Being the pet parent to a lovable dog is one of life’s great joys. Like all living creatures, however, the day will inevitably arrive when your dog passes away. When it happens, even though you’re grieving, you need to decide what to do with your precious pets’ remains. One of the options is to have them cremated, and one question you might have is how much does it cost to cremate a dog? To help you answer that question, we have useful information, facts, and figures below. Read on to get the necessary information and help your pet pass on.
Why Is Dog Cremation a Good Choice?
If you’re like most dog owners, you adored your precious pet and loved every minute they were with you. To help you with the grieving process, it’s good to have a place to visit your pet, but in some cases, that might not be possible. If you live in a big city, don’t have a yard, or can’t afford a plot in a pet cemetery, for example, your options are limited, and having a place to visit your pet will be difficult at best.
That’s when cremation can be a good choice. The need for a cemetery plot (and its high cost) is eliminated when your dog is cremated. You can scatter their ashes at their favorite park (rules and regulations permitting) or put them in a small container or urn. You can then place the urn in your home and have a beautiful reminder of your time together. Also, your dog’s ashes can go with you if you move, unlike a permanent cemetery plot. Lastly, cremation removes the painful task of handling and burying your dog, which can be overwhelmingly unpleasant for some.
How Much Does It Cost to Cremate a Dog?
The cost to cremate a dog is usually between $100 and $400. Yes, that’s a big difference, but it’s because all dogs are different, and several additional factors play a role in the cost. They include:
1. The Type of Cremation You Want for Your Dog
There are three kinds of dog cremation, and all three have different (and successively higher) costs.
- Communal cremations: With this type of dog cremation, your pet will be cremated along with several other dogs who died around the same day. It is the least expensive form of dog cremation. You will get your dog’s ashes, but they will be mixed with the ashes of others.
- Partial-private cremations: With this cremation, your dog will be cremated with other dogs, but a partition in the cremation chamber will keep them apart. The ashes you receive will thus be only from your pet and not mixed with others.
- Private cremation: This is the most expensive because your dog will be the only one in the cremation chamber. The ashes you receive will be your dog’s alone.
2. The Weight of Your Dog
Cremation is the process of using intense heat to reduce your dog’s body to ashes. The larger they are, the more time and energy this process will take, increasing the cost. This factor is especially true for private cremations where your dog is the only one in the cremation chamber. However, your dog’s weight will not be a factor in communal cremations.
3. Your Specific Location
Although prices won’t vary substantially, dog cremation costs change from place to place. Large cities usually charge the highest for dog cremations, while in rural and suburban areas, the price is generally less. Your best choice is to contact your local veterinarian and ask for their cremation costs and details.
Cremation Costs Based on Type and Dog Size / Weight
| Type of Cremation | Small Dog (Up to 50 pounds) | Medium Dog (50 to 99 pounds) | Large Dog (100 pounds+) |
| Private | $100 – $150 | $150 – $250 | $250 – $400 |
| Partial Private | $50 – $150 | $100 – $200 | $150 – $250 |
| Communal | $50 – $100 | $50 – $100 | $50 – $100 |
Additional Costs to Anticipate
There are several additional costs that you might encounter when having your dog cremated. Most depend on you, what you plan to do with their ashes, and how you plan to handle your dog’s body.
- Having your dog’s body picked up and delivered to the crematorium. You can do this yourself, also, if you feel up to the task.
- Having your dog’s ashes delivered to your home or picking them up yourself.
- Scattering their ashes in a public place.
- Purchasing a special urn or another container to store their ashes.
- Purchasing a cemetery plot. Even though they have been cremated, you can still bury your dog’s ashes in a pet cemetery if you like.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Dog Cremation?
Unfortunately, most pet insurance policies do not cover cremation services for your dog. However, as with all insurance policies, you can sometimes pay for the extra coverage. Some policies will limit what they will pay, while others will cover the entire procedure cost. To determine precisely what your pet insurance policy will cover (if anything), it’s best to contact your insurance agent.
Questions to Ask the Crematorium Staff
Depending on where you live, you might have more than one choice of a crematorium. If you do, below are a few questions you might want to ask before making your choice.
- How long does it take to get back my dog’s ashes? Most pet crematoriums will return the ashes the same day.
- Can I view the cremation process? Some crematoriums allow this, usually if you choose a private cremation.
- Can I bring my own urn or container for my dog’s ashes? Most crematoriums allow this.
- Can I see my dog’s body before the cremation begins? Most crematoriums allow this but ask yourself if it’s what you really want first. It can be very difficult for some pet parents.
- Do I need to pick up my dog’s ashes? Some crematoriums will deliver them to you, but others won’
- How can I be sure the ashes I receive are from my dog? This question is primarily an issue of trust in the facility. Checking their online reviews might be helpful.
What Can You Do With your Dog’s Ashes?
While keeping them in an urn or other container is what many people do with their dog’s ashes, there are several other choices. What you choose depends on your personal thoughts on the issue, where you live, if you have a yard, and several other factors. Below are some of the choices other pet parents have made that you can emulate if you wish.
- Scatter the ashes in your yard.
- Scatter the ashes in an outdoor area your dog loved to visit.
- Scatter the ashes over a body of water where your dog loved to swim.
- Dig a small hole in your yard and bury your dog’s ashes there.
- Rake your dog’s ashes into the soil in your garden.
- Send your dog’s ashes into outer space.
- Have your dog’s ashes placed into several small containers so everyone in the family can have a small part of them.
- Dig a hole, place your dog’s ashes inside, and plant a tree in their honor.
Final Thoughts
Losing a beloved dog is very much the same as losing any other human family member. There will be tears and grief, but hopefully, you will also be able to reflect on the many good times you shared. Having your dog’s remains cremated is a personal choice and must be made relatively quickly after they have passed. There are several benefits to cremation for dogs, especially when you don’t have a yard to bury them or want a reminder of your precious pet to keep close by.
We hope the information we’ve provided today has been helpful and will make this difficult time a little bit easier. If you decide cremation is right for your dog, we wish you the best and hope that the memories of your puppy will forever bring a smile to your face.
- Related read: How Much Does It Cost to Cremate a Cat? Price Guide
Featured Image Credit; umaruchan4678, Shutterstock
