We’re Sorry
You’re Here
At PupCycle, we know that pets are family - and losing a family member is never easy. We encourage you to explore the options below on your own time so that you can be as prepared as possible when the time comes to say goodbye to your dog.
#FurEverInOurHearts
Natural Death
vs. Euthanasia
As much as we’d all love our pets to pass peacefully, in their sleep when they are ready to go, often this is not the reality that we face…
Euthanasia can help us say goodbye to our pets when it makes the most sense for them. When choosing an option for euthanasia, it is important to consider if you would like the process to take place in your vet’s office, or the place that your pet feels the most comfortable - your very own home.
Here at PupCycle, due to recommendations by experts, we highly encourage owners to euthanize their pets at home whenever possible. Check with your preferred vet or vet hospital to see if they offer this service.
What Comes After
My Pet Dies?
After the death of a beloved pet, there are numerous options to help you deal with their remains.
At Home Burial - burying your pet at home can be a wonderful way for your pet to stay physically close to you after they have passed. Make sure to check with local laws before interring your pet - even on your own private property.
Aquamation - This process entails submerging the remains in an alkalized water mixture for a number of hours, which gently removes all bodily matter, besides the bones. The bones are then placed in an oven, and reduced to dust, before being returned to the family for safe keeping. Aquamation is generally considered to be a more eco-friendly alternative to cremation, however the technology is fairly new, so be sure to ask your vet ahead of time if you think aquamation is the choice for your pet.
Cremation - This process entails burning the remains of your pet in a facility, and can almost always be arranged with your veterinarian. When you cremate your pet, you will receive a small bag or box of their remains - usually within a few weeks time.
Burial in a Pet Cemetery - Burying your pet in a pet cemetery is easier today than it ever has been before. There are numerous pet cemeteries across the United States. Although services offered vary by institution, pet owners who choose this option often have the opportunity to pick a plot, headstone, and decide if they would like a formal service for their pet.
Alternative Methods - Of course, if none of the options above suit your individual needs, there are always alternative methods for memorializing your pet. Some of the most popular include planting a tree in their memory, taxidermy, or handmade and personalized goods from online or local craftspersons.
Understanding Your
Grief Cycle
Although grieving of pets is often seen as less important than grieving for our human counterparts, here at PupCycle we know that your pup is a part of your family.
Grieving is a very individualized experience. Some people experience grief in stages, others in waves. Many people experience denial, anger, and guilt before acceptance and resolution.
Grief has no exact time frame. For every individual, the grief process can look very different - for some it lasts only a few hours or days, for others it can last for months of even years. Even when you feel that your grieving process has started to come to an end, be aware that grief can come on suddenly by unexpected triggers in your life.
Talking to Kids
About Grieving
For many children, the loss of a family pet is the first death that they experience in life.
At PupCycle, we encourage you to speak to your child after the death of a pet. Often hiding the truth about a beloved animals’ death can lead to more sorrow, confusion, and even anger farther down the road in the child’s life. If you have chosen to euthanize your pet, it is often best to inform your child during the process, instead of after your pet has already been put to sleep.
Be open with your child about your grief. Children often look to their parents to determine how to act; and this is no exception. Hiding your grief from your child might set the expectation that they are not allowed to show sadness. Your reassurance that their sadness is ok will allow your child to come to terms with the death of the pet in their own time - just as you do.
Allow your child to be as involved, or disinvolved in your pet’s death as they would like during this delicate time. If they are curious about the process of euthanasia, it is ok to ask your vet to help explain the medical aspects of the procedure, or to allow them to attend the vet visit.
If appropriate, (and if they show interest), help your child to create a memorial for your pet. This can be a small note to the pet that your child reads before they are put down, a piece of art that is buried with the pet or placed next to the pet’s ashes, or a physical part of your pet - such as saving a hair clipping, or taking a plaster cast of your pet’s paw before they pass.
Interested in memorializing your pet through a creative memento or personalized craft? Check out PupCycle’s list of featured creators and makers who specialize in the creation of these goods.