Making an informed decision
To be clear we are not saying there is anything wrong with people choosing a basic disposal – the issue is being given a clear description of the service on offer so they can make an informed decision. We always recommend people ask the following questions:
One thing that confuses a lot of people is that most vets call their basic weekly disposal a “communal cremation”, however when we compare the two types of service in more detail the differences become clear:
Mass Disposal Service
Pets are put into body bags then stored for up to a week at the veterinary practice, usually in a chest freezer, before being collected alongside clinical waste in a transit van or similar. The van is assigned a daily “round” collecting from several different vets in a set area before returning to the crematorium to unload at the end of the day or when the van is full.
FINAL CARE COMMUNAL CREMATIONS
After Euthanasia you are given the choice of several personalisations: having a fur clipping taken, an inkless paw print, a paw print mould, a certificate of cremation and a prioritised collection (subject to request).
Fur Clipping
Inkless Paw Print
Paw Print Mould
Certificate of Cremation
Your pet is clearly identified and respectfully handled at all times. They are carefully laid onto cremfilm (a plastic used to line human coffins) before being placed into a plastic bed at the veterinary practice. Pets are only ever placed in body bags or veterinary deep freeze when unavoidable (for hygiene reasons or where there is a risk to human health).
Pets are usually collected from the veterinary practice throughout the week and always within a week of them passing. Pets are transported to the crematorium respectfully, within beds, and never piled on top of one another.
Upon arrival at the crematorium pets are placed in a temperature controlled room (kept to about 5 degrees centigrade). We take any paw prints or fur clippings before carrying on with their communal cremation, where a small group of pets are gently laid into the cremator side by side.
After their cremation their ashes are interred within a designated area within Gardens of Remembrance at the crematorium. You can choose to have a memorial or additional keepsake to commemorate them if you wish.
In summary, if you choose Final Care your pet is treated with respect, identified the whole time and is never looked at as just “a bag”.
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any questions please contact us using the contact form. We will endeavour to respond as soon as possible however if you have an urgent question please contact your veterinary practice directly.