Aa
cremation or burial?
Our Bear is gone :( I still can't believe it. This whole day seems like a bad dream. I have a horrible headache and my stomache hurts. Everywhere I look I see him.
Now we have another decision to make. I want to have Bear cremated and my husband isn't sure if he does. I can't stand the thought of Bear out there in the cold ground and if for some reason we ever move I just wouldn't be able to leave Bear behind. I want to be able to take him wherever we go. My husband thinks he should just be buried here because this is his home. Its really not a good time to be burying anything since we live in the snow belt and there is like 100 feet of snow in the yard. I also feel that Bear's home is wherever we are.
Does anyone have an idea how much it costs for a cremation? I think this might be a deciding factor also for my husband since we are pretty maxed out this week from the vet bills.
The vet did call me back today...it was too late though. He felt so bad and told me that it was a blessing from God that Bear went so fast. He is going to refund my money for the bloodwork since it was going to be sent out tomorrow morning and there is no need to now. So we will have that 92 dollars to put towards a cremation.
Has anyone had their pet cremated? I don't know anyone that has.
Now we have another decision to make. I want to have Bear cremated and my husband isn't sure if he does. I can't stand the thought of Bear out there in the cold ground and if for some reason we ever move I just wouldn't be able to leave Bear behind. I want to be able to take him wherever we go. My husband thinks he should just be buried here because this is his home. Its really not a good time to be burying anything since we live in the snow belt and there is like 100 feet of snow in the yard. I also feel that Bear's home is wherever we are.
Does anyone have an idea how much it costs for a cremation? I think this might be a deciding factor also for my husband since we are pretty maxed out this week from the vet bills.
The vet did call me back today...it was too late though. He felt so bad and told me that it was a blessing from God that Bear went so fast. He is going to refund my money for the bloodwork since it was going to be sent out tomorrow morning and there is no need to now. So we will have that 92 dollars to put towards a cremation.
Has anyone had their pet cremated? I don't know anyone that has.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I know. I know how it feels. There are hardly any words for it except to tell you I understand. I will love my dog forever too.
I am so sorry your Lacey had to go on before you. One day I am sure you will meet again.
I am so sorry your Lacey had to go on before you. One day I am sure you will meet again.
My dalmation 2 years ago was 250.00 dollars the way the economy is now they probably have raised the price.We took Laceys body yesterday after she was put to sleep to springfield,IL to have her cremated I opened the box to say the last good byes forever to her I kissed her 20 times on the cheek with tears coming down from my face on to her cheeks.I just can't believe my Laceys gone forever.Its not fair why can't dogs live like 50 years or so it's to painful when you have to have them put to sleep... It feels like some took a dagger and ripped and stabbed me in the heart.My heart feels empty inside,but I'll love her forever even after I'm gone.
Oh poor Bear. :-( And Bogart too. I am so sorry for you all. Over the years I've lost 2 dogs to death, but at least they both lived to nearly 14 and I know they had great lives until the end.
My husband and I had the same argument. I wanted to bury them in the back yard in their favorite spots, but Hubby can't stand the idea. He also objects on the basis that we'll probably move away at some point. He was so upset over the idea of burial that I caved in on the cremation (which horrifies me).
We also couldn't agree on the time or place for spreading ashes so I told Hubby to make sure their remains go in the box with me when it's time. I even have it in our wills and all my family members are aware of my wishes. Who says you can't take them with you?
On a more practical note, our vet uses the services of another local vet who has a crematoriam on site. The vet charged $30 for euthanasia and the vet who did the cremation charged $100 which included a beautiful cedar box for the cremains. Both vets and their staff members assured us that "individual" cremation and return really does mean "individual." Guess I'll have to trust them since there is really no way of knowing.
Guess I'd better stop. I'm tearing up thinking about poor old Chica's last days in January. Kidney failure is really a rough way to go - particularly for a Type A dog who refused to give up. :-(
My husband and I had the same argument. I wanted to bury them in the back yard in their favorite spots, but Hubby can't stand the idea. He also objects on the basis that we'll probably move away at some point. He was so upset over the idea of burial that I caved in on the cremation (which horrifies me).
We also couldn't agree on the time or place for spreading ashes so I told Hubby to make sure their remains go in the box with me when it's time. I even have it in our wills and all my family members are aware of my wishes. Who says you can't take them with you?
On a more practical note, our vet uses the services of another local vet who has a crematoriam on site. The vet charged $30 for euthanasia and the vet who did the cremation charged $100 which included a beautiful cedar box for the cremains. Both vets and their staff members assured us that "individual" cremation and return really does mean "individual." Guess I'll have to trust them since there is really no way of knowing.
