Question about Euthanized Dogs

willowchow

I like the idea of having Willow's remains cremated and then I'll have something back.  But, I just have issue with that my family has never had anyone cremated and it's not something we do.  So, not sure why I'd want to do it with her?  Has anyone else ever thought about this?

I want to be cremated myself. I don't like the idea of being in a box in the ground for eternity. My animals will be cremated too. Have you ever seen those diamonds they can make out of the ashes? I'd love to do that if I can afford it when Cherokee dies...

willowchow

I like the idea of having Willow's remains cremated and then I'll have something back.  But, I just have issue with that my family has never had anyone cremated and it's not something we do.  So, not sure why I'd want to do it with her?  Has anyone else ever thought about this?

I'd like to be cremated myself, since I think it's ridiculous to expect my loved ones to pay thousands of dollars for a fancy box and slab of cement when there would be a high rise sitting on top of me in 100 years....As for my pets, I'm not sure I'll do it.  If I did, I would scatter the ashes and not keep them.  I don't like to dwell....I'm not really sure how to put it b/c it sounds insensitive, but it's just not my thing....I'd rather remember the dog with pictures of us together doing happy things, not a jar of ashes (that may or may not belong to my dog). 

Liesje

As for my pets, I'm not sure I'll do it.  If I did, I would scatter the ashes and not keep them.  I don't like to dwell....I'm not really sure how to put it b/c it sounds insensitive, but it's just not my thing

Mine either....I would want them to be where they were most happy, not sitting on a shelf.

It breaks my heart to think that there are places that just put the bodies in bags in a dumpster!  Never mind the sanitation/disease issue -- it's disrespectful to a once-living being.  Like Cathy said, I bet they're doing that illegally.

The animal shelter in our area has a crematorium, which is used for the animals that are euthanized there.  They provide cremation services to the public, too. Some vet clinics have contracts with the shelter so the deceased animals are picked up on certain days a week.  They do either "general" cremation (several animals at once) or "private" (for anyone who wishes to have their pet's remains back).  For those remains (whether the pet came from a vet clinic or from the owner directly), they provide really nice boxes or urns with labels that have a name and date, etc.

When we knew our dog was dying, we thought a lot about what to do.  Like Chelsea said, something about being in a box in the ground, decaying, disturbs me, even though the cremation process is pretty horrible to think of, too. However, in the end, we wanted to have Tonka's remains with us no matter where we live.  So, he was cremated and his remains are in the room where we spend most of our waking hours.  I often talk to him or touch the box when I walk by it.  Crazy, I know, but it's comforting to have him still near.

When Teenie went to the bridge, I brought her home in my arms, and my brother was waiting with a hole. I handed her to him, and came inside. I couldn't watch the dirt fall on her. The first time it rained, I fell apart. Having her cremated and INSIDE probably would have made me feel better. It's silly, because it's just a body, and my dog isn't there any more, but it still upsets me every time it gets really cold. She hated cold and rain.

As for what happens to them... the vet I worked at had "The Good Shepherd" van come by and take them away. They offered private cremation and mass disposal.  

chelsea_b

Have you ever seen those diamonds they can make out of the ashes? I'd love to do that if I can afford it when Cherokee dies...

I haven't seen them, and I'm scared to death of Googling that LOL. Can you show me? I'd LOVE to do that with Emma, when she goes. 

The vet clinic where I used to work had the dogs creamated.  A company picked up twice a week.  They also offered private creamations as well.

My first dog, Sandee, was creamated.  She was an Aussie, who loved to be in the pasture working cattle, so I spread her ashes across one of our pastures, so that she could be in the place that she loved most.

I like this idea for my animals . http://www.memoryglass.com/  I think it's really beautiful. Another part of me wants to cremate them and scatter the ashes. I like the idea of them remaining part of the environment...same with me, though I'd be ok with the memory glass thing. I don't think they use all the ashes anyway, so I'll likely do both.

That is beautiful, 2 shelties. I would LOVE to have that to wear. I really wish I'd had Teenie cremated, and I have since she's been gone. That would be really, really nice to have. 

calliecritturs

where you find individuals doing something wrong, unethical or illegal

Something unethical or illegal like burying a dog on their own property in violation of the law and frankly, of common sense?  I am really puzzled here.  You admit to violating the law yet you encourage reporting someone else for doing the same thing?  Do laws apply to other people but not to you?  You should consider running for governor of Illinois.  That's the way he thinks. 

Most of the people I know with PHs have their dogs cremated and placed in urns.  The lady that owned Gaia's dam (and now has Gaia) had a special box handmade and carved-which is where Greedy's ashes now remain.

I, personally, will have Xerxes cremated and I'll take him into the woods for one last hike. 

Actually, it's not illegal in Illinois to burry an animal body - just just have to follow certain codes. We burried our late cat.

d) Any site where the bodies of dead animals or poultry are to be composted shall comply with the following setbacks:         (1) The composting site shall include a setback of
	at least 200 feet from the nearest potable water supply well, except in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 14.2 of the Environmental Protection Act.

(2) The composting site shall be located outside the
	boundary of the 10‑year floodplain or the site shall be protected from flooding.

(3) A composting site constructed after the
	effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 so as to constitute a "new facility" after that date as defined in the Livestock Management Facilities Act shall be located at least 1/4 mile from the nearest occupied residence (other than a residence located on the same property as the facility).

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willowchow

I like the idea of having Willow's remains cremated and then I'll have something back.  But, I just have issue with that my family has never had anyone cremated and it's not something we do.  So, not sure why I'd want to do it with her?  Has anyone else ever thought about this?

Yes, right there with you. My family got over it. I was a little weirded out but I can't even describe the acute grief I felt when I lost my hound.

We all got over it and I have her sitting on a shelf. I felt so much better having her home. We have a pretty reputable crematory here so I feel pretty confident it's her. (I hope so, anyway.)

There is a pet cemetary near here.  You can opt for cremation, or a more traditional burial, or the common burial.  I choose the common burial.. Since I want a green burial myself, it makes sense.  The common burial area is typically covered in wild flowers and grasses...I like that image in my mind it matches the feelings I carry in my heart

In answer to the original question, many of you have read "Foods Pets Die For", right?  I'm not saying all euthanized shelter animals end up this way, but isn't that what that book was about?

I buried Shari at my friend's family farm because I live in town and digging a hole 4 feet down for a large dog in the city surrounded by neighbors would not go unnoticed.  My cat Charlie, I let the vet take care of his body since I lived in an apartment and he died in the dead of winter - and I couldn't afford the cremation.