What will you do when the time comes....

[Michelle]

and your beloved pet crosses the bridge.. Will you cremate and have the urn as a constant reminder, or will you bury them in a pet cemetary or in the backyard???

Gosh, I didn't think I would want to even think about this, for Heidi and Princess are just 1yr old, and I expect to have them hopefully for another 12-15 years....

However, I have been wondering what many people have done regarding the remains of their pets that have crossed the bridge already..

I am seriously thinking that when that time comes, I will want to have a special urn to keep their ashes with me wherever I end up going..

What have some of you done.......

[lotsadox]

I have lost 3 dogs in the last 5 years. We had them all cremated and the urns are on a shelf in my study along with their collars with their names on them and pictures of them. When Pebbles died (she was the first I lost) I had a copy of the "Bridge" poem made with a red dachsie on it and her name and dates. That is also on the shelf.

[samandissy]

Several years ago I lost three major pets in two months. We had all three buried in a pet cemetary not far from our home. The two dogs together and the cat separate as you couldn't bury cats and dogs together. :wtf: They promised they would be there forever or until they built a business park over them. GRRRRRRRRRRRR I now have a collection of cedar boxes. I have all of my pets cremated and I have returned to me in a box that is sealed. Some places get fancy with a name plate, one place included a pawprint of my kittie. I didn't ask if it was her paw or just off the shelf. That is what I will do for all my pets. Well, except the hamsters as I couldn't justify the price even though I loved them like I had them for more than their short little lives allowed. Susie:duh:

[AgileOllie]

When my Caillou passed away at 3 years old, we had her cremated and have a wooden urn with her photo on it. That way I can bring her wherever I go. Makes me feel a little better...

[HotDogMama]

Well as much as I want them to just dig a hole for me beside her, she will most likely be cremated, and stay with me, I hate to think of it too, but anything can happen as horrible as it sounds, and you never know if you bury them somewhere if you will always be in that location even though there is a very nice pet cemetary less than a mile from us now, I probally won't live here when that time comes...... :pray:

[Red Haired Girl]

My Snuggles is on my nightstand in her urn. I will never bury another pup. they will be cremated and stay with me. I used to take care of elderly people in their homes and I was very surprised at the number of them that had urns with pet remains. Most of them said that their pups ashes would be buried with them when the time came. Now - I had one lady, honest to god - who, when her husband died had him cremated. His ashes were in this big crock she had on her fireplace hearth. When the dogs would pass over she would have them cremated and then mix their ashes in with his.

I didn't know he was in the crock! I was dusting one day and she told me not to dust the crock on the fireplace. When I asked why she explained. I almost :faint:! She said when she died she wanted to be mixed in with them and their ashes were to be spread in the back yard.

She died from breast cancer about 6 months later and her best friend carried out her wishes down to using the old wooden spoon she had used to mix everyone else together.

They were young and childless, He died at age 42 from a stroke. She followed at age 53. I miss her to this day. But I love telling that story.

[Frzframe]

My dad burried Emily between the natural bird bath he built and the lily pond. He placed her on a pillow facing her toward the house with an old JB Hunt shirt over her so dirt wouldn't get in her eyes. He placed two large rocks over the ground so nothing could dig her up. She was after all his "yard dog" and that is where he felt she needed to be. :(

[Patt]

All my pets go to a beautiful pet cemetery about 60 miles north of us. They are cremated and their cremains scattered in the St. Francis Assisi garden.

We live on a ranch and over the years, in addition to our own pets passing away well into their senior years, we have rescued and taken in every stray and feral that has come our way (our own little retirement community). As a result, even though I would like to have had urns or cedar boxes for each of them, because of the number of animals involved it was not feasible.

[oceangirls]

Mom and I had our cockers Shelly and Amber cremated and DH and I did the same with Tristan, and we did not keep the ashes. I hope no one thinks that is awful. They are always with us in our memories and hearts, and I have pictures of all of them out.

[Michelle]

Those are some really sweet and sad stories, My Aunt and Uncle have the remains of their two Afghan hounds in urns in the hallway of their home right by the bedroom, they have a little memorial there for them, with their collars and I always thought that was so special..

Thanks so much for sharing..

[Fluffy]

I honestly am not sure what I will do when the time comes. I've burried every animal we've ever had. There are several guinea pigs, a puppy my sister rescued, good ole Ben and before they built the pool even a few fish in the back yard. There has always been something eerie about cremation to me. Can't really explain it but its always bothered me. Not sure if I will have mine cremated or bury them, I guess it will all depend on where we are living at the time (rental or if mom and dad still have hte house or perhaps my own house). Its funny...Buddy never knew Ben. He died 7 months before I got Buddy (hes' the reason I got Buddy). Ben is burried by the fence in the back yard as close as my Dad could get him to his "favorite bush." Sometimes I'll catch Buddy laying on the grave like he knows who's down there. He's so sweet, just laying there peacefully. Kinda makes you wonder if he can sense him.

