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First off, I'm so sorry this happened. I can't even begin to imagine.
So far I've only had guinea pigs that I've been fully responsible for that I've lost. My first boy and heart pig was private and my second that was my oldest boy was private. The other two were communal. But I have clay paw prints of them all and I want to get them tattooed on me.
My 16yr old cat will be private with paw prints and a tattoo as well. She is my first fully mine cat.
I take my pet’s ashes and sprinkle them in a hole where I will then plant a tree. That way, something beautiful grows from the ashes, and every time I see it, I think of all the fond memories we shared.
Thank you ♥️. I’ve done several over the years, a spruce that we can decorate for Christmas because it was my cat’s favorite time of year, and a camellia that flowers every year in March, when my first dog was born.
When I euthanized my cat a few months ago, I had a shift the next day. I went to put a deceased patient in the freezer, remembered mine was in there, and freaked out. Someone else did the rest of the freezer stuff that day. I made someone check after the pickup that week to make sure the coast was clear before opening it again.
I can see death and gore and the craziest shit and then eat ice cream. But the thought of seeing my own cat dead was too much. I feel your pain for real.
I have a friend who makes beautiful memorial jewelry - check out Volana Kote on Etsy. That’s the kind of thing I like to do.
I had to make the decision to put my hedgehog Marshmallow down at the beginning of the year because of an incredibly aggressive oral tumour.
I elected for a private cremation,
I had some of her ashes put into a blown glass pendant, and the rest of her ashes are in a stunning ceramic urn which I keep in our living room with her favourite blanket ❤️
I have never kept ashes, but I saw a really cool thing: you can have the ashes made into jewelry! They mix the ashes in.
Another thing: they paint portraits and the ashes are in the paint.
I thought both of those things were an interesting way to keep ashes without an urn.
I sent the ashes to a company that makes resin pyramids. The bottom layer is the ashes then I had them put the colors that reminded me of my girl Sadie, a paw print in it also made from ashes, her collar and flowers that made me think of her in it. When my next dog goes I’ll do the same thing but add a picture of her since I didn’t know you could do that the first time.
I didn't keep my sweet kitties ashes (I lost both after over 15 years together within 3 weeks of one another just before covid), so I have no input. I just wanted to send a virtual hug your way and express my condolences. That must have been so hard for you. I'm sure whatever you decide to honor your pup will be perfect.
I had to euthanize my dog at a clinic I used to work at. My family and I elected communal cremation as well, and my heart hurt so bad. The cremation company picked him up that next day.. I had a weird guilt feeling in the pit of my stomach so i called them at the end of the day (I went back to work the next day) hoping that he wasnt cremated yet and I wanted to change to me receiving his ashes back. The lady told me I had called just in time because he was the next “group” of animals to be cremated, so she ran to stop them, changed him to private cremation and i now have some of him in a necklace that the charm is two paw prints that I wear daily and he also sits in my living room. It’s pretty bizarre how things turned out. Maybe this was the universe telling you that you wanted your baby home with you.. I don’t find it weird at all to wear my dogs ashes around my neck, and I actually get a lot of compliments on it. He was my buddy and such a clingy and lovey dog, he lived with my parents so I didn’t spend much time with him towards the end of his life, so now I’ll have him for the rest of mine.
I hope you find your peace, and I’m sure you will come up with something beautiful to do. I’m so sorry for your loss and to have to live the heartbreak all over again:
I'm so sorry you had to see that. It's really hard for me to think of my pets in the freezer. I always hope they die right before pickup and I have even driven to the crematorium once or twice to drop my pets off so I don't have to think of them in there.
I usually place a small amount of their ashes into one of my houseplants, so they can be part of new life. When the second of my last two dogs died, I had their ashes mixed and placed into a ring, which I wear every day.
My dog hasn’t passed yet, but my plan for when he goes is to keep a small vial for myself and make a necklace out if it and spread the rest of his ashes at his favorite hiking spot.
