How Does Pet Cremation Work? A Step-by-Step Guide
- Robert Altomare
- Oct 27, 2025
- 4 min read
Introduction
Losing a pet is never easy. As you navigate this difficult time, you may be considering pet cremation as a way to honor your beloved companion. But how does pet cremation work? Understanding the process can provide peace of mind and help you make the best choice for your pet’s final farewell.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step cremation process, the different types of cremation, and what to expect before and after.
Choosing a Cremation Provider
The first step is selecting a reputable pet cremation service. Veterinary offices often have partnerships with local crematoriums, or you can research pet cremation services in your area. A common misconception is that in order to get your pet cremated and their cremains returned to you in an urn, you must work through a veterinarian. While this is common, it is by no means required. You can always call a pet crematory directly to arrange for your pet.
When choosing a provider, consider:
Reviews and recommendations from other pet owners.
Certifications and licensing to ensure proper handling. Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida is certified by CANA and adheres to extremely high standards of care.
Cremation options available (private, communal, or partitioned). Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida offers all three options.
Turnaround time for receiving ashes, if applicable. Industry standard is 5-7 days but I've seen as high as 14 days. Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida has a turnaround time of 3-5 days unless any special requests are made such as engraving, etc.
Transporting Your Pet
Once you've chosen a cremation service, you’ll need to arrange transportation for your pet. If your pet was euthanized at your veterinarian's office, then this is not an issue. However, many times pets will pass away at home. If this occurs, then you'll need to make some decisions. Options include:
Pickup service offered by the crematorium.
Transportation by your veterinarian if they provide cremation services.
Personal drop-off if you prefer to take your pet yourself.
Some facilities provide viewing rooms where you can say a final goodbye before the cremation begins. Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida does not offer a viewing room to witness your pet's cremation, but we do offer home pick up for a small fee. You can also bring your pet directly to our office in Starke, Florida and we will take your pet into our care right then and there. But if you opt for this, please call ahead as our office is open by appointment only!
The Pet Cremation Process
Pet cremation involves exposing the body to high temperatures (1400–1800°F) in a specialized chamber. The process takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the pet’s size.
Types of Pet Cremation:
Private Cremation – Your pet is cremated alone, and the ashes are returned to you.
Partitioned Cremation – Multiple pets are cremated simultaneously but kept separated, though slight ash mixing may occur. Not many pet crematories offer this option, but Affordable Pet Cremation offers partitioned (or 'semi-private') with a 15% discount off the private cremation price.
Communal Cremation – Several pets are cremated together, and ashes are not returned to owners.
Processing the Ashes
After cremation, what remains are bone fragments. These are processed into a fine, sand-like consistency using a cremulator. If you’ve opted for a private or partitioned cremation, the ashes are carefully collected and prepared for return.
Receiving Your Pet’s Ashes
If you chose private or partitioned cremation, you’ll receive your pet’s ashes in an urn, box, or another chosen container. At Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida, all private and semi-private cremations come with a free, plastic temporary urn. This is not a long term solution, however we understand that choosing the right urn for your recently deceased pet can be a taxing decision with so much else going on. Therefore, you can choose your permanent urn at the time you request service, or later. It's a tough time and we understand how hard it can be.
Temporary, plastic urns included in the service.
Customized urns with engravings or paw prints.
Memorial jewelry or keepsakes that contain a portion of your pet’s ashes.
In addition to these items, we also offer both clay and ink imprints of your pet's paw, a suitable-for-framing certificate of cremation and a very tastefully designed Rainbow Bridge Poem document.
The turnaround time for receiving ashes varies but is typically within a few days to two weeks. At Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida, our turnaround time is 3-5 days.
Memorializing Your Pet
Once you have your pet’s ashes, you can choose how to honor their memory. Popular options include:
Keeping the urn at home in a special place.
Scattering ashes in a meaningful location. In addition to urns, we can also provide you special scattering tubes.
Turning ashes into jewelry or artwork as a lasting tribute.
Burying the ashes in a pet cemetery or your backyard (if permitted).
Conclusion
Understanding how pet cremation works can make this difficult decision easier. Whether you choose private, partitioned, or communal cremation, knowing each step of the process ensures your pet’s farewell is handled with care and dignity.
Sincerely,
R. Altomare, Owner
Affordable Pet Cremation of Florida
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