Understanding Pet Aftercare Options

After the emotional difficulty of deciding when to say goodbye to your pet, many families realize they haven’t thought about what happens next. What do you do with your pet’s body? What are your options? What needs to be decided immediately, and what can wait?

Understanding your aftercare options before you need them reduces stress during an already difficult time. It’s one less decision to figure out in the midst of grief, and it ensures you can make choices that feel right for your family rather than rushing into decisions you’re unprepared for.

This article covers the main aftercare options available—cremation, burial, and alternative arrangements—what each involves, practical and legal considerations, and how to make informed decisions that honor your pet and bring you comfort.

Cremation is the most common choice for pet aftercare. There are two main types:

Your pet is cremated alone, and their ashes are returned to you. This allows you to keep the ashes at home, scatter them in a meaningful location, divide them among family members, or make other memorial arrangements that feel right to you.

Timeline: The time to receive ashes back varies by crematorium, typically ranging from one to several weeks. Ask your veterinarian or crematorium about their specific timeline. For us, working with Forest Run Pet Cemetery, it’s typically 2-3 weeks.

What you receive: Your pet’s ashes in an urn. Depending on the crematorium, you may have options to upgrade to decorative urns, keepsake jewelry, or other memorial items. Our private cremations also include a brass nameplate at no additional charge.

“How do I know I’m getting my pet’s ashes back?” This is a common and understandable concern. Most crematoriums use a variety of tracking mechanisms—such as ID tags, paperwork systems, and careful documentation—to ensure that you receive back the ashes for your specific pet. Reputable crematoriums take this responsibility very seriously. If you have concerns about this, ask your veterinarian or the crematorium directly about their tracking procedures.

Your pet is cremated with other pets, and ashes are not returned to individual families.

What happens to the ashes: This varies by crematorium. Some crematoriums scatter communal ashes on their property. The crematorium we partner with, Forest Run Pet Cemetery, buries communal ashes in a Memorial Garden once or twice per year. This provides a place families can visit if desired. Ask your crematorium what happens to communal ashes if this matters to you.

Both options treat your pet with dignity and respect. The choice between private and communal is entirely personal—it’s about what feels right for your family, your relationship with physical remembrance, and your circumstances. Neither choice reflects more or less love for your pet. Some families deeply need the ashes returned to them; others find meaning and comfort in the communal cremation option. Both are completely valid preferences, and you should never feel you need to justify or explain your choice.

Cost consideration: Private cremation is more expensive than communal cremation. For families with budget constraints, communal cremation provides a dignified option at a more accessible price point.

Most in-home euthanasia services (including ours) handle cremation arrangements for you. Your pet is transported to the crematorium, and you’re contacted when ashes are ready for pick-up (for private cremation). This means you don’t have to worry about transportation or arrangements during an emotional time.

If you have specific requests—like a custom urn, memorial jewelry, or special handling—you may need to contact the crematorium directly to discuss options and costs.

Some families prefer to bury their pet at home, in a place that was meaningful or on property where the pet lived their life. While this can be deeply meaningful for some families, it comes with legal, environmental, and practical considerations that are important to understand before choosing this option.

You are responsible for knowing and following regulations at the federal, state, and municipal levels concerning pet burial. These vary significantly by location, and ignorance of the law is not a defense if you violate local ordinances.

You’ll need to check:

• County ordinances about pet burial
• City or township regulations
• Homeowners association rules (if applicable)
• Property deed restrictions
• Utility line locations (call your local diggers hotline before digging to avoid hitting underground lines)

Some areas prohibit home burial entirely. Others have requirements about burial depth (often 3-4 feet minimum), distance from water sources, distance from property lines, or specific types of burial containers. Failing to follow these regulations can result in fines or being required to exhume and relocate your pet’s remains.

The medications used in euthanasia pose real risks to wildlife and the environment. This isn’t widely known, but it’s critically important to understand.

The drugs used in euthanasia can persist in a pet’s body after death. If wildlife—like eagles, foxes, coyotes, or other scavengers—disturb a burial site and consume tissue from a euthanized pet, they can be poisoned and die. This is a documented problem that has killed protected species like bald eagles.

Additionally, if burial isn’t done properly (wrong depth, wrong location, wrong soil conditions), euthanasia drugs can potentially contaminate groundwater, particularly if you’re near wells or water sources.

This doesn’t mean home burial is impossible—it means it needs to be done carefully and according to best practices. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provides guidance on safe burial practices to prevent these risks: https://www.fws.gov/story/help-prevent-euthanasia-drugs-killing-bald-eagles-and-other-wildlife

Caring for a pet’s body after death can be emotionally and physically challenging. It’s important to go into this choice with realistic expectations.

Body changes after death:

• Moving the body can cause the release of urine or fecal material due to relaxation of muscles
• Pressure changes can create sounds from retained air in the chest, which can be startling if you’re not expecting it
• After death, there’s no tension left in the muscles, so the neck and limbs will be very loose and move differently than when your pet was alive
• Rigor mortis (muscles and joints “locking” in place) typically occurs within 1-3 hours after death and can last for several days, so position your pet’s body soon if this matters to you
• These changes can be disturbing to observe if you’re not prepared for them

Physical requirements: Digging an appropriate burial site—deep enough to deter scavengers and comply with regulations—is physically demanding work, especially for larger pets. A 3-4 foot deep hole large enough for a dog is substantial excavation. Make sure you have the physical capability or help available.

