Losing a pet can be a devastating, and sometimes the hardest thing is trying to decide how to honor and care for them after they pass.
We hope that this page can help you to navigate these options when the time comes.
In the state of Utah, there are many options available. We have listed a few of the most common body care options people choose, and what we offer through our clinic.
Group Aquamation
If you would like to have your pet cared for, but don’t need to have ashes or remains returned to you, we can provide group/communal aquamation.
Your pet will be aquamated in a group of other pets, and the facility will scatter the remains on private land.
This method uses a large container full of circulating warm water to break down the soft tissue and leave just the bones behind which are then powdered to create the “ashes” that the facility scatters.
There is a nominal fee for this based on the weight of your pet.
Home Burial/Take home
A home burial is a very commonly chosen option. There is no cost for this option and your pet will be placed in a biodegradable box to be taken home.
If you wish to do something other than burial or what we offer here, just let us know and we can facilitate other options that you may be interested in.
*On rare occasion, if an animal is known to have an infectious disease, we may need to take care of your pet’s body per health department or USDA regulations (avian influenza is an example)
Private Body Care - Aquamation
Aquamation is a new method similar to cremation available to owners in our desire to be more environmentally responsible.
This process uses less energy overall, it doesn’t use fossil fuels or create air pollution, and the nutrient-rich water is returned to the water table.
This method uses a large container full of circulating warm water to break down the soft tissues and leave just the bones behind which are then powdered to give you the “ashes” that you receive. Aquamation yields a slightly larger amount of remains.
(Costs vary depending on the weight of your pet. Please ask one of our staff members for the current pricing for this option.)
Other Memorial Items We Offer
Clay Paw Print – Our staff prepares these with polymer clay and we bake them on site. We will generally have them available within one week. We can make multiples if desired and can ship them if needed.
Fur/Feather Clippings – We are happy to trim a bit of fur or feathers from your companion and return it before you leave our clinic, or with the ink pawprints that we make for every pet who passes in our clinic.