The death of a pet is a painful event, especially if it happens without warning in one’s home. For many pet owners, the emotional aftermath of such an event can be overwhelming and navigating the practical steps while dealing with grief is challenging. As a pet-caring business, we understand this is an incredibly delicate time, and we hope this guide offers comfort, guidance, and support. Here are some reflective steps to assist you in handling your pet’s death, along with a few of our most favored sympathy gifts for when a pet dies.
Confirming Your Pet’s Passing
You can’t help but be bewildered. When your pet doesn’t seem to be moving or shows no response, you first need to confirm whether it is dead. Check to see whether the animal has a pulse or whether you can detect breathing. If it is possible, you might need to perform CPR or first aid to try and save your pet’s life. In these emotionally charged moments, ensure your actions are driven by care and clarity. If you are sure that your pet is no longer breathing, taking the corpse to a vet for verification or to arrange for cremation will give you the immediate support you may need.
Consulting a Veterinarian on Matters of Subsequent Procedure
The first person to call when you think that your pet has passed is often your veterinarian. They could also be able to connect you with a pet crematory or mobile veterinary service that can come and collect your pet’s remains. In certain cases, your veterinarian’s clinic might be able to hold your pet’s remains for a day or two while you make decisions about burial or cremation. Additionally, your veterinarian’s office might connect you with a nearby business that can take care of a burial or cremation. Thankfully, veterinarians will know at least one local company that provides these services. If your pet passes away during the night or on a vacation, get in touch with a nearby emergency veterinary clinic to see if they can help, or put you in touch with resources that can assist you.
Seeking Emotional and Practical Support
Grief is heavy, but adding all the logistics of an animal’s death can be just too much. Just making that first call to a close friend or family member can be very comforting, not to mention having someone by your side to help deal with the remains of your animal, which can be such an overwhelming task itself. Even the smallest gestures of goodwill from people around you can change everything during your loss. If you cannot handle your pet’s body, you should not hesitate to ask somebody for assistance. A friend or relative can lend a hand or, in some cases, handle the situation entirely.
Properly Handling Your Pet’s Remains
If you can’t make immediate arrangements for cremation or burial, it’s crucial to care for the body of your pet. Decomposition begins shortly after death and within hours the body will emit unpleasant odors and attract insects or animals. Temperature plays a huge role in how quickly this process unfolds, with hotter temperatures accelerating decomposition. Therefore, it’s critical to act promptly.
If immediate burial or cremation isn’t possible, you’ll need to store your pet’s remains appropriately. The body should be kept in a cool place, ideally a freezer or refrigerator. This temporary storage can help preserve the remains until you’ve finalized aftercare arrangements. A garage or basement should suffice for a few hours if storage in a refrigerator or freezer is unavailable. Prolonged storage will cause the body to deteriorate quickly, thus releasing a very unpleasant stench.
Preparing the Body for Burial or Cremation
Handling your pet’s body may feel challenging, but there are a few steps you can follow to ensure that your pet is treated with dignity. If at all possible wear gloves when handling your pet. Bodily fluids are commonly released postmortem. Clean any areas around your pet’s mouth and anus if needed.
Prepare the body by wrapping the pet in a blanket, towel, or bed sheet. It will calm one down and make the body easier to handle. For larger pets, seeking assistance to bind the body is a good idea. Then place the body into a heavy plastic bag and tie it. Label the bag with your pet’s name and contact information if you’ll use professional services for cremation or burial.
Burial Considerations
If you wish to bury your pet in your house, you are supposed to get in touch with the local authorities or check regulations to ensure a home burial is permissible. Most cities do not allow a family to bury their pets at home, so you should ascertain whether that is the case for you. If home burial is allowed, choose a spot on your property that will never be disturbed again. The pet grave must be three feet deep so that there will not be erosion or animals digging up the site.
Before burial, remove non-biodegradable materials like plastic bags and consider placing your pet in a wooden or cardboard casket. You might also want to memorialize the burial site with a headstone or marker.
We share these common suggestions because we care. Pet Perennials is an online gift store that makes it easy to send thoughtful memorial gifts for pet loss directly to the people who need them the most. Visit our website to learn more about our selection of pet remembrance gifts.
Gifts For When a Pet Dies: Honoring Your Pet’s Memory
After arranging for the burial or cremation, finding significant ways to pay tribute to your pet during this difficult time will provide you with comfort. Pet Perennials has a wide variety of remembrances for honoring a deceased furry loved one, so that you can remember your dear friend in special ways. From memorial keepsakes for pets to things that symbolize eternal love, these remembrances can bring solace as you navigate your grief.
One selection for honoring the memory of a pet is the Rainbow Bridge Sympathy Card which provides a straightforward but touching gesture. These cards let you express your condolences to bereaved pet owners with a heartfelt message and lovely design. Each card represents the concept of the “Rainbow Bridge,” where pets wait for their humans until they can be reunited. You can select the card of your choice, and we’ll handwrite your custom message in the card, and include a thoughtful sympathy designed decal in the card, then send it to your recipient on your behalf.
The Faithful Angels Memorial Dog Figurine, one of the memorial gifts for pets, is a tangible reminder of the loyalty and love you share with your dog. The angel wings on this exquisite figurine suggest that your pet’s spirit is watching you. It is a long lasting keepsake that comforts grieving pet owners and is made of sturdy resin.
Grieving and saying goodbye to a pet is profoundly personal. You can find ways to honor your pet’s memory while navigating the grief process with compassion by surrounding yourself with loving friends and family. Gifting and receiving compassionate and thoughtful memorial gifts for pets is one way to help hearts heal. We at Pet Perennials know how devastating losing a pet can be. To support you during this difficult time we are dedicated to providing kind and considerate gift packages for remembering the pet.
