You can't always be buried with your pet's ashes due to varying local laws, cemetery regulations (often rooted in tradition or religious beliefs about animals not having souls), and past health/safety concerns, but these rules are changing, with some places now allowing it as pets are considered family, offering options like memorial trees or specific pet cemeteries.
Unfortunately, this is not always possible. While there are some human cemeteries that allow people to be buried with the ashes of their pets, in most cases, it is not allowed. This is usually due to health and safety concerns.
NSW has now passed changes to the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act to clarify that the remains of deceased companion animals – often much-loved family members – may be buried or placed with their late humans' remains.
Burying pet ashes is also a popular option chosen by families. Many people do this in their yard, at a pet cemetery, or a place special to them. Many cat and dog cremation urns can be buried and will give your pet a dignified burial.
Yes, you can get your pet's ashes back, but it depends on choosing an individual (private) cremation; communal cremations do not return ashes, so you must specifically request private service and ask the facility about their tracking processes to ensure you receive only your pet's remains. Reputable crematories use tracking systems to guarantee you get all and only your pet's ashes back in a sealed container, often with a certificate, though verifying 100% for sure can be difficult.
While some DNA may remain in cremated ashes, the intense heat of the cremation process typically destroys most genetic material. As a result, the amount of DNA present in cremated remains is minimal and may not be suitable for genetic testing or analysis.
Keeping the ashes at home won't be bad if you have a spot where the urn is unlikely to get disturbed. It's safe to store your cat's or dog's ashes in an urn. However, you should also check if displaying the urn at home is safe.
It's important to note that there are no explicit verses addressing cremation or the keeping of ashes.
Before cremation, funeral staff remove dangerous or potentially explosive medical devices (like pacemakers), jewelry, and other personal items, placing them aside for family return or disposal; however, most internal medical implants (like hip/knee replacements, dental work, breast implants, rods, pins) are left in place as they are non-combustible and separated from bone fragments later, though family can often request removal or recycling. Organs are only removed if the person was a registered organ donor.
A human crematorium or cemetery can apply to also be a pet cemetery – however as most are running out of space already it's unlikely that this will become commonplace. It is also illegal for a pet's ashes to be placed in an owner's coffin prior to burial or cremation.
No. This comes under the strict guidelines mentioned above.
Bones and teeth are the only parts of the body that survive the cremation heat. That's because they're denser and harder to break down than soft tissues.
After cremation the ashes need to cool before processing, so most pets are returned to the vet clinic or yourself within 3 working days.
Here's the truth behind it: from a scientific standpoint, cremated ashes contain zero energy. The cremation process, which occurs at an incredibly high temperature of 1400-1800°F (about 760-980°C), completely burns away all organic matter.
Pets may not understand death like we do, but many respond to our emotions. Dogs in particular can be emotional sponges. Some pets may seem anxious, others unaffected. Knowing what's normal for your pet helps you spot changes in behaviour and to support them through the loss of a companion.
If it's important for you to have your pet's ashes returned, the vet can arrange an individual cremation. Often, you can choose the type of casket you would like and an engraving if you wish. Your pet's ashes may be delivered to the practice and they will let you know when they are ready to be collected.
Typically, if there has been a traditional funeral (with the body) present, the deceased will be cremated in whatever clothing they were wearing. If the cremation is done right after death, then it is usually done with the deceased wearing whatever clothing they were wearing at the time they died.
For many Hindus, it is important that the skull be cracked, urging the departed soul to move on. This is sometimes a significant part of the ceremony. Non-Hindus are often invited to attend the cremation service.
The body no matter where it goes when you die whether it's cremated or in a grave, it don't go to heaven with you, your spirit does. But when Jesus comes back we will have have resurrected bodies, so no that doesn't send you to hell.
That's the question so many people ask. And the honest answer is: no one really knows. Some believe the spirit departs at death; others believe part of it stays with the ashes until they are released.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not prohibit cremation but believe that funerals should be modest affairs conducted with dignity and respect.
If you opt for individual cremation, you'll get your pet's ashes back. For individual cremation, your pet will be separate from other pets during the entire process. With communal cremation, your pet will be cremated with others and you will not receive those ashes back.
In many cultures, superstitions around death and the afterlife shape views on keeping ashes in the home. Some believe that storing cremated remains indoors may invite negative energy or disrupt the deceased's spiritual journey.
Dogs are able to identify the aroma of cremated remains, though this can vary depending on the kind of ashes. For example, the dog can have a harder time recognizing the fragrance if the ashes are combined with other materials like soil or water.