Resources for pet owner action

As I had mentioned in the Introduction, two of my very special pets were disposed of in the most horrible way you can imagine and I blame myself for allowing this to happen. I should not have allowed my veterinarian to make the decision without my having full knowledge of what was going to be done with my pet's bodies and verifying that it would be handled properly. It is my belief that if someone offers to provide or arrange a pet cremation for you or your family, then they should be held responsible for the outcome of the service whether they are a direct cremation provider, a third party cremation agent (Veterinarian) or third-party cremation provider.

Changes must be made in the way our companion animals’ final disposition is handled. As pet owners, we have the right and obligation to know exactly how our pet's cremation or burial will be arranged and performed. Presently, the pet cremation and burial industry provide pet owners with such a vague definition of terms that we really don't know what we're actually getting. A private pet cremation is defined as the placement of your pet's body into the cremation chamber by itself. After the cremation process is completed, all of your pet's cremated remains are completely removed from the chamber before any other pet's cremation can begin.

The following three definitions are NOT private pet cremations. If performed this way, you'll not only receive some of your pet's cremains back, but will also get cremains from every other pet that is in the crematory at that same time:

Private individual -Several pets placed into the crematory at a time in stainless steel pans. When cremations are completed, the pet owner gets back what is left in the pans.

Private segregated -Your pet's ashes are segregated from other pets’ cremains in the crematory.

Private cremation -Individual pet cremation with ashes being returned to pet owner.

These three definitions listed above have been taken from confidential information given to all veterinarians who arrange cremations for their clients through a third-party provider.

If you would like to have your pet privately cremated and you are arranging the cremation directly with the company that will perform the cremation, please require an authorized representative to fill out the Certified Private Pet Cremation Full Disclosure Agreement. If a representative of the company refuses to sign this agreement or will not provide you with one of the verification options, please do not use their service.

If your veterinarian offers to arrange your pet's private cremation for you, please require the veterinarian to fill out a Third-Party Certified Private Pet Cremation Full Disclosure Agreement. If they refuse to fill this out and sign it or will not provide you with one of the verification options, please do allow them to arrange your pet's cremation.

Only you can protect the integrity of your pet's final disposition!!!!!!

If you do not feel the need to have your pet privately cremated but would like to assure that your pet receives the dignity and respect they deserve, then a certified memorial pet cremation is your best option. With a memorial pet cremation, you can arrange to have the cremated remains interred in a protected pet cemetery with their name displayed on a memorial wall. Please have the representative of the company providing you the memorial pet cremation fill out and sign the Certified Memorial Pet Cremation Full Disclosure Agreement. If they refuse to sign this agreement, please do not use their service.

Most veterinarians can arrange a third-party communal/disposal pet cremation which is accomplished by several means: mass incineration, a rendering company, or taken to a landfill. Please have your veterinarian fill out the Third Party Arranged Communal Cremation/Pet Disposal Full Disclosure form.

For pet owners who would like to have their pets formally buried in a pet cemetery, please have a representative of the pet cemetery fill out, sign and date the Private Pet Burial Full Disclosure Agreement. Also require them to provide you with a burial contract that lists all terms and conditions for burial of your pet in their cemetery. Make sure that your pet’s grave will be perpetually cared for, that it will never be removed from that cemetery, and that you'll always have visitation rights. If they cannot give you this kind of guarantee, please do not use their cemetery.

There are many people who would feel most comfortable burying their pet on their own private property. Presently, there are no regulations in the state of Pennsylvania that restrict you from burying in your pet in your backyard. If this is what makes you feel most comfortable, then by all means do it.