Would you get your pets ashes back?

I think about this all the time. When Riley goes, I dont know if I want his ashes back or not. I have always leaned to the "not" side. What am I going to do with them? Every time I look at them its just going to make me more sad, like he is "there" but I cant have him. I will have his collars and toys as a "part" of him. I have never had a pet die to make that choice yet.

What have you/would you do?

I'm planning on getting the ashes back for my dogs... hopefully this wont be anything I really have to think about anytime soon though. But ya... I plan to get the ashes back and either put them in a nice custom designed box or bury/spread them somewhere.

Yes. I got Cody's ashes back (my childhood dog) and they're buried with his jingle ball in a garden in Connecticut. I think in the future I would prefer a box, I don't like that he's out there all alone next to a house of people who didn't like him. I'd like to put him in with my parents, but I think the funeral home would frown on that.

I have three boxes of dog ashes up in my bedroom. I don't know what to do with them, but I absolutely need the closure of them coming home.

I have the ashes of my cockers. I plan on being cremated and I want their ashes scattered with mine as well as those of any of my pets that pass before I do...

I've never had a dog cremated but yes, I imagine if I did I'd get them back. Up until this point we've always used a shovel or backhoe and a burlap bag to bury them.

I agree with this, I'm not sure if I'd get my pets' ashes back. It just seems sadder to me that she'd be "there" but not really.

I want Buster's back, we have always buried our animals but I always felt bad when my cat died suddenly, I didn't have any plans in place and I havd to leave him behind when we moved which I hated. So when Buster goes, I want him cremated and to keep his ashes so I always have him with me.

With Dekka, absolutely. I want her ashes in my casket (as morbid as that is in some ways) That along with not wanting to be embalmed and having the casket completely biodegradable is important to me.

The other dogs-likely. We got Zo's body back so we could bury her here on the farm. I know its just a body but leaving it would make me uncomfortable.

yes.

We got Teddy's back and I knew what I wanted to do with them. half of the ashes are in an urn and the other half we buried with a royal star magnolia that we bought and planted. We call it "Teddy's Tree". It blooms every year right around the time of his passing (sometimes right ON the day of). That was definitely a comfort thing for me. His ashes being buried with something new and alive "helping" it grow.

I don't have any animals cremated, but I'm wanting to get my horse cremated when we put her down likely this fall. I want to get her ashes turned into a diamond or stone and then into a ring - it is expensive ($800-$3000+) but a lovely and subtle way to keep your animal with you.

Cremation Diamonds made from ashes

Cremation jewelry, memorial keepsakes, pet memorials, and more – My Crystal Companion

We have buried all of our animals on our property (country property) behind our shed.

Not only are they on site, but I keep their collars/tags in rememberence. I collect little statue/animal figurines that I pick up for special moments (each one I have holds a memory behind it), and I'd love to get figurines made of my past (and present) animals as a tribute to all of the memories. Unfortunately, I can't find anyone that makes realistic miniatures in my price range.

For me, anyway, it is less of having a physical part of the animal with me and more having something that signifies them to me. So I'm not sure if I couldn't bury them if I would have their ashes returned to me...but I would want something to remember them by.

I have thought of that for when Dekka goes (hopefully not for at least another decade..)

But then I thought what would ever happen if I lost that gem... I likely would be a hysterical mess all over again...

The birds and cats would will likely bury at my mom's. I will probably have the dogs cremated and I do want their ashes back-I think that they would be happiest being with us. I know that Sally would be happy being on a shelf so that even after death she could be above any other dog we owned-lol. If I get the horse cremated I will spread her ashes-not sure where though.

That is my plan as well. I actually stress a bit about Tristan, as I'm not sure cremation will be an option with him (incredibly expensive and transport is an issue). I will likely just save some hairs.

This is just my opinion, but I don't want them. I have had prior dogs cremated but never took their ashes.

Yes, absolutely. We've always cremated our pets and buried them and had a little service for them. For me, it very much is a closure thing.

I have in the past and I will in the future. The master plan is to have them buried or scattered with me someday.

Absolutely. Ronin and Ilsa got private cremations (more expensive than being cremated with a bunch of other deceased pets) - and both came home. Dobes need to be with their people, so IMO leaving their ashes somewhere other than home seems a bit... I don't know, I couldn't do it.

I don't know what will come of them when I die, but I have a bit of time to think about that. All I know is that my dogs will always come back home.

It's sad to look at them, but at the same time quite comforting - at least for me.

This is what keeps me from burying. I'd hate to move and leave them behind.

Posted it in another thread, but here's Ilsa and Ronin. I get to see them every day.