What to ask a pet crematory

This page sums up what the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC), the trade association of pet crematories, tells pet owners. We read its pages ourselves and kept only what they say.

If your pet died at home

Place your pet in the coldest part of your home, such as a basement or a bathtub, on plastic or a blanket. Cover your pet with a towel or another blanket until you have made arrangements.

If your pet died at the vet

There is no rush. Most clinics can keep a pet for a day or two while you decide. You may also be able to see your pet there once more.

Your vet, or a pet crematory yourself

If you leave your pet's remains with your vet, you may have no say in how they are handled. The association names mass cremation or disposal in a landfill as possibilities. So ask your vet which process they use. Every entry on this site says whether it is a pet specialist or a pet cemetery, so you can also call one directly.

Alone or together with other pets

Cremation is offered on a private, individual or group basis, and the cost differs. The association advises confirming that your provider offers individual cremation and transparent tracking. Providers use these words in different ways, so ask what yours means.

On this site, 14 providers publish a communal price, with a middle of $75, and 8 a private or individual price, with a middle of $205. Every price with its source.

How you know the ashes are your pet's

According to the association, each pet gets an identification tag when it arrives, and the tag stays with it through the whole process. Its members give documented information on how they identify and track pets. Ask your provider how they do it.

You can ask to be there

Many providers let you see your pet before the cremation or be present during it. Policies vary, so ask.

No casket, no embalming

A casket is not necessary for cremation, and embalming is not required.

Questions to ask on the phone

Do you do individual cremation? What do you mean by private, partitioned and communal?
Will the ashes I get back be only my pet's?
How do you identify and track my pet?
Can I see my pet before, or be present during the cremation?
What is the price at my pet's weight, and what does it include?
If my vet arranges it: which crematory do you use, and which kind of cremation?

Check a membership logo

Former members may not use the association's logo. If a provider shows it, the association asks you to check its member directory.

Sources

Read on November 2, 2026. If something here is out of date, the contact page is at the bottom.