I made a post earlier today about putting pets down (to sleep). I just want to ask a couple more questions so I know what to expect (my cat is 17).
1. If you had them put to sleep at the vet, what is the usual thing they do with the body?? Do you take it home to bury it? Can you get it cremated and get the ashes?
2. GOD FORBID if I wake up tomorrow and find my cat dead....can I bring the body to the vet to have it cremated and keep the ashes?
Sorry for such a morbid post but I never had an animal die (ok, except a mouse & a hamster) and I want to know what to do....thanks.
.-itssweetness
it's not having what you want....it's wanting what you've got.
Some vets will do whatever you want. They will totally take care of the body and just let you leave or they will let you take it home to bury (if its legal in your area) or they will send it off to be cremated for you and then give you the ashes later.
You can take your animal to most vets after they pass or you can just call Animal Control and they can come get it for you too (in most areas)
Depending on the area you live in you have to get permission to bury a pet first. (contamination). If the vets put them to sleep you can get them cremated and bring home the ashes.
If your cat dies before being put to sleep yes you can take it to the vets for cremation both cost money though. I have 4 sets of doggie ashes.
Most vets deal with a creamatorium. Rates for creamation vary , it depends on what you want, I would call your vet and ask. I had my cat Phoenix creamated after he was put to sleep back in March and it cost $112 and he came back to us in a beautiful cherry wood box with an inscribed brass plaque. The box came in a velvet bag and a cardboard box for protection. I have him sitting on a shelf in my bedroom. If you dont want cremation , the vet will take care of things for you. It usually takes a week to 10 days to get a creamated animals ashes back , they deliver to the vet.
You can take them home afterwards or you can have them cremated and get the ashes back normally for an extra fee. Otherwise I believe they do a group cremation and dispose of the ashes. I believe you can take their body in (if they pass at home) and request they cremate them and return the ashes but again probably for a fee. I think it all depends on your vet. We didn't have the option with our cat Lola in LA, but in MN we have always been asked what we would like to do with their body. Always double check with your vets office.
Praying For Jennifer.
I know we can't save your life but I hope you live while your here
When you have a pet put down at the vet, unless you specifically ask for the animal to be cremated, the animal will be bagged and discarded often in the dumpster (or a company picks up the animals for disposal.) You are not allowed to bring the animal home to bury in your yard b/c most cities have ordinances against doing such a thing. If you are going to cremate your animal, you can expect to pay $100-300 for the remains (check with the vet, they would have info), which in my parent's dogs cases were in a plastic bag in a decorative cardboard box. You can however buy memorial boxes/cases to restore the remains. The cremation costs is in addition to the cost of putting the animal to sleep.
When the Dog I had growing up passed away, my parents took her to the vet and they disposed of her...I was mad. But, they were not going to pay to get her cremated.
After DH and I met, his dog passed away and we took her and had her cremated and burried the ashes in his parents back yard. She loved being over there and was there M-F since DH was working 10 hours a day.
Shortly after she passed we had a puppy who died from distemper. She was about 2 months old, and since she was small enough, we burried her next to the other dog in his parents back yard.
Well, if you want the body treated with respect I wouldn't advise leaving it with the vet. When I volunteered at the local vet clinic I was shocked at what some of the workers would do with the dead bodies...
I'm a gun-toting, breastfeeding, child-spanking, pro-life, anti-gay marriage, conservative, meat-eating, non-smoking, West Texan, MCM college student, teenage mother and wife, military-supporting, country woman!
Care to elaborate? Reason I ask is b/c most people who have an animal cremated are still leaving their beloved pet behind at the vet until it can be transferred...
Quoting mcmgirl88:
Well, if you want the body treated with respect I wouldn't advise leaving it with the vet. When I volunteered at the local vet clinic I was shocked at what some of the workers would do with the dead bodies...
What is your greatest accomplishment? UPDATE
- itssweetness
on Jun. 10, 2009 at 4:32 PM