AP: Funeral homes, cemeteries offer pet services

[PhilipShore]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
04-01-07

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070401/NEWS09/70401014">Link

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — A growing number of funeral homes and cemeteries are offering burial and cremation services for animals to help bereaved pet owners cope with their loss.

[magellan]

1. Our dog was cremated in the UK

...where cremation of both people and pets is standard. Unfortunately we got a look at the pet process one quiet Sunday afternoon, quite by accident, when we went to pick up her ashes. A bulldozer was tipping a shovel-full of yellow-wrapped animal carcasses into a tall bin in the crematorium -- the start of the cremation process. There was no sorting, no care being taken with the bodies.

I was devastated by that sight. I do not believe that the ashes in the urn are my baby's.

[bklyncowgirl]

2. Dead pet disposal has always been a racket. We paid extra to have our dog cremated separatly

We paid extra to have our dog cremated alone. There was a choice between mass cremation and separate cremation which cost about $100 more. Did they actually cremate her alone and do I have her remains or did they dump her in with the other animals and just pocket the hundred bucks? Worse yet did they send her to a rendering plant where she was processed into feed for other animals. Who knows.

My dad was an NYC sanitation man. He used to get extra pocket money and free vet services from a veterinarian who used to charge his customers for cremation, pocket the money and give the boys on the route a few bucks to toss the dead dogs and cats in the garbage truck. It was totally illegal, of course but I imagine that sort of thing happens all the time.

I'm sure that more than a few beloved pets ended up in the Great Kills landfill. Well, on the plus side, I guess they more than a few mobsters to keep them company.

[magellan]

3. We weren't given a choice

Her specialist said he could arrange for her cremation, and we simply assumed that by asking for her ashes back and paying for the process and an urn we'd get just that, not what we saw. It was horrible. I said to my husband, imagine if they did that to people and loved ones found out. But I suppose it does happen to people too. There's always money to be made in death and someone willing to take advantage, as we know. :(