Nature’s Passage: Death/Disposition of a Family Pet
We grieve over the death of a family pet…this reaction is natural and can be unexpectedly overwhelming! Experts call it: terminating ‘the human-companion animal bond’.
Many people might heartlessly say, “It’s only a dog.” Unfortunately many in our society don’t have a clue how deeply pet owners grieve when their pet requires euthanasia and or passes on naturally. Psychologists now acknowledge that pet owners need support while grieving, but often get far less empathy than necessary, thereby prolonging the grieving process. This trauma often promotes - within the mind of the grieving pet owner - an emotionally dysfunctional state of mind.
Veterinarians realize that their final obligation to their pet patients involves dealing with the realities of death and disposition of the animal. Sometimes, due to an owner’s dysfunctional state of mind, these options are seldom discussed rationally. Many veterinarians, placing a priority on grieving, handle matters themselves without consultation and often fail to explain the choices available to the pet owner. Regardless, it is the pet owner’s responsibility to make final arrangements after a pet’s euthanasia/death and cremation.
[ALPO Pet Foods, Inc., 1992]
Here are some choices to consider:
Pet Cemetery: Today there are pet cemeteries in every populated area all across America. The cost for euthanasia, burial and annual costs for grave yard maintenance can vary and can easily amount to thousands of dollars.
Home Burial: This is not an uncommon option. Many pet owners bury their pets or spread their pet’s ‘cremains’ on their own property.
Communal Burial: This is the most common option, often made when the pet owner fails to inquirer about their pet’s disposal or when the veterinarian is not given any direction by the pet owner. What’s disturbing to many uninformed pet owners is -- your pet’s ashes are mixed with other animal ‘cremains’ and unceremoniously discarded in a community landfill.
Individual Cremation: Your veterinarian will arrange for individual cremation only if you ask. You have an option to have your pet’s ashes returned to the veterinarian from the crematorium and subsequently to you. But now…what you do with your pet’s ashes?
Spreading your pet’s ashes at sea: We’ve found pet owners come to Nature’s Passage because they want their pet’s ashes spread at sea. Why? Some say their pet loved to swim in the ocean or loved to run along the ocean’s shore darting in and out of the surf, and for them, a burial at sea simply seemed logical…the right thing to do. Some accompany us to sea to say their last ‘good- bye’ while dispersing their pet’s ashes on the ocean’s surface.
If you believe burial at sea is an option for your pet, please say so and Nature’s Passage will help you plan and perform your pet’s interment process at sea as gracefully and respectfully as possible.
Go to the ‘Request for Quote’ page, fill it out and submit the information to us. Let us help you.
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.
~ Dylan Thomas
Nature's Passage Burial at Sea Service
Performing burials and 'military' memorial services at sea.
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Phone: 1-888-551-1277
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