Frequently Asked Questions
Our clients have many questions before, after, and as their pet passes. Understandably, this time can be very hard and confusing for pet owners and we want to give you all the information you need.
What will happen to my pet’s body?
In most cases, after your pet has died, and you have had the opportunity to say your final farewell, the body will be entrusted in the care of your veterinarian until you decide what you want to do. If you feel you are not able to make an immediate decision, that’s okay! Simply ask your veterinarian to hold your pet’s body for you for a couple of days, until you provide further instructions. Most veterinarians can do this without difficulty and are more than happy to provide assistance/guidance with making your final arrangements.
Feel free to ask for our pre-planning booklet or contact us should you have any questions or concerns.
How can I be sure my pet is treated with respect?
Honor Your Pet Aftercare Services has worked hard to gain a reputation for excellence and is the preferred service provider for 45+ veterinary hospitals and clinics north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island. Honor Your Pet Aftercare Services is proud to be a member of International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories. We follow their processes and procedures and have addressed all criteria for ethical operations according to guidelines established by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. You can be rest assured that Honor Your Pet Aftercare Services and your veterinarian advocate will handle your pet’s body with honesty, dignity and respect. In order to provide comfort to our clients we have chosen to put in video surveillance for full transparency purposes. This ensures that all processes and procedures are followed, and all the bodies are handled with care. Your pet will be picked up in a fully-enclosed vehicle and transported to our mortuary to await cremation. We take pride in our turn around time as we understand the importance of clients having their pet returned as soon as possible.
If I opt for a ‘returned cremation’, how can I be certain I will get the right ashes back?
Your animal companion is identified with a numbered stainless-steel tag. When we perform a returned cremation, we include the tag with the pet’s body in the cremation process. It remains intact throughout the cremation process and is given to you (along with the cremains) as a guarantee of accuracy. We also provide you with a certificate of cremation; sharing the cremation date, your animal’s name and the number that is on the tag that was linked to your pet’s body through the process. If there is any medical hardware found with the bone structure of your pet that is returned also. All the family’s directives are put in a secure data base system and the animal is tracked from the time the body arrives in our care until the time it is delivered back to the family or to the veterinarian hospital/clinic. We follow the regulated human cremation procedures as close as we possibly can. Your veterinarian takes great care in labeling and handling all the bodies entrusted in their care. While there are no government regulations controlling the operation of pet crematorium facilities in British Columbia, we have set our own high standards for professionalism and ethical business practices. Tara and Andre Laderoute of Honor Your Pet Aftercare Services have completed accredited courses through the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories as a Certified Pet Cremationist, Pet Funeral Director and Life Celebrant.
How long does it usually take to get my pet’s ashes back if I am having a returned cremation done?
Depending on your geographical location and the day in which your animal passes, it may take up to a week for the ashes to be returned to you. If you are working with your veterinarian, they can advise you on the expected time frame and will call you when the ashes have been returned to the clinic and they are available for pick up. The other option is to arrange pick up at the facility if you so choose. If you are located in Powell River or along the Sunshine Coast your timeline for getting your ashes back is typically longer as we do not go to the islands as often as picking up at the Vancouver Island Region Clinics. You are more than welcome to bring your pet to our facility and pick the ashes up to expedite the cremation process.