Losing a beloved pet can be a difficult and stressful time, but cremation offers pet owners a way to always keep a reminder of their departed companion. Cremated remains can be kept in an urn on the mantle, worn as a piece of jewelry, or used to create hand-blown glass objects of art. Many pet owners opt for cremation instead of burial because it allows them to always keep their pet's remains with them — if you move into a new home, your pet's cremated remains can come along with you.

If you're considering cremation for a pet that has recently passed away, it's important to make sure that you select the right pet cremation business. Below, you'll find some important considerations that you need to keep in mind when you call them and ask about their services.

Does the Pet Cremation Service Allow Owners to Watch the Cremation?

Even if you don't want to watch the process yourself, it's a good idea to select a pet cremation service that will allow pet owners to watch their pets be privately cremated. It's a good sign that the business handles the deceased pets respectfully and that they're making sure that the cremated remains are returned to the correct owners.

What Types of Cremations Does the Business Perform?

Most pet cremation businesses offer private, partitioned, and communal cremations. For a private cremation, the pet is cremated with no other animals in the cremation chamber. For a partitioned cremation, multiple pets are cremated at once with fireproof bricks separating them in order to prevent their cremated remains from mixing together. In a communal cremation, multiple animals are cremated and their remains are mixed together for burial.

When you're planning on preserving your pet's cremated remains, you'll need to find a pet cremation business that offers private or partitioned cremation services. Private cremations are more expensive than partitioned ones, but you'll know that the cremated remains belong solely to your pet — in a partitioned cremation, some of the remains may mix together if they slide past one of the partitions.

How Does the Pet Cremation Business Track and Identify Remains?

To reduce the risk of errors during the cremation process, it's a good idea to select a pet cremation business that provides personalized tracking for pets. This can be done using either electronic tags or barcodes that are kept with your pet throughout the process. When the operator scans the tag or the barcode, they'll receive all the details about your pet, including your information. This significantly reduces the risk that cremated remains will accidentally be sent home with the wrong owner, giving you the peace of mind that your pet's cremated remains are truly theirs.

Ultimately, a good pet cremation business knows that losing a pet is a very difficult time. They'll handle your pet's remains with care and ensure that the cremation process is error-free. Keeping the above considerations in mind when you're calling pet cremation businesses will ensure that you pick the best one to handle your departed pet.

Once you know what you want, call a local pet cremation business to get started.