Would you get your pets ashes back?
- Thread starter Bigpoodleperson
- Start date
I don't get the point in having a pet cremated then not having the ashes back. 
In the unlikely event of me getting a pet cremated, I would scatter their ashes in a place they loved the most, like with Maddy it would be at the beach or in her sunny spot in the garden. Todd it would be in the garden. etc etc.
I bury my pets.
In the unlikely event of me getting a pet cremated, I would scatter their ashes in a place they loved the most, like with Maddy it would be at the beach or in her sunny spot in the garden. Todd it would be in the garden. etc etc.
I bury my pets.
The pet funeral director told me something sad when I dropped Ronin off. He said that often times, people drop off their pets and... just never come back for them. He said that it's heartbreaking - the owners say they'll be back to pick them up, but then the owners never come back, and the ashes just sit there, waiting for people who will never return. Eventually the funeral director spreads them on the cemetery property himself, but he says it's never the same, and that he wishes the pet's families were there, if only just to spread their pet themselves.
I don't know. It was really sad.
He said that it's heartbreaking - the owners say they'll be back to pick them up, but then the owners never come back, and the ashes just sit there, waiting for people who will never return. Eventually the funeral director spreads them on the cemetery property himself, but he says it's never the same, and that he wishes the pet's families were there, if only just to spread their pet themselves.I don't know. It was really sad.
Nope. Rogue got the mass cremation and was spread on farmland just outside of my city.
Spock, the foster ferret, was kept in a fridge at the vet to be picked up, then buried on the property of the vice-president's parents, where all the ferrets who never got their forever home go.
If I kept the ashes of all my pets, I would have so many urns of ashes sitting around the house.
Not everybody has land.... what else would somebody do with them? Most vets here just offer either private or group cremation, you cannot exactly just throw the body in the garbage.
Spock, the foster ferret, was kept in a fridge at the vet to be picked up, then buried on the property of the vice-president's parents, where all the ferrets who never got their forever home go.
If I kept the ashes of all my pets, I would have so many urns of ashes sitting around the house.
Not everybody has land.... what else would somebody do with them? Most vets here just offer either private or group cremation, you cannot exactly just throw the body in the garbage.
I have Molly's ashes. They are in an urn on a shelf on my TV stand. I have her clay paw print, collar, and sympathy card in a shadow box above my bed, next to the portrait that Allie did.
I don't feel like it's something I'll do with ALL my pets though, because I can't imagine where I'm going to keep all these ashes. It might just be something I do with the ones that were more special to me.
I don't feel like it's something I'll do with ALL my pets though, because I can't imagine where I'm going to keep all these ashes. It might just be something I do with the ones that were more special to me.
I would get the ashes back, but so I could bury their remains, not necessarily keep them.
I haven't had to do this with any large pets at this point in my life, but I have had cremation services done for a few rats and a sugar glider. The rats I asked to be cremated because they were with me while I was in college. When they passed, I wanted them to be buried at home, but that was a few states away at the time.
We are keeping the ashes of our sugar glider for the time being. He has a nice box that we keep on a shelf. Eventually, he will be buried also, but his best friend/"brother" suggie is still with us, and we want them to be together whenever that time comes.
ETA: I have had to move away from so many houses where pets (or their ashes) were buried. It is sad, I admit. But at the same time, once they're buried... it's like they are no longer there. That at that point they are finally free and don't have to be tied to that body/ashes anymore, and it doesn't matter where I go.
That said, that is the reason we've kept Penn's ashes (sugar glider) for now. We don't want to bury him and then have to move away... and then not be able to put Teller with him in the future. Once they are together, though, they will always be together, wherever they are or where we are.
I hope that makes sense...
I haven't had to do this with any large pets at this point in my life, but I have had cremation services done for a few rats and a sugar glider. The rats I asked to be cremated because they were with me while I was in college. When they passed, I wanted them to be buried at home, but that was a few states away at the time.
We are keeping the ashes of our sugar glider for the time being. He has a nice box that we keep on a shelf. Eventually, he will be buried also, but his best friend/"brother" suggie is still with us, and we want them to be together whenever that time comes.