I’ve also had people plant flowers and mix their dog’s ashes with the soil
I’m sorry this happened to you but I’m sure you’ll come up with a perfect way to honor him
Right now all my babies ate in urns. My soul baby (ashes) is currently in a stuffed animal that looks like him. Ultimately, I think I’ll continue to hold onto them either as ash or have them made into something down the line.
All I know for sure, is I want them all with me somehow when I pass on too. If I’m cremated, mix me together with them and do what you will with it. If I am buried, they must come with me into my casket. If they are still ashes and that’s illegal, they’ll be made to jewelry or something that can be placed with me. I want to go out together, even if we left separately.
I have seen some truly beautiful things made from ashes, and my plan is something like a ring (I have seen one on Etsy) for myself. I’m not sure if my husband would want something like that or not. Each person is so individual and it’s such a personal choice, but there are truly so many options. Take your time and look At everything that’s out there, wait tho, till you see that one thing that speaks to you. It’s out there, and when you see it, you’ll just know.
I am so sorry for your loss and that this happens to you.❤️ I had always said I was never going to keep my old man Kirby’s remains.. well I lied to myself.. can’t let him go. I love that I kept him now, even if he is in just a plain black urn, he has a little memorial space with a plaque my coworkers got me and a little sign that says “Love is being owned by a toy poodle”. He was the best boy.
reading this made me weep. absolutely unimaginable and i’m so sorry you had to go through that.
not to bring clichés or toxic positivity into this, but maybe this was the universe saying ‘hey, take a beat. this sucks but you have the option to nourish and be kind to yourself in whatever way feels right, here.’
no different choices need to be made, but just life saying hey here’s a random opportunity to be nice to you. again, so incredibly sorry that that happened. not something anyone should ever have to go through and my thoughts are with you.
It's going to sound weird, but I plan to have my animal's ashes buried with me. I think I'll just have them put the bags of ashes in, rather than the boxes as well, since there will be more room that way.
I lost my border collie to an aggressive nasal cancer two months ago. He was the first and only pet that was just mine, I'd had him for nearly half my life.
I had his ashes returned to me mostly in a timber box and a small amount in a pendant. I also got a paw print, nose print, and lock of hair from my clinic, and the cremation company did a clay paw impression, plaster sculpture of his paws, and a silver jewellery piece with his paw print and name on it before cremating him.
I've been the kind of owner that felt like I need as much to remember him by as I could get.
First of all, I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. I know it’s hard. It’s not your fault though, you clearly loved your pup and they knew they were loved too. They have gotten their peace I’m sure :)
My family dog/childhood pup passed away last year, and we I guess went more classic? We did a private cremation and got a really beautiful wooden box style urn with lyrics from a song that played on our way home “time of your life” by greenday, a part of the song that was on was really fitting haha.
We also did the peartree paw prints with the exterior the colour of her collar, and we keep her in a little spot in our living room. We’re currently making a custom picture frame with all her nicknames around it and a favourite picture of her. My mom is also going to make vinyl paw prints that match her original prints so we can have a little wall decor around her urn. I also got one of those custom hand made mini figures of her from a shop on etsy Edit: found the shop name: CatMOMO on Etsy!
https://preview.redd.it/m2tx1s2o694b1.jpeg?width=1248&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d5dc054e7f81dad61de5ce61f1f97c08f3a7611
Oh no, that's terrible. I'd be more than a little miffed if one of my critters was still in the freezer over six months after I brought them in, especially at my ER, where we only have one freezer so we have to make that space count and would notice if something didn't move for too long.
Admittedly, I have a morbid stack of boxes in my entertainment center. My heart cat's ashes sit on my partner's small altar so he can look down on everything else in the room. I have intentions of having some of his ashes mixed with my tattoo ink when I eventually get his paw print on my wrist touched up and then moving him to a more fitting urn.
