Pet Undertaker

[ZootHornRollo]

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Hi,

our dog, now 17 and a half years old, is going to the vet tomorrow and won't be coming home with us. it's taken us a long time to come to the decision that she really doesn't have the quality of life she deserves any more.

we are not sure what happend after she is put to sleep.

does the vet deal with her body? how much do they charge? can we get the ashes back?

would we be better to use a third party pet crematory?

this appears to be the only one in our area of scotland http://www.petundertaker.info/

has anyone used them before or similar services?

any advice appreciated.

[orlao]

Hi

Sorry about your dog

When I've had pets pts at the vets they tend to offer shared cremation (£30 for a cat) or individual cremation with the ashes returned (approx £120) and a casket is extra.

The other option is to bury her at home.....but that makes moving house a possible issue in the future.

I think the 3rd party undertakers will collect the dog from the vets, I've never used them but friends have had their pets collected to be buried in dedicated pet cemetaries.

Maybe you could ring both the vets and the undertakers and ask the questions before you go with the dog so you don't have to make an instant decision when you're already upset?

HTH

O x

[SnowyOwl]

What an awful decision to make, but it's the last act of love you can do for your doggy friend.

As Orlao says, I'd suggest calling the vet and asking them to arrange for your dog to be cremated, and for them to make the arrangements you want for the ashes. Then there is no fuss or awkwardness when you get there as you will surely be upset.

Maybe ask how much it will be too, then arrive with a cheque made out. Unless you have a good relationship with your vet, then perhaps they would be OK with you calling in on another day to settle up.

It's so upsetting, I've been through it too. I feel so sorry for you.

[Georgina]

What a tough decision to make - like SnowyOwl says it's the last act of love you can do for your dog.

I was with a friend once when her dog was PTS, she was very old too. The vet came to the house, and afterwards made arrangements with the nearest pet crematorium to take the dog there immediatley. We popped the dog in the boot, a crematorium worker took her to a room where my friend could say her last goodbyes and she had an individual cremation, which meant that she only got her dogs ashes back. Of course, that must've carried an extra charge. She could've chosen a casket for the ashes, but they were all a bit naff and so I urged her to wait and get something she liked when she could think a bit clearer. She got the ashes back a day or so later.

If you are unable to take your dog, I have no doubt that your vet will arrange it for you.

I also found this one, but I'm sure your vet will be able to advise you.

Georgie

[ZootHornRollo]

well that was almost definately the hardest thing i have ever had to do.

she is gone.

i know its for the best but it's still hard.

our vet uses the cramatorium in your post goergina, so we are letting the vet take care of things.

thanks for your help everyone.

[Pet Undertaker]

Please accept our sincere condolenses for the loss of your dog. I appreciate how difficult a decision this was for you to make, it is the ultimate sacrafice of love. It takes great courage and strength to do, and hopefully one day soon you will be able to look back and remember all the good times you shared together.

I have watched this thread with interest. My name is Dawn Murray and I am the Pet Undertaker.

[ZootHornRollo]

thanks dawn,

i called you this morning but decided to let the vet take care of everything, it was just easier for us.

we are already looking back with fond memories. she was very special to us and seventeen years is a lot of time to leave behind some great memories.

cheers,

[babyangel10]

Hi,

I just wanted to also say sorry for your loss.

I lost my beautiful collie, Tess 9 years ago at the age of 13 and was 'lucky' that I never had to make the PTS decision. She was due to be PTS on the Friday if things hadn't improved but passed away on the Thursday night at home.

I feel that it was her way of thanking me for her life, by not having to make me sign the consent form (IYSWIM?)

She is buried in my Nan's garden because I didn't have one at the time of her passing, and I visit her grave as often as I can. My nan is 86 though so I obviously won't be able to visit Tess' grave forever, which will be hard.

I have only just felt able to take another dog on - having felt like I would have been 'replacing' Tess before now (silly aren't I?!) and now (as of Sat just gone) have Sammy the mad GSH/Collie X!

But photos of Tess have pride of place all over the house and will always do so.

I hope you try to just remember the good times as much as possible and not get too upset.

All the best

[Pet Undertaker]

It never gets any easier when you loose a beloved pet. Between us, my partner and I have grieved over 15 cats and dogs. At present we have 7 rescued dogs and 4 rescued cats, so we know we have a lot of heartache to face. We rescued a 20yr old cat only a two weeks ago and he is a real sweetheart.

I have updated my website as a result of what was written on the threads on this website and for that I thank you. x www.petundertaker.info

[fletcher1985]

we lost one of our collies last year and she was a big part of our family, she had a heart attack at home one morning and mum found her just before she went and sat with her which was great she wasnt on her own, so as she gave us so much love we had to get the ashes back i dont know the price we paid and i know mum would of paid anything for them we got a nice solid wood box with her name on it and the ashes inside, and we put her in the garden.

