My cat is gone....Cambridge Pet Crematorium - any experinces/advice?

gettingready

Thanks Raksha - Tiger will be at home with us, where he belongs....

There_Goes_Trouble

OP I'm so sorry for your loss and delighted for your new arrivals. I'm glad you were able to agree on a solution that you were all comfortable with regarding the cremation.

For anyone still interested in the original topic, I attended my dogs cremation. It was right for me, and I'm so glad I stayed with her all the way but I know that very few people would want to do it.

Detailed description coming up for anyone considering this (not graphic though!) so don't read it if you're not interested.

I had my dog PTS at home. I kept her at home for a few hours which, for me, was precious time with her to begin the grieving process. When it was time I put her in the car and drove her to the crem (Dignity Pet Crematoriam - fantastic place/people.) I was a bit early so I parked in a quiet spot down a little lane nearby and climbed into the back of the car and held her, again, precious time for me. My dog hated being left with strangers and although of course I knew she was gone, I just couldn't bring myself to leave her in a situation she would have hated. I carried her through to the first room myself and they let me sit with her as long as I wanted. They gave me a buzzer to press when I was ready and they didn't come in or hassle me at all, although having already spent the time I needed I didn't sit for too long. I just couldn't bear for anyone else to handle her, so even though she was 23kg I lifted her myself onto the trolley and she was wheeled out to the furnace. Once there she was transferred onto a big metal sheet and again I lifted her onto it. Then I had to allow the bloke to actually place her in the furnace because of course I couldn't do that bit, you have to know what you're doing there!! He pushed her in and then pulled the metal sheet out from underneath her and I just caught the glare as the flames caught her fluffy tail before the door was shut, I didn't actually see her alight though. I stood for a few seconds and then just turned and walked away. Being local and as I know the area, I took my other dog for a long walk and went back to collect her ashes a few hours later.

The benefits for me were that I know exactly what happened to my dog because I was there. I have no doubts as to what happened to her or how she was handled, I even know that her favourite toy was tucked under her paw exactly as she like to hold it when she went into the furnace, because I saw that it stayed put when the sheet was pulled away.

The people were fantastic I have to say. They respected that I didn't want anyone else to handle my dog and they let me do everything without interfering, even though she was heavy and just at the limit of what I could manage and once or twice I clearly struggled. The guy managed to advise me on lifting her without butting in, and without being insensitive or intrusive. When they left me in the first room with her they offered me a pair of scissors to take a hair cutting from her tail (although I had already done this at home). They wanted to cover her with a blanket but I said no because she hated to be covered over, and they immediately took the blanket away. They would have done everything for me if I had wanted it, in my case they respected the fact that I wanted to do as much as possible myself.

For me, it was a peaceful process and being there really helped me to begin my grieving process. It wasn't a service, no words or prayers were said or anything like that, it wasn't like going to a human cremation service. But I needed it and I got exactly what I wanted.

It wasn't cheap mind!

gettingready

Thanks for sharing....

chris_n_tj

Although I am sat here with tears steaming down my face, I want to thank you for sharing with us your most precious final act of kindness for your beloved friend.

Chris n TJ xxxxxxx

formaldehyde_perfume

Unfortunately Cambridge Pet Crem is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

Your best bet is to get a train either to Royston or Whittlesford Parkway and arrange for a taxi from there. Whittlesford is probably nearer but Royston is probably easier to get to on the train.

I live in north cambridgeshire and have heard good things about the pet crematorium there.

HTH

gettingready

Formaldehyde_perfume - thanks for that but we have decided not to attend, posted earlier.. Nice man from CPC spoke to my daughter and assured her about everything so we are not going to attend the creamation as such...

formaldehyde_perfume

Your cat will be well looked after there From what I've heard they are very respectful and are pretty much exactly what you would expect a human crematorium to be like.