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Continued from page 37A fitting farewellDecisions followingEnd of LifeCremationMany times the veterinarian whooversees the final moments of a pet’s lifewill offer cremation options as a courtesy.In most cases, the veterinarian isdoing this for two reasons: convenienceand demand. Generally speaking, veterinaryoffices will facilitate the most basicservice options available on the market.Options include communal cremationwith no return of remains, communalcremation with return of remains (alsocalled partitioned, separated, individuallypartitioned, or semi-private) andprivate cremation with return of remains(one pet at a time, alone in the cremationunit.)It is vitally important during this phaseof the process that you ask any questionsyou may have. Make sure that thecremation provider your veterinarian isworking with has an open door policy,meaning they can be surprise-inspectedanytime during business hours, whichshould be available to both clients andveterinarians. Always get the contactinformation for the cremation provider,and never accept a cremation servicethat does not allow clients to contactthem directly.One vital question to ask if opting fora communal (partitioned, separated)cremation with return of remains is:what type of partition and equipmentare used? The term partitioned orseparated commonly elicits the image ofa complete separation, but most alwaysin practice only a single brick layer orspace is used as the partition or meansof separation.Most importantly, remember thatyou are under no obligation, legal orotherwise, to have your veterinarian’scremation service handle your pet’sremains. It is imperative to understandthat veterinary hospitals receivewholesale pricing and often makea profit on the services of the afterdeath care and disposal facilities theywork with.For dignity’s sake, remember to bediligent and weary of anything thatdoesn’t sound right. Examples of thisare being told you cannot do somethingentirely reasonable, told you cannotwitness your pet’s cremation, or if youare asked to pay an exorbitant price forany services offered to you. Never beshy or feel silly asking questions as itis highly likely someone has asked thesame question before.BurialIf you would rather bury your pet ina human or pet cemetery, or, if legal, inyour back yard, you need to know that itis your right to do that. Most every afterdeath care provider offers transportationservices, in the event of you not beingcomfortable or able to transport yourpet afterwards.If you are not comfortable withsomething or do not feel as though theoptions presented to you are adequate,ask for time in making the decision todo more research. Most veterinarianshave a morgue on site and wouldn’tmind keeping your pet while you take alittle time to make your final decision. Ifat any point you feel pressured, bullied,or threatened by anyone, including yourveterinarian or their staff, into acceptinga service offering, the best course ofaction is to take your pet with youand find a service option that you arecomfortable accepting. Your satisfactionand peace of mind should be kept inmind at all times by anybody offeringafter death care services to you.Uncommon AlternativesAlthough the following service optionsare rarely selected and may be consideredsomewhat taboo, sometimes people electto freeze dry, mummify, or taxidermytheir pets. Although many people do notexpress interest in these service options,the few people I have encountered whohave elected for these types of servicesare usually pleased with the finaloutcome. There are advantages anddisadvantages to these service offerings,and further guidance when deciding onthese service offerings is recommended.Much like cremation, if you choose togo this route, always research the serviceprovider and make sure they are reliable,have a good reputation, and are mindfulof your emotional well being.Continued on page 4038