[spk7951]

Originally Posted by Lianne from CT

I am trying to find out about what people who have pets that pass away at home do with the poor little thing's body. We moved here about 7 months ago. We now have a badly ailing 15 year old cat whose hours/days are definitely numbered. We live in a courtyard villa and cannot imagine burying the poor thing out there. We have done some calling about and are finding the cost to euthanize and cremate extremely prohibitive on our incomes. What alternatives do we have here in The Villages?

So sorry to hear of your cats health and understand what you are going through. Our beloved dog Katie, 17 1/2yrs old, had recently gotten to the point where we knew it was time. We took her to Paws Animal Hospital on March 28th to be euthanized and they also arranged for cremation. I have to say that I was very impressed with how they handled the whole situation by showing concern for our dog and us. She came home yesterday in a very nice little cedar box with her name engraved on it along with a certificate of cremation. This all cost us less than $300.

Best wishes.

[Freeda]

We don't have pets now; but when we used to we always buried them in a small corner area of our backyard which we made into a little memorial area with tiny markers surrounded by flowers (in fact, no one but us would have even known the markers were there). We liked knowing 'where they were'; which I guess is sort of an individual choice. Is that not allowed here, for those who would want to do this?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Freeda

when we used to have pets we always buried them in a small corner area of our backyard. We liked knowing 'where they were. Is that not allowed here, for those who would want to do this?

I'm sure it is definitely against the covenants to bury dead animals in your back yard! However, I'll bet it's been done a few times. And if it done discreetly, who would know if you were planting a rose bush or burying a beloved pet? I really prefer cremation as an option rather than burial or having the garbage truck cart a body away. Yikes, couldn't do that.

With individual cremation, you can scatter the ashes or bury the container. Group cremation is less expensive than individual cremation. If you choose group cremation, which means the ashes won't be returned to you, the crematorium will normally scatter the ashes in a pet cemetary or similar peaceful place.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by English Ivy

Bonny, what are you questioning? The trash pick-up comment wasn't mine. I was responding to another poster. Or my alternative thought to bring my pet to a peaceful, rural area if I had no other option to find a final resting place for my pet? I'm not sure what you're referring to.

Leaving the little animal in a rural area so other animals could do what comes naturally. I can see that in the wild, but not with my little domesticated baby. Animals can always be buried in the yard.

[Freeda]

I can completely understand why some would choose cremation; it's just a matter of personal choice. One nice thing (sounds odd to say) about the natural option of burial (and what we did was bury our pets in an as remote as possible corner of the yard) is one could donate the money saved to the humane society or a similar charity 'in memory of...', where it would benefit at risk animals.

[marybb]

Originally Posted by Lianne from CT

I am trying to find out about what people who have pets that pass away at home do with the poor little thing's body. We moved here about 7 months ago. We now have a badly ailing 15 year old cat whose hours/days are definitely numbered. We live in a courtyard villa and cannot imagine burying the poor thing out there. We have done some calling about and are finding the cost to euthanize and cremate extremely prohibitive on our incomes. What alternatives do we have here in The Villages?

So sorry to hear about your ailing cat. We have had several of our pets over the years cremated and we have the ashes in Ma.it costs us 160.00 they also provided us with wooden boxes that you could insert a picture of our pet. Hope all goes well. Please give your cat a pat for me.