Like burial, cremation — the burning of a dead body — is a death rite that has a long history. The practice of cremation dates to the Bronze Age, some 5,000 years ago. Fire was seen as a purifying agent, or perhaps as a way to light the path of the deceased to the afterlife. More practically, it prevented bodies from being scavenged by animals and didn't require the use of land that could be put to more productive use.

The Cremation Process

Cremation no longer involves actual flames. The body is exposed to intense heat, which reduces it to ashes. Pet cemeteries often maintain their own crematoriums. You can choose individual or communal cremation. Most pet cemeteries can also arrange for you to view the cremation. This helps bring about closure and assures you that you are indeed receiving the ashes of your own dog.

Ashes to Ashes

The remains — referred to as cremains — can be returned to you as early as the same day, sometimes accompanied by a certificate of cremation. You can store the ashes in an urn and have them placed in a columbarium at the cemetery, keep them at home in a pretty urn or box, or scatter them at your dog's favorite place. When your dog is cremated with other animals (communal cremation), his ashes are usually scattered in the cemetery's memorial garden.