You don't have to decide today.
Put the ashes somewhere safe. Give yourself some time. When you're ready, start here.
Before your pet is cremated
11 questions I wish I'd had at 2 a.m.
When I took Zoe to the 24-hour clinic, I didn't walk in with a list of questions. Looking back, these are the questions I would want in my pocket.
- Will I get my pet's ashes back?
- Will my pet be cremated alone?
- How do you make sure the ashes I get back are actually my pet's?
- Where will my pet be cremated?
- Can I visit the crematory or be there for the cremation?
- About how long will it take before I get the ashes back?
- What will the ashes come back in?
- What is included in the price and what costs extra?
- Do you offer a paw print or nose print?
- Can you save a clipping of fur for me?
- If I want a paw print or some fur, do I need to ask for it now?
Don't worry about sounding stupid or asking something they probably hear every day. Ask anyway. Trust me, you're allowed to ask questions.
Meet Zoe
Zoe was a little black, short-haired miniature dachshund. A hot dog dog. She was 17 years old when she had a stroke.
That turned into a 2 a.m. trip to a 24-hour animal clinic, and a pile of decisions I wasn't ready for. I didn't know what to do. That's why this site exists.
Before you say goodbye
Ask about getting a paw print or a nose print. Save a small clipping of fur if you want one. Keep the collar and tags instead of sending them along with your pet. Even if you don't know what you're going to do with these things yet, put them somewhere safe.
You can't go back and get it later.
Remember your pet
Give them their own memorial page with their photo, their story and a permanent link you can share with family or put on a QR code memorial marker.
Need to talk to somebody who gets it?
Join Pet Cremation Memorial: Pet Loss, Grief & Memorial Ideas on Facebook. Share pictures and stories, ask questions about cremation and ashes, or show something you made to remember them.
What to Do With Your Pet's Ashes
101 Memorial Ideas, DIY Keepsakes and Before-Cremation Tips
“I didn't know what to do myself.”
The book puts the answers in one place: what to expect in the first hours, 101 things you can do with your pet's ashes, and 10 projects you can make yourself.