At Thistledown we encourage pet owners to do some pre-planning to determine what options will be available to them when they do lose their beloved pet. For many, however, they do not have the benefit of such pre-planning and they are left to find the answers to many questions after their pet leaves them. For pet owners finding themselves in such a situation, there are a few questions many will ask:
· “What can I do with my pet’s remains and how much will it cost?”
· “Does Thistledown accept pet remains for burial and how much does it cost?”
· “Why should I choose cremation for my pet?”
· “What cremation services does Thistledown provide?”
· “How do I know I will be getting my pet’s ashes back and how long will it take?”
· “Can Thistledown exhume and cremate a pet I buried in my backyard some time ago?”

“What can I do with my pet’s remains and how much will it cost?”
Cremation and burial are potential options available to pet owners following the loss of their beloved animal friend. However, there are by-laws in place in many municipalities which prohibit the burial of pet remains on private lands. Because of this factor, because of the limited number of approved pet cemeteries, and because of the significant increase in the number of pets of all types, more and more veterinary clinics are encouraging cremation as an environmentally acceptable choice for pet after-care. Prices for the cremation or burial (plus perpetual care) of pet remains vary, but generally are dependent upon the size and/or weight of the pet.
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“Does Thistledown accept pet remains for burial?”
At Thistledown we do not accept pet remains for burial. Some pet owners inquire about the availability of pet caskets, because they wish to bury their pet. There are a number of pet cemeteries located in the Southern Ontario area and, if burial is the option of choice for the pet owner, they are directed to the cemetery closest to their residence. Although we do not accept pet remains for burial at Thistledown, we do carry a line of watertight pet caskets that can be used in pet cemeteries or other burial sites of choice.
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"Why should I choose cremation for my pet?" With this option, pet owners are always in control of the final disposition of their pet’s remains. Once a pet’s remains have been cremated and the urn of cremains has been returned, the owner can: keep the urn at home, place the urn in a columbarium, bury the urn, or scatter all or some of the cremains. Should the owner decide to keep the urn at home or place the urn in a columbarium, he/she will always be in control and can make alternate arrangements at a later date, should such be desired. This is also convenient should the owner move to another community or country and not wish to leave the urn behind. top

“What type of cremation services does Thistledown provide?”
There are three types of cremation available to pet owners through Thistledown. These are described in more detail in the “Cremation” Section of this document.

· “Private Viewing (Dedicated) Cremation”: The remains of only one pet are placed in the crematorium at a time. Family and friends can be in attendance during a “Private Viewing Cremation”.
· “Individual (Private) Cremation”: The remains of a limited number of pets are placed in the crematorium at one time but are separated from one another by physical barriers. Pet owners are not permitted to attend an “Individual Cremation”.
· “Communal (Group) Cremation”: A number of pets are cremated together and no attempt is made to keep the cremains separate. Pet owners are not permitted to attend a “Communal Cremation”.

Should a pet die at home or in a veterinary clinic, many pet owners who wish to use our cremation service prefer to bring their pet’s remains to Thistledown. For others, we do offer a pick-up service at a nominal charge.
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“How do I know I will be getting my pet’s ashes back and how long will it take?”
Thistledown has been working closely with a pet crematorium located in Scarborough since 1998. This crematorium is associated with a veterinary clinic and the “Certificate of Cremation” returned to the pet owner with the urn is signed by a veterinarian. Thistledown staff have been present during the cremation of many client pets, and are confident the cremains placed in each urn are only from the pet indicated on the Certificate and represent all of that pet’s cremains.

“Individual (Private) Cremations” arranged through veterinary clinics generally take from one to three weeks to complete from the time the pet dies until the urn is available for pick-up. For many pet owners, this is unacceptable. At Thistledown we offer a unique and very popular option. Your pet's urn can be returned to you within 72 hours from the time we receive your pet. Our service allows for immediate cremation with minimal handling and storage of your pet. We stress the fact that dignity is maintained throughout; from the time we receive your pet, to the time the urn of cremains is returned to you.
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“Can Thistledown exhume and cremate a pet I buried in my backyard some time ago?”
We are getting more and more calls from pet owners who have buried a pet on their property in the past, have recently sold their property, and now wish to have the pet’s remains exhumed and cremated. The thought of leaving behind a beloved pet is unacceptable to them. The success of such exhumations is dependent upon many factors including the length of time the pet has been buried, the size of the pet, the nature of soil, drainage and vegetation conditions at the burial site, and the nature of any protection surrounding the remains at the time of burial (e.g. blanket, casket, plastic, etc.).

Thistledown offers a “complete” exhumation/cremation service as well as an “assisted” exhumation/ cremation service. In the “complete” service, Thistledown staff will visit the burial site, exhume the pet and backfill the grave, prepare the remains for cremation (i.e. remove any soil), then arrange for cremation of the remains in the normal manner. Should the pet’s owner wish to exhume the pet himself/herself, once the remains have been received at Thistledown, staff will prepare the remains for cremation, then arrange for cremation of the remains in the normal manner. This is referred to as Thistledown’s “assisted” exhumation/cremation service.
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