[Alex's Mom]

When my first cat Alex died, I buried her in the back yard of the place I was living at the time. When I moved shortly after that, I felt awful leaving her there (silly, but there it is!). So when Maxe crossed, I had her cremated and her ashes put in an urn which sat on a shelf in my bedroom with my favourite pic of her and her collar. I hadn't really planned to do it, it just happened that way, and felt right. She's been in storage for the last 4 years :rolleyes: and I'm trying to find the box so I can unpack it...no luck so far, but it'll turn up eventually! When my cat Djinn died, I had her cremated, and spread her ashes out in the back pasture, cuz that was her favourite place in the world. Even though I don't live in that house anymore, I like to think of her trolling around out there! When Alex's time comes, she'll be cremated and sit beside Maxe. And when I go, I want them added to my ashes, and frankly, what happens after that, I don't care...cuz I'll be dead! :)

[Nancy]

In the past, I had my pup cremated and kept the ashes. I'll probably do the same for piss bag.

[catstamm]

I had my pupper cremated in an urn w.th his collar and tag over it also.....Knowing what I know now about what happens to the remains if you choose another route....that's the only way I'd go. It's illegal to bury your pets in your yard here! Everytime I look at Hans urn I smile and think of the good times we had, and the silly things he did that made him special :angel7:

[Laurie' s Dachshunds]

Missy, my 1st dog, I don' t know, because she left home. She was 13 or 14 (human years) Sam was buried in the backyard where I grew up.
I think I' ll bury mine. We own our place. My soon-to-be DH buried his Coon Hound, Blue, here & I buried a few Goldfish here.

[oceangirls]

.....Knowing what I know now about what happens to the remains if you choose another route....that's the only way I'd go.

We used a specific pet cremation service that our vet had mentioned for Tristan; they sent a certificate (which was a sad surprise to find in the mail) regarding what they did with the remains... so I am confident he did not end up in dog food or anything.

I guess I don't feel that what made him him is in his ashes, so I don't need to keep them in an urn or anything... he is safe and happy and with me everyday. But I certainly understand why many of you like to keep the ashes or bury the bodies near you :).

[Jen]

Definitely indiviual cremation, and keep the ashes in a vase, and perhaps some in something I can wear.

I buried all of my frogs, toads, crabs, snakes etc from childhood. But my mother sold the house years ago.

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Cremation cause hubby want to be buried with with the pups. I buried all my other dogs but Gunner and Petunia being my first indoor dogs and most likeley my last dogs will be with us forever.

[catstamm]

We used a specific pet cremation service that our vet had mentioned for Tristan; they sent a certificate (which was a sad surprise to find in the mail) regarding what they did with the remains... so I am confident he did not end up in dog food or anything.

Don't worry...they don't go in dog food:hug99:


I guess I don't feel that what made him him is in his ashes, so I don't need to keep them in an urn or anything... he is safe and happy and with me everyday. But I certainly understand why many of you like to keep the ashes or bury the bodies near you :).

I don't think anyone thinks their ashes are them, at least I don't....and I really don't know how exactly to explain it....I know my daughter thinks I'm wierd for wanting the ashes.....but thats nothing new :rotfl: :rotfl:
I want a combination of what Patt has...
A country home or ranch with lots of land....w/ a St Francis Garden....Ahh perfect!:hearts: :hearts:

[oceangirls]

Don't worry...they don't go in dog food:hug99:


In the past, there were unfortunately a few instances of euthanized pets being processed into dog food batches by unscrupulous manufacturers :( I believe this practice has (hopefully) been recognized and universally terminated. But I think it is a good reason for those of us who don't keep ashes or bury them ourselves to make sure we know where the remains are going.

You're not at all weird for wanting to keep the ashes, that is a very common desire! :hearts:

[Alex's Mom]

Before Maxe died, i always thought that the keeping of the ashes thing was kind of macabre. When my horses died, they were buried, and I clipped a piece of mane and tail, which I braided and placed in a picture frame with my favourite pix of them. I hadn't intended to keep Maxe's ashes, but my vet/friend Laura, who is undoubtedly wiser than I, had her cremated, and placed the ashes in a little urn and gave them to me. I can't tell you the relief I felt when I held them. I don't think of the ashes as her either, but oddly with them there I have a sense of closure, and of her on the other side of the bridge waiting for Alex and me. I have no rational explanation for it, but there it is! (Maybe things of the heart are rarely rational??)

[alfina]

I never thought about it even though I knew Rumble was getting old. It all happened so quickly and I was so distraught. But it was very clear to me that I did not want to leave him behind anywhere. I thought after all his faithful years wth us, he deserved that I took good care of him. I coldn't burry him in our back yard as we tend to move quite a bit. I didn't want to abandon him when we move. I didn't want to use a pet cemetery becase those tend to be sold and built over. So, the only way was to have him cremated. Russians are not into cremation thing. His ashes are in the urn I special ordered for him. He is in our doggy room next to his leash. Every morning and evening when I feed the weiners, I look at it and remember him. Sometimes I cry and sometimes I smile. But I felt that I had to make sure he was safe and with me. Even if it is just his ashes while his spirit is running free some place else. I owe him this much for being a great dog that he was.

[AgileOllie]

My dad burried Emily between the natural bird bath he built and the lily pond. He placed her on a pillow facing her toward the house with an old JB Hunt shirt over her so dirt wouldn't get in her eyes. He placed two large rocks over the ground so nothing could dig her up. She was after all his "yard dog" and that is where he felt she needed to be. :(


That has to be the sweetest thing I've ever heard. I'm sitting here in tears...