Long-term considerations: If you move from the property in the future, leaving your pet’s burial site behind can be emotionally difficult. Some families find this distressing years later when they no longer have access to the burial location.

Despite these challenges, some families find home burial deeply meaningful and appropriate for their situation. It can work well when:

• You have adequate property and legal permission to bury
• You have physical help available for digging and burial
• You’re prepared for the practical realities of handling a body after death
• You plan to stay on the property for the foreseeable future
• You have emotional support in place for the burial process
• You’re committed to following environmental and legal guidelines

Cost consideration: Home burial is the least expensive option financially, though it requires the most physical and emotional labor from the family.

Some families choose alternative options beyond standard cremation or burial.

Aquamation (Alkaline Hydrolysis): A water-based alternative to flame cremation that uses a combination of water flow, temperature, and alkalinity to accelerate natural decomposition. The process is considered more environmentally friendly than flame cremation. Note: Aquamation is not currently available in Wisconsin due to state regulations, though it is available in some other states.

Full-body preservation: Some families choose taxidermy or freeze-drying to preserve their pet’s physical form. This is a significant financial investment and isn’t right for everyone, but for some families it provides ongoing comfort to have their pet’s physical presence in their home.

Donation to veterinary education: Some families choose to donate their pet’s body to a veterinary school for educational purposes, helping train future veterinarians. This option varies in availability and usually requires advance arrangements.

These alternative options vary significantly in availability, cost, and requirements by region. If you’re interested in options beyond standard cremation or burial, discuss possibilities with your veterinarian or research specialized services in your area well in advance of needing them.

Many families want something tangible to remember their pet beyond or in addition to ashes. These physical reminders can be deeply comforting in the days, months, and years after loss.

Common memorial options include:

Paw or nose prints: Clay impressions or ink prints of your pet’s paw or nose. Modern versions often come in shadow boxes or frames that won’t crack or deform over time, unlike traditional clay impressions.

Fur clippings: A small lock of your pet’s fur, often kept in a keepsake box or locket. This simple option can be very meaningful for families who want something physical to hold onto.

Memorial jewelry: Pendants that hold a small amount of ashes, paw print impressions engraved on rings or bracelets, or other wearable keepsakes. These allow you to keep your pet close in a subtle, personal way.

Photo-based memorials: Canvas prints, photo books, ornaments, or other custom photo items that celebrate your pet’s life and your relationship with them.

Unique offerings: Some services offer specialized memorial items. For example, we offer heartbeat ECG prints—a tracing of your pet’s actual heartbeat that can be framed or used as a template for memorial tattoos. This provides a unique, permanent reminder of your pet’s life.

Crematoriums typically offer a wide range of memorial products as well, from basic to elaborate. Some veterinarians offer certain items (like paw prints) as part of their service or as add-ons. If you want specific memorial items, ask ahead of time what’s available through your veterinarian and what needs to be arranged directly with the crematorium.

Learn more about our memory products: View the memorial options we offer

There’s no universally “right” choice for aftercare. What matters is choosing the option that honors your pet and feels right for your family. Here are factors to consider:

Emotional needs: What feels most comforting to you? Keeping ashes at home? Visiting a memorial garden? Having your pet buried on your property? Different people find comfort in different ways, and your emotional needs matter.

Practical constraints: Do you rent or own your home? Do you move frequently for work? Do you have the physical capability for burial? These practical realities shape what’s actually feasible for your situation.

Financial considerations: Costs range from home burial (least expensive but most labor-intensive) to communal cremation to private cremation (most expensive). Memorial products add to the cost. Be realistic about your budget, and remember that the more expensive option doesn’t reflect more love—it’s just a different choice.

Legal compliance: Are you able and willing to research and follow all applicable regulations for home burial? If not, cremation may be a simpler choice.

Family preferences: Do all family members agree on the approach? If there are disagreements, can you reach a decision everyone can accept? Sometimes one person’s strong preference should guide the choice, especially if they were the primary caregiver.

Aftercare decisions are deeply personal. Whether you choose cremation, burial, or another option, what matters is that it feels right for you and honors the relationship you had with your pet.

Give yourself permission to choose what brings you comfort, without judgment about what others might do differently. There’s no hierarchy of grief or love reflected in these choices—only different ways of saying goodbye and remembering.

And remember: you don’t have to make every decision immediately. Many choices—like memorial products, what to do with ashes, or how to create lasting remembrances—can wait until you’re ready. Take the time you need.

[1] American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) & International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC). (2019). End-of-Life Care Guidelines. https://www.aaha.org/resources/end-of-life-care-for-pets/

[2] PetMD. (2025). 7 Signs a Dog Is Dying and What To Do. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/signs-dog-dying

[3] VCA Animal Hospitals. Palliative Care and Hospice for Pets: Overview. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/palliative-care-and-hospice-for-pets-overview

[4] Carmack, T. (2024). Advanced Pain Management Protocols in Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care. dvm360. https://www.dvm360.com/view/advanced-pain-management-protocols-in-veterinary-hospice-and-palliative-care