Pet Urn Materials For Your Dog Or Cat

December 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

pet urn materialsYour pet was a member of your family, so it makes sense that you would want to memorialize him or her in your home.  Researching and choosing a pet urn during a period of grieving can be difficult and it can also be cathartic.  Laying your pet to rest is never an easy process, but choosing the perfect urn to store his or her ashes can help ease the pain.  When you know that your family friend will be honored with a fitting memorial, it can begin to help you heal.

Cremation urns have often been seen as ugly or uninteresting, but it all depends on the style you choose in the end.  The traditional wide-mouthed vase is not your only option.  Urns come in all shapes, styles, sizes and materials.  In this article we’ll cover the different types of materials urns are made from and which one is right for you and your pet.

Metal urns are the most common.  These pet urns are usually crafted from inexpensive but durable metals.  Pewter, brass and bronze are used most often.  Metals are obviously the more traditional of your options and are available in a variety of colors that can suit the decor of your home.

Glass urns have recently become popular.  Stained or tinted glass can be an elegant way to keep your pet’s memory alive.  These glass pet urns are available in many styles and any color imaginable.  The glass urn is a little less “stuffy” than its metal counterpart and would fit a more modern  home well.

Ceramics and stones are the most customizable urns.  These cat and dog urns can be carved into any shape.  There are many available online that are carved to look like dogs, cats, butterflies or anything else you can imagine.  There are even companies that will allow you to commission a custom urn, perhaps in the shape of your pet or his/her favorite toy.

For those that prefer a more natural choice, there are wooden urns available.  Wood is perfect for the more outdoorsy type.  If your pet loved to run in the park with you, what better way to honor his memory than to have an urn made from the same kind of wood as his favorite tree?

There are many, many choices in choosing the perfect urn to honor your beloved pet.  The process can seem overwhelming at first, but narrowing down your choice by knowing your material preference can make the task a little less daunting.  Once you know what type of urn you want, view my featured lists of photographic, modern or classic urns.

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How to Choose an Urn For Your Dog or Cat

December 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Choosing an urn for your catYour dog or cat was your best friend and part of your family.  A beloved companion that it is hard to say goodbye to.  If you have chosen cremation, the best way to honor your pet’s memory is by choosing an urn that suits him or her.  There are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration when seeking out and purchasing an urn.  Some of these factors are absolute and some are a matter of preference.

First, you will need to know your dog or cat’s weight prior to purchasing an urn.  This is so that you know what size urn to purchase.  You can weigh your pet yourself at home by standing on a scale, then standing on the scale with the pet and subtracting your own weight from that figure.  If this is not an option, you can also contact your veterinarian for your pet’s last recorded weight.  When searching for the perfect urn to memorialize your pet, keep in mind that one pound of body weight equals one cubic inch of ash.  As an example, if you have a dog that weighs twenty pounds, you will need an urn capable of holding 20 cubic inches.  These numbers should be readily available from any reputable distributor.

types of cat urnsThe next decision you must make is whether you are going to bury or display your pet’s urn.  If you choose to bury it, you will want to take the material the urn is made out of into consideration.  Decide whether or not you want the urn to last the weathering of being buried or whether you want it to decompose within the earth.  There are biodegradable urns available for this option.

If you would rather display the pet’s urn in your home, take your apartment or house’s decor into consideration.  Keep in mind that this urn is something you will be displaying to memorialize your pet for generations to come.  There are dozens of styles of dog and cat urns available online, and one is bound to suit your style and honor your pet at the same time.

There are two types of urn shapes that are most common.  One is the vase style that you are probably already familiar with, and the other is the “keepsake” box style.  The keepsake box can be large enough to put your pet’s tags or favorite toy inside with the ashes or anything else you feel your pet would like to take with in the afterlife.  However, if you plan to add anything besides your pet’s ashes to the urn, keep the cubic mass of the addition in mind when choosing a size.

Another important thing to consider when purchasing an urn for your departed pet is the material of the urn.  Read my next article for more information.

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To Bury or Display Your Pet

December 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Pet cemeteriesDeciding what to do when your pet passes away is obviously complicated.  There are so many choices to make and options to consider.  The most common and popular method is cremation.  If you come this far in my series on pet cremation, this is probably the decision you’ve made, or at least one you are heavily considering.

In our culture, burial is still the more popular option for managing our loved ones after they have passed on.  However, cremation has been gaining in popularity for generations as a less expensive alternative.  As discussed in previous articles, cremation is also a nice way to honor your lost dog or cat by giving him or her a permanent place in your home, one that transcends life and death.

If you prefer the idea of burial but don’t have the ability to bury your pet in traditional manners, there is still one more option.  You can choose an urn for your pet and have a burial for that urn and his or her ashes.  Pet cemeteries offer much less expensive burial plots for urns because they take up less land space.  Some pet cemeteries also have enclosures intended for cremation urns that will give you peace of mind that the ashes are safe.  You will also have a place to visit your pet whenever you choose.

If you would prefer to bury at home, cremation and a pet urn make this process easier as well.  If you live on a plot of land that has space limits it lessens the amount of room necessary for a proper burial.  This is especially true if you have a pet that is a large breed.  Choosing to bury an urn instead of the body will also lighten the load on whomever has to put in the physical labor to create the grave site.

With the option of urn burial at home, you can also have a headstone made or plant a tree to permanently memorialize your lost companion for generations to come.  This provides a close, safe place for you to honor your pet and enjoy the memories you have of him or her.

If you would like to choose a more natural burial, there are many biodegradable options out there.  One of the most interesting is a sea burial concept from Marble Products International.

natural looking pet urns

While this Carpel Rock Salt Pet Urn above is a beautiful piece, it is made from rock salt and is designed to fully dissolve within four hours.  This particular urn is 80 cubic inches in volume, so it could hold pets of several different sizes.

The burial process also offers the opportunity to have a funeral or ceremony to celebrate your pet’s life with those who love you and loved your pet with you.  My next article contains several ideas for how to hold a burial ceremony if you choose this route.

The alternative to burial is to keep your pet’s ashes in an urn in your home.  Many people prefer this option so that their companion animal can remain close to them for years after his or her life in this realm has ended.  In this case, choosing an urn that properly memorializes your pet is very important.

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