Reflections of a Hospice Vet: Pet Aftercare Q&A Series; Part 4
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 which walks you through some of the final arrangement considerations of how you want to memorialize your pet.
Gateway also 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 4: Questions 16 - 21
Q16: Can I make special requests to the Crematorium?
Yes, we strive to give families the best in aftercare. Our partnered crematoriums will always go above and beyond to accommodate special requests.
Below are some common special requests:
❤ Can my pet to be cremated with a special item, such as a toy, blanket, letter, or collar?
Larger/bulky items pose a fire safety issue and unfortunately cannot be cremated with your pet.
Families wanting these items to be with their pet may choose to cut a small swatch of material that can be cremated alongside your pet or placed in the urn with your pet’s ashes.
❤ Can I split my pet’s ashes into two separate urns?
Yes, this is an excellent option for families with siblings and those with shared/dual ownership dividing ashes into multiple urns, scattering tubes, or jewelry.
❤ Can my pet’s urn be engraved?
Yes, one line of engraving is complimentary with Black Creek Mobile Vet
There is also the option for additional lines of engraving, which may include sayings, dates, or nicknames etc.
Some urns allow for engraving directly onto the vessel, while others may have a wooden. heart or brass plate attached.
❤ Can my pet’s ashes be returned to me before their paw print is ready?
Yes, we understand the importance of your pet’s ashes coming home as soon as possible and commonly request that ashes be returned as soon as possible as the paw prints can take up to 6 weeks to return.
❤ Is there any custom jewelry available that includes my pet’s ashes?
Gateway and Evermore offer a selection of jewelry that incorporates your pet’s ashes into their designs.
Your pet’s nose or paw print can also be shrunken down to fit onto a pendant.
Jewelry is a great option when multiple family members wish to have a remembrance of their pet close to them daily rather than or in addition to an urn.
Lola
Lola
This family requested Lola’s paw prints be engraved with her Nickname LoliBear and Lolerz
Seen below are a purple and yellow memory bead each engraved and containing Lola’s ashes.
Kylie & Phoebe
This family said goodbye to their beloved cat, Phoebe, and dog, Kylie on the same day.
Each family member selected a paw print that spoke to them individually. Their ashes were placed within a scattering tube and their engraved cedar urns were used as memory boxes.
Phoebe & Kylie
Bella
Hank
Hank was Pat’s Best Friend.
Bella
Purple was her colour - this family requested a purple ribbon for Bella’s urn.
This ceramic urn may be personalized with a blue, pink, white, purple, green, or black ribbon; it is one of Gateway’s complimentary urns.
Hank
❤ If there is a special wish that you have for your pet’s memorial urn or keepsake, please ask us and we will do our best to make it happen ❤
Q17: Where does my pet go prior to cremation?
Evermore provides same day coordination of care into their Stratford facility. Pets are directly transported from your home or our services the same day of your in-home appointment. Your pet is bundled in blankets for transportation and shrouded in nylon tulle prior to gentle water cremation.
Pet’s that are being cremated with Gateway will be gently bundled and transported back to our home office in Sebringville for coordination of cremation with Gateway in Guelph. We will carefully place your pet into a zippered dignity bag which is uniquely identified for each pet and then into our chiller for body preservation. Our Aftercare specialist comes to our home office to then gently transport your pet to the crematorium in Guelph. If their cremation is not scheduled for that same day, they will be placed into Gateway’s morgue until they are cremated.
Q18: How will my pet’s ashes be returned to me?
We offer our clients the choice of home delivery by our team or clients may choose their pet’s ashes to be returned to their family veterinary clinic for pick up. Evermore also provides direct home delivery of your pet’s ashes and keepsakes.
Q19: Can I deal directly with the crematorium?
Yes, both Evermore and Gateway are here for you.
Gentle water cremation can be arranged either directly with Evermore or our services.
Q20: Is there an alternative to flame cremation?
We are excited to announce that we have recently partnered with Evermore Pet Aftercare, to offer aquamation to our clients.
Aquamation, or gentle water cremation is an environmentally-friendly alternative to flame-based cremation that accelerates the natural breakdown of the body's physical components. Gentle water cremation generally occurs over the course of 20 hours. During this time, a combination of 95% warm water and 5% alkali gently flows over the body. Like cremation, remains much like ashes can be returned to pet families in an urn as a keepsake, or to return to nature by scattering, burial, or planting a memorial tree.
Q21: Are there any pet loss resources available?
❤Losing a pet is a profound loss. It is normal to feel unlike yourself for some time after their death. We pride ourselves in recognizing, acknowledging, validating, and honouring this significant loss by providing pet loss support throughout and following our care ❤
You don't have to face this alone.
Our Resource Page provides downloadable resources, links, and videos. Below are further pet loss support resources:
Pet Trust has 3 Pet Loss Support Guides
Honoring the Bond Program through Ohio State University
Center for Loss and Life Transitions with Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Tender Hearts with David Kessler
Books helping us cope with the loss of a pet can be a great resource guide. Many families are unsure how to help children through pet loss love how books and stories can help open up important conversations surrounding the death of a pet We have a lending library of pet loss support books for children.
Our Booklist is coming soon.
Adrienne Tuling, the director of Evermore offers a local support group in Stratford every Wednesday from 7-8 pm EST.
In partnership with Gateway, our Pet Compassion Careline is available 24/7 to help support you before and after the loss of a beloved pet.
Did you miss any part of our Pet Aftercare Q&A Series?
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