For those who have had a pet euthanized, did you ask to have the pet's ashes (urn), or did you have the vet dispose of the ashes?

I’m sorry for your pending loss. :-(

It’s a very personal decision, would you like to have a little memorial for him or, do you accept he is gone and really, it matters not whether you have a container of his remains around the house? I have always buried my pets on my property at home, are you in a position to do that?
I wouldn’t take any of my pets remains with me unless I planned an immediate scattering and a little memorial. I see no point in having urns of remains in the closet for 20 years.

When we had the family cat euthanized, the vet disposed of the body. Our vet didn’t have a crematorium, they just disposed of the body.

My good friend just had to euthanize her rat yesterday :( She decided to keep the ashes in a little urn. My fiances rat got cancer while we were in Belize and had to be euthized as well. We got a really nice little ceramic container for them.

The ashes do, at least in my opinion, provide comfort. I mean when I see them it still is a sad reminder that she died, but it also reminds me of all the good times and such so that helps.

Im really sorry to hear about your pup :(

I have had to put down two dogs. I did not keep the remains.

I recently helped my nephew when he had to put down his dog. He didn’t keep the remains, but the animal hospital offered to make an inked paw print on nice paper. He opted for that and framed it.

I thought that was a nice alternative.

PS: I’m truly sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry you have to be going through this. I’ve done it both ways.
One dog I had put down when I was in my early 20’s I left at the vets office because I knew I wouldn’t be living at the same place my whole life and it would be odd to bury her remains in a yard I would never see again.
The town I live in now has a pet cemetery and I had two other dogs buried there. One was not cremated and it was pretty expensive. She died suddenly and I wasn’t thinking right at the time. The other dog Molly was cremated and I buried her ashes in the same plot.
A long story just to say that no matter where your pet’s remains are, he will always be in your heart.

I have a pet cemetery in my yard and every pet that has passed is there, including a grave marker. So far there is: Dusty, Pete, Rags, Rosey, Rowdie, Dusty II, Megan and Sam

I’ve done both. I had the vet dispose of the ones put down because of illness. The first one to go, (hit by a car) we wrapped in a sheet and buried under our apple tree. We found a white stone that was vaguely shaped like a cat to put as a marker. It was kind of sweet to be reminded she was there. But we remember the others too. I don’t think I’d like an urn, which would have to be carried along if you moved. I mean, what if you had multiple urns to lug around, for how long? It’s your choice, obviously, but be practical.

I’ve opted to have him cremated and I will spread his ashes.

@Mama_Cakes: Consider, if you have a suitable spot, planting a tree and mixing his ashes with the soil

So sorry, so sad.

I couldn’t bear it. I let the vet take care of disposal.

I’m so sorry.

We had our kitty put down recently. I didn’t want to think about her body being burned anymore than necessary, so I was fine not getting the ashes. I did bury her favorite toy in our yard.

We let the vet take care of the disposal.

I’m sorry for your pending loss; I hope you don’t grieve too hard or too long.

I like my body, and I hope to keep it going for a few more years. I like my Willow and she appears to like her body, too. But when her body or mine stops working, then it’s garbage. Trash. I have sentimental attachment to various things that are useful to me, or pleasing to look at, touch, etc. I even have sentimental attachment to some things that are broken and can only be useful in re-purposed ways, and in some cases I’m just waiting to see what the new purpose for a broken broomstick might be (for one example among hundreds).

But garbage? No. When something dies, breaks and can’t be fixed, and that’s going to start decaying, then I don’t have a use or sentimental attachment to it any more. I take out the trash and I don’t have any further use for it. (Except that I compost lawn and vegetable trash; I won’t compost Willow when she goes – assuming I outlast her.)

If you have your pup cremated and the ashes stored in an urn, then that would obviously be a sentimental thing of value to you. I won’t have that with Willow. When she dies, then her body will be trash and disposed of in the most economical / convenient fashion. My sentiment will be constrained to the photos, videos and memories of her. I don’t need more stuff on my mantel.

Prince is in a box in the closet. I meant to bury it in the backyard but have never gotten around to it. It doesn’t seem to matter as much now.

@Mama_Cakes I’m so sorry you are going through this. I lost my two dogs a few years ago. I have both of their ashes on the mantel. It gives me a lot of comfort. It’s a personal thing to decide.

I’m sorry to hear of your loss.

For me personally, I didn’t choose cremation nor an urn. It’s my personal belief that once the spirit has left the body, it’s just an empty shell and each pet I’ve had over the years is in my memories and heart forever. Having their remains would not add to that in any meaningful way.

But each person sees things differently and if you feel that it would provide you some measure of comfort to have an urn devoted to him, then follow your heart.

But unless you opt for an individual cremation (at a VERY greatly enhanced cost) you should be aware that pet cremations are not like human ones. Because of size, they are normally done en masse. This is pretty standard and there is nothing illegal about it. They just don’t make any effort to inform people of that fact for obvious reasons.

So, whatever ashes you receive are from multiple pets cremated in the same lot as your pet and it’s totally random as to what percentage of those remains are from your pet.

A good friend of mine who was in vet school and had also worked in both vets offices and shelters felt that I should know all the facts in order to make an informed decision and I’m glad she did.

As far as I’m concerned, the whole thing is kind of a money maker for them and the reality of it is a lot less comforting. Having my pets ashes mixed in with countless others (and paying for that dubious privelege) held zero appeal fpr me

If I had lived in a rural area where it were possible, I’d much prefer to have been able to bury my kitties by their or my favorite spot. That would have more meaning to me and be much more natural. But that just wasn’t an option.

