What to Expect With Pet Cremation

Cremation of a loved one is a thought most people prefer to push out of their mind, and only think about it once someone has died. The same goes for losing a pet. The idea of cremating your companion can feel uncomfortable and sad. At Best Friends, we believe that knowledge of our cremation process can help alleviate any anxiety and make it easier and even comforting for the family.

After a pet has been euthanized or passes naturally, you may call Best Friends Pet Passings and Cremations and schedule services over the phone, use our online tool to make final arrangements, or come to our facility at 924 Menaul Blvd NE in Albuquerque.

When the family is ready, a member of our team will pick up your pet from your home or veterinary clinic in the Albuquerque or Rio Rancho area, and bring them to our facilities. If you prefer, you may bring your pet to us during business hours. The family is given time to say goodbye at the time of transfer, or may request to schedule a viewing prior to cremation services. Our compassionate team will prepare your pet in a private room where you and your loved ones can spend time saying goodbye to your companion.

Afterward, your loved one will be taken to our pet crematory in a simple and dignified cremation container. If you have chosen a private cremation, your companion is placed in the cremation chamber alone. If a communal cremation was chosen, your companion is placed in the cremation chamber along with other animals. The chamber is then turned on, and heated to temperatures reaching 1500 and 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

After an hour or two, a pet’s body is reduced to bone fragments. The fragments are then crushed into what most people know as ashes, or cremated remains. These remains are mostly made up of dry calcium phosphates with some minor minerals, such as salts of sodium and potassium. They are not toxic to you or the environment.

If the family chooses a private cremation, their pet’s ashes are placed in either an urn we provide or one that they have purchased, and returned to the family. Best Friends provides a beautiful selection of urns to choose from and many of our urns can be engraved with your companion’s name or meaningful phrase. A family may choose to have the remains returned to them in a special scattering urn if they intend to scatter their pet’s ashes. We also offer a curated selection of keepsake items to help keep your loved one’s memory alive, including personalized jewelry that holds a small amount of their ashes, paw print or nose print memorial art, and photo boxes. Please reach out to us to learn more about our memorialization options.

The family may choose to keep the cremated remains with them in an urn, bury them in a small grave on their own property or another place that holds special significance, or as we mentioned before, scatter the ashes somewhere meaningful. If a communal cremation was chosen, the remains are placed in an ossuary specially designated for beloved animals.

If you have any questions about pet cremation or our other services, Best Friends is always here to help. Just reach out to us at 814-733-2018. If you or a loved one is struggling with the loss of a pet, we encourage seeking out the help of a professional grief counselor.