¨      The cremation process begins with the placement of the deceased pet in the cremation chamber where it is subjected to intense heat and flame reaching temperatures between 1400 and 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. All substances are consumed except bone fragments (calcium compounds) and/or metal, that was not removed prior to cremation as the temperature is not sufficient to consume them. 

¨      During the cremation process it may be necessary to open the cremation chamber and reposition the deceased in order to facilitate a complete and thorough cremation.

¨      The time for cremation to be completed varies with the size and weight of each pet remains but usually takes between 45 min. to 2 hours. 

¨      Following a cooling period, the cremated remains are then swept or raked from the cremation chamber. Every effort is made to remove all pet remains. However, a small residue may remain in the cremation chamber, resulting in incidental commingling with other cremated remains. 

¨      After the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber. All non-combustible materials that have not been removed prior to cremation, will be separated and removed from the bone fragments by visible or magnetic selection and will be disposed of by the crematory in a non-recoverable manner. 

¨      Once the bone fragments have been separated from other material, they may be further processed to reduce the size of the bone fragments to uniform particles. 

¨      Cremated remains, depending on the bone structure of the pet, will weigh from 1 to 5 pounds, and are usually white in color, but can be other colors due to temperature variations and other factors. 

¨      The crematory should be provided with an urn in which the cremated remains will be placed. If no urn is provided or the urn is not large enough to hold the remains, the crematory will place the remains or any excess in a container made of plastic, light metal, cardboard, unfinished wood, or other suitable material to hold the remains until an urn is acquired or the cremated remains are scattered.

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Types of Pet Cremation

 

Communal Cremation:

 

Communal cremation is when multiple pets are simultaneously cremated and their ashes disposed of on private cemetery grounds or taken to a local landfill.

 

 

Private Cremation:

 

A private cremation is when 2, 3, or maybe 4 pets are cremated at the same time, but are physically separated by space or cremation bricks. The pets ashes are then removed from the crematory in reverse order to retain the integrity of the private cremation. The cremains are then generally processed in a commercial blender to attain a fine ash consistency and eliminate visible bone fragments. Private cremations reduce the cost associated with “Individual” cremations described below.

 

 

Individual or Priority Cremation:

 

Individual Cremation, or Priority Cremation is one pet in one cremation unit at a

time. Pure and simple, it is what most pet owners expect. Be sure to ask your

provider for what type of service you are receiving. You deserve to know how

your pet’s cremation will be performed before the decision is made.

 

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Pet Urns

 

Pet cremation urns are typically decorative cremation containers that are designed to honor the memory of your beloved pet.

 

There are different sized pet cremation urns available to hold the remains of various sized pets. The industry standard in the sizing of a cremation urn is one cubic inch of space for every one pound of healthy weight of your pet. Example: If your pet weighed 75 lbs. you would need an urn with a minimum of 75 cubic inches of space inside. It’s best to purchase an urn on the larger side, unless you plan to scatter some ashes and keep the rest. A larger urn is also a better choice if you plan to bury your pet with his/hers favorite toys or mementos inside.

 

The cost of a pet urn can be anywhere from $20 to $400 at online stores. There are many styles of pet urns available today, some of the most common designs are rectangular urns, vase urns, pet figurine urns,

 

Keepsake and memory boxes are perfect for keeping a few mementos of your dearly departed pet after the burial. Keepsakes and memory boxes can store smaller items such as a small sachet of your pet's ashes, photos, a collar, or bandana.