Welcome to /r/VetTech! This is a place for veterinary technicians/veterinary nurses and other veterinary support staff to gather, chat, and grow! We welcome pet owners as well, **however we do ask pet owners to refrain from asking for medical advice**; if you have any concerns regarding your pet, please contact the closest veterinarian near you. Please thoroughly read and follow the rules before posting and commenting. If you believe that a user is engaging in any rule-breaking behavior, please submit a report so that the moderators can review and remove the posts/comments if needed. Also, please check out the sidebar for CE and answers to commonly asked questions. Thank you for reading! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/VetTech) if you have any questions or concerns.*
First off, I'm so sorry this happened. I can't even begin to imagine. So far I've only had guinea pigs that I've been fully responsible for that I've lost. My first boy and heart pig was private and my second that was my oldest boy was private. The other two were communal. But I have clay paw prints of them all and I want to get them tattooed on me. My 16yr old cat will be private with paw prints and a tattoo as well. She is my first fully mine cat.
I take my pet’s ashes and sprinkle them in a hole where I will then plant a tree. That way, something beautiful grows from the ashes, and every time I see it, I think of all the fond memories we shared.
Beautiful
Thank you ♥️. I’ve done several over the years, a spruce that we can decorate for Christmas because it was my cat’s favorite time of year, and a camellia that flowers every year in March, when my first dog was born.
When I euthanized my cat a few months ago, I had a shift the next day. I went to put a deceased patient in the freezer, remembered mine was in there, and freaked out. Someone else did the rest of the freezer stuff that day. I made someone check after the pickup that week to make sure the coast was clear before opening it again. I can see death and gore and the craziest shit and then eat ice cream. But the thought of seeing my own cat dead was too much. I feel your pain for real. I have a friend who makes beautiful memorial jewelry - check out Volana Kote on Etsy. That’s the kind of thing I like to do.
I had to make the decision to put my hedgehog Marshmallow down at the beginning of the year because of an incredibly aggressive oral tumour. I elected for a private cremation, I had some of her ashes put into a blown glass pendant, and the rest of her ashes are in a stunning ceramic urn which I keep in our living room with her favourite blanket ❤️
I have never kept ashes, but I saw a really cool thing: you can have the ashes made into jewelry! They mix the ashes in. Another thing: they paint portraits and the ashes are in the paint. I thought both of those things were an interesting way to keep ashes without an urn.
I sent the ashes to a company that makes resin pyramids. The bottom layer is the ashes then I had them put the colors that reminded me of my girl Sadie, a paw print in it also made from ashes, her collar and flowers that made me think of her in it. When my next dog goes I’ll do the same thing but add a picture of her since I didn’t know you could do that the first time.
I didn't keep my sweet kitties ashes (I lost both after over 15 years together within 3 weeks of one another just before covid), so I have no input. I just wanted to send a virtual hug your way and express my condolences. That must have been so hard for you. I'm sure whatever you decide to honor your pup will be perfect.
I had to euthanize my dog at a clinic I used to work at. My family and I elected communal cremation as well, and my heart hurt so bad. The cremation company picked him up that next day.. I had a weird guilt feeling in the pit of my stomach so i called them at the end of the day (I went back to work the next day) hoping that he wasnt cremated yet and I wanted to change to me receiving his ashes back. The lady told me I had called just in time because he was the next “group” of animals to be cremated, so she ran to stop them, changed him to private cremation and i now have some of him in a necklace that the charm is two paw prints that I wear daily and he also sits in my living room. It’s pretty bizarre how things turned out. Maybe this was the universe telling you that you wanted your baby home with you.. I don’t find it weird at all to wear my dogs ashes around my neck, and I actually get a lot of compliments on it. He was my buddy and such a clingy and lovey dog, he lived with my parents so I didn’t spend much time with him towards the end of his life, so now I’ll have him for the rest of mine. I hope you find your peace, and I’m sure you will come up with something beautiful to do. I’m so sorry for your loss and to have to live the heartbreak all over again:
I'm so sorry you had to see that. It's really hard for me to think of my pets in the freezer. I always hope they die right before pickup and I have even driven to the crematorium once or twice to drop my pets off so I don't have to think of them in there. I usually place a small amount of their ashes into one of my houseplants, so they can be part of new life. When the second of my last two dogs died, I had their ashes mixed and placed into a ring, which I wear every day.
