Reflections of a Hospice Vet: Pet Aftercare Q&A Series; Part 2
We love our pets from the moment they come into our lives and become a part of our families. Yet being a pet parent or caregiver also comes with the heavy responsibility of making end of life decisions. Preparing in advance for the death of your pet, while extremely difficult, can be helpful and may lessen some of the stress and burden of decision-making. ♡
Farewell planning in advance of your pet’s end of life provides an opportunity to reflect on how you want to honour the bond, the life, and the love shared with your pet.
♡ Remember, these decisions are deeply personal and should reflect what is important to you, your pet, and your family ♡
The Pet Loss Professional Alliance has created a guide to planning ahead. This guide walks you through some of the final arrangement considerations of how you may want to memorialize your pet.
As well, our partnered crematorium Gateway Pet Memorial has a Pre-planning and pet aftercare support guide for families.
Aftercare is the term used to describe the body care of beloved deceased companion animals.
We have compiled a list of 21 frequently asked questions and considerations in caring for your pet through their death and beyond.
We hope this helps shed some light on some of the mysteries of the euthanasia process and bring some clarity to the care of your pet following their death.
There certainly is a lot to consider in this area, so much so that we have broken this into a 4-part Aftercare Q&A series.
We hope the following Aftercare Q&A series will help inform pet families about your options, alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with the unknown, and help you feel more prepared for the final walk with your dear friend.
PART 2: Questions 4 - 9
Q4: If my pet suddenly passes away at home, what should I do?
Our deepest condolences on the loss of your cherished pet. Take your time to be with them and say goodbye before making any phone calls or decisions. We understand this is such a difficult time.
Should you desire your pet to be cremated, you have some options to consider:
You may contact your family veterinarian and see what arrangements can be made.
For those without a regular veterinarian, or those looking for care directly from home, we offer an Angel Pet Care Service.
We will come to your home and offer pet loss support and guidance in the aftercare decision-making process.
We will then gently transport your beloved pet for cremation
You may also choose to bring your pet directly to our crematorium, however, arrangements must be made by prior appointment.
If your beloved pet passes after regular veterinary business hours, you may keep your pet at home until arrangements can be made in the morning. If doing so, we recommend keeping them dry and protected (wrapped in a blanket) in a cool area if at all possible.
If keeping your loved one at home is not possible until an appointment can be made, contact a local emergency veterinary clinic as they may be better able to hold your beloved companion until arrangements with Gateway can be made.
Q5: I want to bury my pet at home, what should I know?
Choosing home burial for your beloved pet offers a permanent place of remembrance right in your own backyard.
Consider having a memorial service at the time of burial to celebrate your pet’s life. If desired, they allow time for family and loved ones to gather and share stories, as well as say a final goodbye. A ceremony of life, funeral, or other memorial service ritual can be helpful in the mourning process and grief journey.
Here are some important aspects to consider when choosing home burial as your pet's final resting place:
❤ Each municipality has their own by-laws and legislation regarding home burial, if this option is something you are considering, please contact your city/township office to learn more.
❤ Will you always live at this home and have access to the place of burial?
Addressing toxicity issuesEuthanized pet remains can be poisonous and possibly fatal to other animals who ingest them. Additionally, If your pet died of a contagious disease we highly encourage cremation over burial. While cremation addresses this potential hazard, we understand that cremation is not right for everyone, following the guidelines below for home burial may help negate the potential risks.
Download our general home burial guidelines below:
Adapted from CAETA course by Dr. Kathleen Cooney.
Q6: Are there such things as pet cemeteries?
Yes, and for more information about pet cemeteries visit: IAOPCThis can be a great alternative to home burial for those:
🐾 who may not own the property where they are currently living or do not plan on living there long.
🐾 in areas where home burial is not permitted,
🐾 in areas where home burial is not feasible due to interferences such as wells, water, gas, or power lines, floodplains, or even trees with large roots.
🐾 who wish to have a separate special permanent place of remembrance, where the grounds are well maintained, that they can visit when they wish.
Sandy Ridge Pet Cemetery, located in Eden, Ontario
We are proud to accommodate our pet parents by offering a choice of two cemeteries in Ontario as a final resting place for your beloved pet. The Ancaster Pet Cemetery and Sandy Ridge Pet Cemetery (located in Eden, Ontario).
When this option is chosen for your pet, it is best to contact Gateway directly to coordinate arrangements to your wishes.
Q7: What is cremation?
Black Creek Mobile Veterinary Services offers two types of cremation.Traditional flame-based pet cremation uses high heat (around 800 – 1,000 degrees Celsius) to reduce a body to cremated remains aka “cremains” or what most people call ‘ashes’.
Water-cremation, also known as Aquamation is a method of final disposition that is available for both our human and pet loved ones. The scientific name for this water-based process is alkaline hydrolysis. It is the same process that occurs as part of nature’s course when a body is laid to rest in the soil. A combination of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity are used to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials.
Q8: What is the difference between private & communal cremation?
As a pet parent, you have the special responsibility of making aftercare choices for your pet. This is a personal decision. Working together, we can help you better understand your pet’s cremation options.
There are 3 cremation services to consider:
Our practice offers communal or private cremation with Gateway and individual cremation with Evermore. PRIVATE CREMATION: In choosing this option, your beloved pet is cremated alone, with no other pets, in the cremation chamber, and only their cremated remains (sometimes referred to as cremains) are returned to you to scatter or keep forever by your side.
COMMUNAL CREMATION: Your pet is cremated with other recently departed animals, and their cremated remains are not returned. As no cremains are returned to you in choosing this option, you may wish to consider memorial paw prints and/or other keepsakes that do not hold the cremains as a timeless remembrance. This service is also known as group cremation.
INDIVIDUAL CREMATION: Your pet is placed inside the cremation chamber with other pets, but separated with partitions, and their cremains are returned to you. This service is also known as partitioned or segregated cremation. Active commingling of the pet’s ashes will occur with this process during traditional flame-based cremation. However, commingling of ashes is not an issue with aquamation as the partitions fully surround each pet and the remains are carefully removed by hand.
Our practice offers communal or private cremation with Gateway
We offer individual cremation (aquamation) with Evermore
Q9: What is my pet cremated in?
Pets that are transported to Gateway, are gently and respectfully placed into a dignity zipper bag. In our care, in life, as in death, your cherished pets are treated with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Pets are transported in blankets when arrangements are made directly with Evermore. They are then shrouded in nylon tulle prior to gentle water cremation.
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