I don’t know what the standard procedure is for pet cremation in Canada, but I have a hunch it’s similar. If you want to know, just tell them that you want to know the specifics and then make your decision accordingly.

I hope your new kitty will provide you a little bit of comfort, but in truth, nothing will ever replace your unique little dog. He will always have a special place in your heart.

Someone help me figure this dog out.

I found out that he was rather constipated and once out for a bit of exercise, he did his business. After that, he was running laps at the dog park, eating dandelion fluff and mingling with the other dogs. I now believe that he was uncomfortable from being constipated. I plan on exercising him a bit more in the future.

Also, after discussing it with a fellow jelly, my partner and my sister, we all agreed that there is some doggy dementia at play. He seems confused at times. But, apparently, dementia is not uncommon with older dogs.

I picked up some Swiss Chalet chicken and he’s helping me eat it. I’m off to my partner’s tomorrow and he’s coming with me.

I’ll call the vet’s office first thing in the morning and cancel what we had planned for Tuesday. He still has life in him, yet, that boy! I am quite certain that being constipated made him feel bad. Now, he’s gobbling down roasted chicken.

Hi @Mama_Cakes I’m sorry that you are having to go through this difficult issue. Its not easy. I have had to put down 2 of my cats due to diabetes and cancer. It was sad but I stayed right there hugging Ralph and then Monstie was many yrs later. I wanted to comfort them. I’ve been told its like they go to sleep and no pain whatsoever. I saved ashes on both. The vets I went to did it very nicely. Put the ashes in a little baggie and then inside a nice box. Both vets gave me a wonderful poem to go with it as well. It was comforting having their ashes come home with me. I emotionally couldn’t handle burying their body myself and I wanted to see that the cremation did happen. I needed to have the closure. I’m sure the vet does bury the animals that are left there but I wanted to have it be more personal for me. I said a prayer when we buried each one and I even put a special toy in there with them for comfort (more so for me). I hope I didn’t give you too much information but I wasn’t sure if you have ever had to put an animal to sleep before. I hope my information has helped and not hurt.

I still have my little guy’s ashes. Not sure what I am gonna do with them.

I do too. I have moved a couple times and haven’t been somewhere long enough to bury them where I feel Pookie would have liked. Any ideas other than a yard? Maybe I could sprinkle them over a sunny patch of flowers somewhere.

My sister and her husband dug the holes while the three dogs still were able to eat a little roasted chicken. When the moment finally came, one by one, they were buried in their holes, on a hillside with a view of the pond and the hills and the sunset.

Then my sister planted a tree for each of them on the spot. We have other trees there in memory of our brother and another family member who died young.

My daughter sprinkled half of the ashes of her beloved dimwit terrier, Béla, on her garden in heir primary residence in Providence. Later we all had a ceremony at the lake house in Cape Cod and sprinkled the other half over the water where he had happily frolicked.

@gailcalled All good ideas. I’ll have to consider areas that I know my cat would have loved…watching birds, sunning himself, etc. TY for sharing.

I dig a grave near our house and dispose of the remains. A big tree stump marks their spot.

I had to put my dog to sleep after he was diagnosed with cancer. He was very ill and could no longer eat, drink, or move around and there was nothing they could do for the cancer (because of his age and how sick he was). The vet offered to give me his ashes afterward, but I declined and had him dispose of them. I personally don’t see the point of having a container full of ashes, so that’s why I went with that decision. The only way I would consider keeping ashes at this point would be to get them made into a diamond that I would wear and possibly pass down as a family heirloom. I don’t know that I’ll ever actually do that though.

I’m so sorry @Mama_Cakes… my two cats, the one’s I had cremated, both died at home, in my arms, and I was so very, very grateful that I didn’t put them down but I have their ashes here at the house, in little cedar boxes, with brass name plates one them. My cats’ ashes were actually returned to me/us in much, much nicer “packaging” than either of my parents’ ashes were. I have my parents’ and my cats’ ashes here, with me, though not all of my mom’s ashes. I like having them around.

Before I left the USA, my dogs’ ashes were always sprinkled in the meadow that they loved. Now that I am in Australia and we move around so much, the ashes of the 2 dogs I have lost are in containers and go with us. They usually sit up on top of the kitchen shelves. The kitchen was always their favorite place and up there they can keep an eye on everything. When my little old one goes, she will join them.

If you decide to bring the ashes home, then the decision usually is do you want an individual cremation or do you want your dog in a mass cremation where you get the ashes of your dog along with anything else that was cremated that day.

I don’t know if it makes it any easier, it is just what we do. Actually nothing makes it any easier except time and a new dog to make your heart sing again.

Hope you feed her a steak first and then hold her paw while she goes. I always insist that the dog be tranquilized before being euthanized. I have seen 2 dogs have bad reactions to the euthansia drug and go in a very unpleasant manner. Not nice for them or you. Ignore what the vet or nurse says, don’t take the chance, tranq first!

Edited by me.

My little Bichon, Gracie, past away last year quite suddenly of an infection – I really didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. The doctor asked me if I wanted to take her body home for burial, or if I wanted to have her cremated. I decided to have her cremated, because I wanted a little bit of her to take home and remember her by. I have her ashes sitting up on a mantle in my home, right next to her favorite toys and her collar (which she loved to wear, because of the jingle the tags made). So basically, what it boils down is whether or not you feel comfortable with it. Either way, when the time rolls around it’s best to make the right decision for you.