ETA: I have had to move away from so many houses where pets (or their ashes) were buried. It is sad, I admit. But at the same time, once they're buried... it's like they are no longer there. That at that point they are finally free and don't have to be tied to that body/ashes anymore, and it doesn't matter where I go.
That said, that is the reason we've kept Penn's ashes (sugar glider) for now. We don't want to bury him and then have to move away... and then not be able to put Teller with him in the future. Once they are together, though, they will always be together, wherever they are or where we are.
I hope that makes sense...
Thank you. I was getting a little teary-eyed as I was typing, so I wasn't sure if I was really saying things in order.
Now I need to figure out what to do with Ilsa's old box. I don't want to use it on any of my other pets, but I don't want to throw it in the trash. The one my dad made is MUCH nicer. I wonder if it would be morbid to sell/give away Ilsa's old box? Hmmm...
Have gotten them back before, and it has always comforted me to know that they are here, forever. If they are not with me when I move I will scatter them on my property. Especially for my rescues, it is important to me that even in death they are here, safe, where they belong.
I am slightly conflicted in my thoughts of the afterlife. Realistically, I think that there is nothing left. That there is no soul.
At the same time, there is a part of me that holds out, that hopes for something more. Not heaven, but a rebirth of sorts. Or maybe their spirits linger.
I don't know.
I am slightly conflicted in my thoughts of the afterlife. Realistically, I think that there is nothing left. That there is no soul.
At the same time, there is a part of me that holds out, that hopes for something more. Not heaven, but a rebirth of sorts. Or maybe their spirits linger.
I don't know.
The pet funeral director told me something sad when I dropped Ronin off. He said that often times, people drop off their pets and... just never come back for them. He said that it's heartbreaking - the owners say they'll be back to pick them up, but then the owners never come back, and the ashes just sit there, waiting for people who will never return. Eventually the funeral director spreads them on the cemetery property himself, but he says it's never the same, and that he wishes the pet's families were there, if only just to spread their pet themselves.
I don't know. It was really sad.
He said that it's heartbreaking - the owners say they'll be back to pick them up, but then the owners never come back, and the ashes just sit there, waiting for people who will never return. Eventually the funeral director spreads them on the cemetery property himself, but he says it's never the same, and that he wishes the pet's families were there, if only just to spread their pet themselves.I don't know. It was really sad.
Heck, I've told my aunt and grandmother that when they die I'm moving all their ashes out to where I am as I plan to be living in a different state. My aunt can stay here, because she's a Catholic nun so she'll be in the cemetery with all her sisters, but I want my grandparents and parents with me and my theoretical family.
I got Maggie back and I'm very glad I did; I felt rather unsettled until she was home again. I originally thought I'd spread her ashes like we did with the family dog and family cat before I left home, but I can't bring myself to yet. Maybe later, maybe not.
Having multiple pets at any given time does make me wonder about long term storage tho - I don't really want a closet full of cremains....
Having multiple pets at any given time does make me wonder about long term storage tho - I don't really want a closet full of cremains....
I have had 3 animals cremated. Technically 4, but I wasn't there for the 4th, it was my old dog that lived with my mom the last couple years of his life (I moved from OH to NC and didn't take him with me because he was doing blind from cataracts and also had bad arthritis and it would be hard for him to go up and down my front steps where I live now, so he stayed with my mom -- in a familiar area to him).
Anyway, I do think I'll always do the private cremation with my animals. I just couldn't do the group cremation thing and not know where my animals ended up. I just had to have a smooth collie male put down and cremated back in April. I had to have him back.
I'm sure I'll have others done too as that time comes... hopefully no time soon!
Anyway, I do think I'll always do the private cremation with my animals. I just couldn't do the group cremation thing and not know where my animals ended up. I just had to have a smooth collie male put down and cremated back in April. I had to have him back.
I'm sure I'll have others done too as that time comes... hopefully no time soon!
I think everyone's approach to this is different. I personally would not, when they are gone, they are gone to me. Burying does help with closure, and have don so, and would do so with ashes, but since that has not been possible in the past, i have just gotten use to letting go. I have been asked to mix ashes with clay to make something. I know Grammy has her dog's ashes with her where she rests. I think whatever makes you feel the most comfortable in your grief is what you should do.