Pet cremation - what do you do?

elsien

Just canvassing some opinions really.
Mutt is getting on a bit, and although hopefully with me for a while yet I've seen how quickly things can happen so although it's a bit morbid I'm starting to think ahead.
Previous mutt was PTS while I was on holiday and was buried (with my permission) in the kennel owners front garden - they thought a lot of her, I was in shock as she wasn't ill went I went away, and I was happier for them to deal with her than start sorting out arrangements myself when she was already gone. And I've never regretted the decision.
I don't fancy the idea of mutt going off with with all the others for a mass cremation and am happy to pay for individual cremation. But I don't think I'm that fussed about getting her ashes back - I can't see them sitting on my mantelpiece, she doesn't go in my garden so I wouldn't scatter her there and I have no idea what else I would do with her.
I know it's an individual thing, but am I weird for not wanting her back? What do/have you other folks done in a similar situation?

Frugalista

We have had all ours individually cremated and returned in various urns and wooden caskets.

As you can imagine, over the years we have had to say goodbye to quite a few and are now into double figures . They are all in a cabinet in my lounge.

It may sound daft, but I can't scatter them as I feel they would truely be gone forever - and this way I still have them with me . Strangely enough, I didn't have the same problem with scattering my Dad's ashes.

Someone suggested that you can have the ashes turned into diamonds and made into a piece of jewellery (don't know how expensive that would be) but thats not for me. I would be paranoid about loosing them - at least I know they are safe in my cabinet.

I have told my husband and sisters that, when I go, I want to be cremated and all my dog's ashes mixed in with mine. Have yet to decide where we will all be scattered though :D.

elsien

Frugalista wrote: »

Someone suggested that you can have the ashes turned into diamonds and made into a piece of jewellery (don't know how expensive that would be) but thats not for me. I would be paranoid about loosing them - at least I know they are safe in my cabinet.

.

Bill Bailey mentioned that at a show the other night - he then went onto talking about snowglobes. However I've already booked mother for that - the idea really tickled me.:o

I'm generally not that sentimental - I just sort of think when they've gone that's it, the memories in your head are the important bit. But then again I might change my mind when the time comes.

geri1965_2

I didn't bother to get mine - once they are gone, they are gone in my opinion. The ashes would mean nothing to me.

elsien

Ok. I've just googled. This is for people as well as pets. You can make them into paperweights, rings, earrings and cufflinks. Is it just me or is this a really bizarre idea, having a loved one dangling from your earlobes -it all just seems a bit creepy.

Flat_Eric

My first cat died in his sleep and we buried him in the garden. I don't live at that house anymore but he holds a special place in my heart.

My second cat was killed in a road accident - he was a daft cat and I think he just got scared one day and ran into the road :( Anyway the driver took him to the vets but nothing could be done. I was given the choice of whether i wanted to see him or not which I declined and was then offered a private cremation or a cremation with other pets which I opted for because I didn't want him to be alone or scared. I miss him still as does his brother but I know he is happy in heaven playing with all the other cats and trying to catch lots of mice

tankgirl1

Elsien - could you not come to the same arrangement as you had for previous mutt?

Or is there any place where you have a particular memory of Mutt being very happy - where you could scatter her ashes?

suki1964

My darling lad was buried in my garden.

We moved countries two years later

I took his marker which was made by people who had met him and loved him which now has a wee corner of my new garden

My " new " lad uses it as a pee post :eek::):rotfl:

Deep_In_Debt

My dad used to insist on burying our cats in the garden. Mum still lives there and always feels that it would be difficult to move as she wouldn't want to leave the cats behind...

My last two were pts at the vets..didn't think about bringing their ashes home. Their memories will always be with me and that's the most important thing.

MCLF

We've had four dogs PTS and each time the vet asked if we'd like the dog cremated at the Pets Cemetery. We agreed as it seemed the logical choice.
Our last dog died at home (she was very old) and I took her to the Crematorium. I was given a choice of receiving the ashes and I said no, to scatter them up there.
The Pet's Crem is in a beautiful spot and I felt no need to keep the ashes myself.

I don't think there's any wrong or right way, it's how you feel that's important.

tankgirl1

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

My dad used to insist on burying our cats in the garden. Mum still lives there and always feels that it would be difficult to move as she wouldn't want to leave the cats behind...
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When Pooch died it was so sudden - she was full of beans one day, playing fetch etc, we went to bed, I said 'night noodle pooch' to her as normal - she touched nose to hand - she slept by the side of my bed - never was one for snuggling - a touch of her nose was her way bless her bonkers collie ways.... I woke up the next morning - put my hand down for the nose touch - no response - I leaped out of bed, she was cool, I keened and screamed and cried and so on and so on- managed to call my mum who was with me in minutes... I sleep naked but it didn't matter that Ma saw me crouched naked over pooch crying my heart out....

Anyway - I was so messed up I just did what was suggested - buried her in the garden. I spent a lot of time after that sitting and crying in the garden.......

A few months ago my parents offered to pay to have her exhumed and cremated - came to a head when my neighbour and I had a dispute about the communal garden and she was smack bang in the middle of the boundary where the council were going to erect a fence.

Yes! Stupidly bloody stupid to bury her there in the first place but I was totally hysteric - barely remember it at all!

I was lucky that I knew the local crem people from work, and they sent the lad I knew to exhume her - I didn't watch, but I did stay with her with my back turned. She was exhumed in one piece - My Pa was watching, plus I heard the lad cursing about how difficult she was being and his big sigh of relief when he got her out intact - this was this summer and she passed in 2007! Despite his cursing (under his breath and it was VERY VERY hot weather at the time bless him) he always treated her remains with the utmost respect.

Anyway, I got her ashes back, and then got offered a new house a few months after - I could never have accepted if she was still there! She is now in my bedroom, and I feel a LOT much more at peace since her cremation