Guess I'd better stop. I'm tearing up thinking about poor old Chica's last days in January. Kidney failure is really a rough way to go - particularly for a Type A dog who refused to give up. :-(
Thank you for sharing. My Bogart was put down yesterday. It was all so fast I didn't have time to get the
casket I had wanted to bury him in the yard so I opted for the creamation. And, we too are in a snow area so it
would be hard to bury him at this time. I am calling now to arrange for the paw print and hair. That is such a wonderful idea. I cannot thank you enough.
Sorry for your loss. I have been crying constantly since he passed. I would always tell people that Bogart never thought of himself as a dog, but rather a little boy. He was my sweet little dachshund boy.
casket I had wanted to bury him in the yard so I opted for the creamation. And, we too are in a snow area so it
would be hard to bury him at this time. I am calling now to arrange for the paw print and hair. That is such a wonderful idea. I cannot thank you enough.
Sorry for your loss. I have been crying constantly since he passed. I would always tell people that Bogart never thought of himself as a dog, but rather a little boy. He was my sweet little dachshund boy.
We seem to have lost our dogs at the same time. I know, it does stink! Everywhere I look, I see Bear. Everything makes me think of him. He was so much a part of our family. Even our friends and neighbors are so upset over this. You just wish and pray that they go quietly and painlessly in thier sleep just like you wish for any other member of your family.
What was wrong with your dog? How old was he? He sounds like a big dog like Bear. Bear used to be over a 100 but had lost some weight. He was a lab/rot mix. A big black dog that hated the bears, even though his name was Bear.
That sure is an outrageous price for the cremation. We wouldn't of paid that either.
I'm so sorry for your loss also. I know what you're going through
What was wrong with your dog? How old was he? He sounds like a big dog like Bear. Bear used to be over a 100 but had lost some weight. He was a lab/rot mix. A big black dog that hated the bears, even though his name was Bear.
That sure is an outrageous price for the cremation. We wouldn't of paid that either.
I'm so sorry for your loss also. I know what you're going through
Sorry for your lose. We had our love put down a week ago and the price for having him cremated was over $250 and on top of that we had to pay $125 to have him put down. He weighed 93 pounds. My husband didn't want to pay that and took him home and buried him. He buried him under a tree on the side of our yard and I go out there everyday and place a flower and talk to Smokey. I am so sorry for your lose, it stinks.
I'm so glad you got peace of mind on this issue. I just assumed they were done separately, because our vet assured us of this immediately. I figured that if people don't want the ashes back, then they are communally cremated.
We kept George's ashes in the house for quite some time, but ultimately decided to bury his urn next to where we buried Bob, our other Dobe who died at home. We have a little garden spot there, where we used rocks found on our property, and chiseled their names in the rocks ourselves.
It helps me to know they are together, in a place where they loved to run and play.
We kept George's ashes in the house for quite some time, but ultimately decided to bury his urn next to where we buried Bob, our other Dobe who died at home. We have a little garden spot there, where we used rocks found on our property, and chiseled their names in the rocks ourselves.
It helps me to know they are together, in a place where they loved to run and play.
I called the lady from the crematorium this morning. She put my mind to ease. She just didn't want to explain all the details to me because she saw how hard I was taking Bear being gone.
She explained everything to me today though. She said some people leave their dogs with the vet that don't want their ashes back and some do. She takes all the dogs or cats and they get identified then tagged if they are to be returned. All the ones that people don't want back they dremate together and those ashes are spread on farm lands. Then they cremate (alone) any that are to be returned.
She takes a print of their paw and clipping of their hair first. She said they crush the bones afterward. Sometimes they will find something when they come out on the hearth, like a metal plate from an injury or a swallowed stone. She says she always returns what ever she finds to the owner. She offered to let me choose someone to go witness Bear's cremation,but said she doesn't suggest dog owners witness it themselves. She also said some dog owners want some of the bones left whole, I guess for proof. She said she usually keeps the tail bone and said the tail bone is really beautiful. I can't imagine, but she said it looks like little stars.
I was originally supposed to pick up Bears ashes tomorro, but she said I better come get them tonight so I can have some closure. I think she is right. I will feel much better once Bear is back home.
She explained everything to me today though. She said some people leave their dogs with the vet that don't want their ashes back and some do. She takes all the dogs or cats and they get identified then tagged if they are to be returned. All the ones that people don't want back they dremate together and those ashes are spread on farm lands. Then they cremate (alone) any that are to be returned.