[SkintSazzie]

Ask your vet who they use/recommend?

We lost our last cat in August - he died at home. There is a Pet Crematorium near to us - I just took Seanie to the vets and the Crematorium collected him. He was cremated the next day and we got the choice of either a group cremation(cheapest), private cremation - ashes returned in cardboard box for scattering or burying, or ashes in a mahogany box with a brass plate. We chose the mahogany box - still not sure if I should scatter or bury him yet - it's still a bit raw. For now he is on the shelf inthe hall just above where he passed.

Service from both the Vets and the Crematorium was fantastic. I felt a bit daft at first - I've always been the 'its only an animal' sort of person - I'll never have that attitude again. It hurts!

Thinking of you x

[Wonder_Girl]

I let the vet recommend a crematorium when my baby George died last June, they picked him up and returned him to our door in a lovely box with a brass plate engraved with his name, wasn’t the cheapest option but I wouldn’t have it any other way. He is currently in my wardrobe where I can see him every day when I get dressed.

Every member of my family has strict instructions that when I die George will be placed in my coffin. He was my shadow for 13 years and spent every second with me.

[LuciferTDark]

Anyone with more than one animal can you tell me if you had trouble settling the other animals when one passed away?

Till last year we had 2 cats & 2 dogs, lost 1 of the cats & until we got her ashes back the other cat just wouldn't settle, crying all night every night & charging up & down the stairs constantly during the day.

Soon as we had the ashes back & put the casket on a shelf under the stairs above where he sleeps he settled down & went back to his normal lazy self. Has anyone else had this reaction from their pets?

[Pet Undertaker]

Hi LuciferTDark
It is very common for a surviving pet to have trouble settling when their companion dies, assuming that they were close, some pets wont miss an animal companion if they werent 'friends'. Pets dont grieve in the same manner as humans, but they do grieve in their own way. Our pets cope better if they see their companion is deceased. Pets do understand death and their grieving is generally shorter lived than the situation where a pet is just taken away and the other pet doesnt know why. When a pet is 'grieving' for their companion it is important not to endorse their behaviour by giving them too much additional attention or treats, to make them feel better. The pet will assume that they are behaving in the correct manner and this type of behaviour pattern is very difficult to break once a pet is in it.
On our website there is a section called Denzils story and it sounds very much like what you experienced with your own cat.
hope this is of some help to you.
Dawn - Pet Undertaker - Scotland

[highlander1266]

When my wee lassie had to be put to sleep I used the pet undertaker in Scotland her name was Dawn. I phoned her the day I had to do the dreaded deed. Dawn was waiting outside once my lass was put to sleep. She then returned the ashes to me the same day and spent time with me just talking. I paid her £5.00 over the bill and she advised me that she would give this to a charity, I thought aye right no chance. But a couple of weeks later I recived a letter from the greyhound charity thanking me for the donation. I would say the petundertaker is 100% genuine and I would use her again and have recommended her to others

[lowis]

so sorry for your loss...i had to put my cat Stormie to sleep 2 months ago and the pain is still there. many people here know how you feel and send you many hugs.

i had the vet come to my house and see Stormie on her way, and then he left us with Stormie for a few hours so her litter-mate (brother) could spend time with her body. he washed her all over and sat by her for a full two hours. it definitely helped him - he did call for her (still does), but not as badly as he did when she 'disappeared' to the vets about 18 months ago for an 8 day stay. he was visibly depressed when that happened, he would pace and wail with his head hung low. this didn't happen when she passed away - i can only assume he understood she was gone for good.

my vet arranged the collection of storm's body from my house by one of the nurse's, then Storm was taken to the practice to await collection the next day by the Crematorium. i used Cambridge Pet Crematorium, i had an individual cremation and I attended it so i could say goodbye to her one last time. i took along my own casket for her ashes and CPC were happy to use that instead of the ones they sell. whilst i waited for Storm's ashes I spent a few hours in the beautiful Gardens of Rememberance there.

my remaining cat has become so much more clingy and vocal since Storm passed away and because i work he spends 9/10hrs a day alone - i am now looking for a friend for him, one of the same age. not sure that i am personally ready for another cat as i still miss my Stormie so much - but i am not doing this for me.

[ZootHornRollo]

i still miss Cindy. Despite having two other dogs who we love very much. And reading this thread again has very nearly got a tear in my eye. I have never felt like this from the loss of a human family member.

I don't know if that says more about me or my relatives.

[ailuro2]

It says more about how wonderful our pets are, they love us in return for a bit of food and a safe place to sleep, yet they never give us a hard time for not filling up the dishwasher or mowing the lawn!!