the phone to have him put down, so I requested cremation. I just wanted to say good bye to him in person, not over the phone. We keep him with his picture on top of him. I miss him.0 -
My mom has all of her dogs in cremation ashes in little wooden boxes with gold nameplates around the house....they just look like bookends and work with the decor, it's very discreet and yet...her babies are with her....and move with her as she just recently downsized her house...
so yeah...
I like this idea..0 -
Cremation. I'm for cremation for myself, too, and my parents were both cremated.
I'm not planning on living here forever. I hate the thought of leaving them behind, or someone digging up my pets while planting shrubbery. Check with your local shelter... some do cremations for a LOT less than vets charge.
I made my own urns for my father's dog and one of my cats with a ready-to-paint photo box from a craft store. Check ebay, too. When I was shopping for one, I found some of the same companies were selling the same urns for less through their ebay shop than on their real website.0 -
I've done both. Go with what feels right for you and your family is my suggestion.0
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Tried to post, started crying.0
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I lost my bulldog in 2011 she was almost 13 and my buddy for 12.5 years. I had her cremated. I move a lot for my job and couldn't bear leaving her behind. She is in a beautiful urn in my home. My family has always cremated our dogs as well and has the urns. I guess it's a family thing. I know it's expensive, but I really didn't care about the cost. I just wanted her with me. Sorry you have to face the loss of your pet.0
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I'm in the same boat with my 15 y/o cat. I've endured many pet deaths and we always buried them in our yard. My bf wants to have our cat buried at a local pet cemetery but I prefer the idea of burying her where she spent her life. Also, his way costs $500, mine is just the cost of the materials to make our own special "kitty casket".
My aunt has a friend that had her dog cremated and has the ashes in a pendant that she wears. That's just creepy to me!0 -
I'm a fan of cremation and the wooden boxes with plaques which is what most are returned in. As another person said, they are very discreet but you know who it is.0
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