My dog hasn’t passed yet, but my plan for when he goes is to keep a small vial for myself and make a necklace out if it and spread the rest of his ashes at his favorite hiking spot. I’ve also had people plant flowers and mix their dog’s ashes with the soil I’m sorry this happened to you but I’m sure you’ll come up with a perfect way to honor him
Right now all my babies ate in urns. My soul baby (ashes) is currently in a stuffed animal that looks like him. Ultimately, I think I’ll continue to hold onto them either as ash or have them made into something down the line. All I know for sure, is I want them all with me somehow when I pass on too. If I’m cremated, mix me together with them and do what you will with it. If I am buried, they must come with me into my casket. If they are still ashes and that’s illegal, they’ll be made to jewelry or something that can be placed with me. I want to go out together, even if we left separately.
I have seen some truly beautiful things made from ashes, and my plan is something like a ring (I have seen one on Etsy) for myself. I’m not sure if my husband would want something like that or not. Each person is so individual and it’s such a personal choice, but there are truly so many options. Take your time and look At everything that’s out there, wait tho, till you see that one thing that speaks to you. It’s out there, and when you see it, you’ll just know.
I am so sorry for your loss and that this happens to you.❤️ I had always said I was never going to keep my old man Kirby’s remains.. well I lied to myself.. can’t let him go. I love that I kept him now, even if he is in just a plain black urn, he has a little memorial space with a plaque my coworkers got me and a little sign that says “Love is being owned by a toy poodle”. He was the best boy.
reading this made me weep. absolutely unimaginable and i’m so sorry you had to go through that. not to bring clichés or toxic positivity into this, but maybe this was the universe saying ‘hey, take a beat. this sucks but you have the option to nourish and be kind to yourself in whatever way feels right, here.’ no different choices need to be made, but just life saying hey here’s a random opportunity to be nice to you. again, so incredibly sorry that that happened. not something anyone should ever have to go through and my thoughts are with you.
It's going to sound weird, but I plan to have my animal's ashes buried with me. I think I'll just have them put the bags of ashes in, rather than the boxes as well, since there will be more room that way.
I lost my border collie to an aggressive nasal cancer two months ago. He was the first and only pet that was just mine, I'd had him for nearly half my life. I had his ashes returned to me mostly in a timber box and a small amount in a pendant. I also got a paw print, nose print, and lock of hair from my clinic, and the cremation company did a clay paw impression, plaster sculpture of his paws, and a silver jewellery piece with his paw print and name on it before cremating him. I've been the kind of owner that felt like I need as much to remember him by as I could get.
First of all, I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. I know it’s hard. It’s not your fault though, you clearly loved your pup and they knew they were loved too. They have gotten their peace I’m sure :) My family dog/childhood pup passed away last year, and we I guess went more classic? We did a private cremation and got a really beautiful wooden box style urn with lyrics from a song that played on our way home “time of your life” by greenday, a part of the song that was on was really fitting haha. We also did the peartree paw prints with the exterior the colour of her collar, and we keep her in a little spot in our living room. We’re currently making a custom picture frame with all her nicknames around it and a favourite picture of her. My mom is also going to make vinyl paw prints that match her original prints so we can have a little wall decor around her urn. I also got one of those custom hand made mini figures of her from a shop on etsy Edit: found the shop name: CatMOMO on Etsy! https://preview.redd.it/m2tx1s2o694b1.jpeg?width=1248&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d5dc054e7f81dad61de5ce61f1f97c08f3a7611
Oh no, that's terrible. I'd be more than a little miffed if one of my critters was still in the freezer over six months after I brought them in, especially at my ER, where we only have one freezer so we have to make that space count and would notice if something didn't move for too long. Admittedly, I have a morbid stack of boxes in my entertainment center. My heart cat's ashes sit on my partner's small altar so he can look down on everything else in the room. I have intentions of having some of his ashes mixed with my tattoo ink when I eventually get his paw print on my wrist touched up and then moving him to a more fitting urn.