She takes a print of their paw and clipping of their hair first. She said they crush the bones afterward. Sometimes they will find something when they come out on the hearth, like a metal plate from an injury or a swallowed stone. She says she always returns what ever she finds to the owner. She offered to let me choose someone to go witness Bear's cremation,but said she doesn't suggest dog owners witness it themselves. She also said some dog owners want some of the bones left whole, I guess for proof. She said she usually keeps the tail bone and said the tail bone is really beautiful. I can't imagine, but she said it looks like little stars.
I was originally supposed to pick up Bears ashes tomorro, but she said I better come get them tonight so I can have some closure. I think she is right. I will feel much better once Bear is back home.
Thanks ginger899. I hope you're right.
That's another reason I wanted Bear cremated, I couldn't stand the thought of him in the freezing cold ground, especially in the winter. I would feel the same way you did/do.
It was so hard taking him there and leaving him in someone elses hands. The lady did seem genially sympathetic and caring though. She grabed my hand and asked me if I was okay and would I be alright. She even asked us some questions about Bear and what he was like.
Thanks again
That's another reason I wanted Bear cremated, I couldn't stand the thought of him in the freezing cold ground, especially in the winter. I would feel the same way you did/do.
It was so hard taking him there and leaving him in someone elses hands. The lady did seem genially sympathetic and caring though. She grabed my hand and asked me if I was okay and would I be alright. She even asked us some questions about Bear and what he was like.
Thanks again
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hey, don't worry. This sounds ok. I'm sure the lady from the crematorium meant what she said...that she's dealing with your Bear personally. And you can keep his ashes with you for the rest of your life, and have them with you when you get buried if you like. Years ago I had a dog who died and I buried him in the garden here. But I got sad thoughts about him lying in the cold blue clay in the endless winter rain, and all that kind of thing. I even got bad dreams about it. I'd wished he'd been cremated.
Thanks everyone. We did decide to have Bear cremated. I'm not sure exactly how much yet because I don't know how much Bear weighs since he had lost some weight. The lady from the crematorium was very nice and sympathetic. She said a dog weighing 60-100 lbs is $125.00. We get his ashes in a decorative tin, a print made from his paw, and a piece of his hair. I wasn't asked about the option of having him cremated alone or with others. I assume he will be done alone, because when I told her it was nice that she does the paw print and hair, she said she does that so people know that she is taking care of and handling their dog personally and their not just getting......and she didn't finish the sentence.
Now I want to go get him back! Maybe I better call her in the morning??? I only want my dog. This makes me angry! Do I just take her word for it? Have I made a mistake?
Now I want to go get him back! Maybe I better call her in the morning??? I only want my dog. This makes me angry! Do I just take her word for it? Have I made a mistake?
So sorry about you Bear, but so glad you did not have to make the difficult decision for him. We've always buried our animals, but my dog that died last year was my first dog - not the family pet - so it was a very different connection and I opted to have her cremated. They have options of having the dog cremated alone or with others. I had her done alone and I think I remember it being around $200. They usually present the ashes in a nice memorial with a plaque, etc...I have Daisy on a shelf with her collar hung around her ashes next to her picture. It's nice :)
I opted for creamation of Tiffy. I want her with me and will be put with me when I die.
I'm very, very sorry for your loss. I know it's very hard.
Just realize that most crematories do mix dogs up in one swoop so it isn't just your dog you'll be getting.
I woudln't know what to do for ours (2 of them). I know that our former home owner buried her golden in our yard ( and all her pets) so it gets intersesting when we want to do yard construction. We warn people that they may get a surprise.
But if this is your permanent home, it is an option but know that you'll see that spot every day.
Sometimes I think creamation, even with not 100% your remains, is better, you can take it with you, bury it with you, etc.
Growing up we just let the vet take care of it and kept all the tags, collars, and things.
It's a hard choice. Wishing your heart healing.
Just realize that most crematories do mix dogs up in one swoop so it isn't just your dog you'll be getting.
I woudln't know what to do for ours (2 of them). I know that our former home owner buried her golden in our yard ( and all her pets) so it gets intersesting when we want to do yard construction. We warn people that they may get a surprise.
But if this is your permanent home, it is an option but know that you'll see that spot every day.
Sometimes I think creamation, even with not 100% your remains, is better, you can take it with you, bury it with you, etc.
Growing up we just let the vet take care of it and kept all the tags, collars, and things.
It's a hard choice. Wishing your heart healing.
I bury my pets where they enjoyed their life. true you cannot 'take then with you' but I believe they are happy in the place where they had their memories of you. I think cremation is from $100-$300. Don't get sold a lot of extra stuff.
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