Sometimes I hate living next to a vet

[lucy3]

hi
i always used to bury my pets in the garden or my dads garden but got so many ( i took on alot of hospice, disabled or old pets lots of cats too so thats why not that im bad at keeping pets lol)
now i have started to have them cremated which i find alot less upsetting and more peaceful my vets sort it out i have my pets put to sleep at home now just calmer for them and then after ive said my goodbyes and cuddles they take my pet and sort out with the cremation place then my pet comes back to vets and someone picks up for me usually
i put them round garden where they used to enjoy being i choose my dads as he going live here til forever my last 2 i havent felt up to parting completely and still have their ashes in my bedroom
i hope no one finds this too morbid i dont feel it is my nanas ashes are also in my dads garden where i live as thats what she wanted to be near my old dog skip and pets id had and have
it helps me alot to know they are all still around me
and though so upsetting and hard i try and help another pet out as soon as up to it as feel that best compliment to passed pets and so many need help in shelters   

[Leanne]

Unfortunately I have to deal with people and their deceased dogs daily, usually it on the phone and sometimes they really upset me especally some of the letters with photos.

When Jess was hospitalised, we went to visit on the Sunday morning, and whilst we were there the emergency vet Simon, came running past us with a spaniel in his arms and the owners in tow, after a few minutes the owners came back past us visibly distraught, and the vet came though with a yellow bag, we knew what was inside. We were waiting to talk to Simon, who kept apologising every time he passed that he was busy, I could hardly talk to him when he did come over, I was quite upset myself and Simon looked awful, he said he was having a bad day, and somehow I'm not surprised. 

I would love to train as a vet nurse but I don't know how I would deal with the euthanasia on a daily basis, this is the one thing that puts me off. If I allow myself to think about losing either Jess or Milo it makes me weep and I honestly don't know how I would deal with it.

[Rosella moggy]

Right that's me lot looking at this thread. Fed up of bursting into tears all the time.
It were you this time Leigh 

[JackSpratt]

I would prefer cremation, but can't get my head round the idea of keeping the ashes at home - I think I would scatter the ashes over my cats favorite playing/hiding spots. I don't know if that is legal though.

Anything's legal if you're sneaky enough about it.

Tobys ashes are in an urn on the bookcase. I'm waiting for his orange tree to get bigger before I put them in the planter. (Orange tree because we called him our "little orange buddy.") When I was asked what I wanted to do and I specified individual cremation with an urn I wasn't thinking especially clearly. I expected the urn to be a plain vessel to just carry the ashes. It's a dainty china pot with tiny blue flowers on it - quite sweet really.

Got to stop typing now, bit too recent to think about it too much.

[LeighK]

Hi Mark,

It is very sad. I've been thinking a bit about this a few times recently. Suzie's getting older and I've had to put my mind to what I shall do when the time comes and, as she was my mum's cat before I adopted her and has been a part of our family for so many years, I'm going to have her cremated and I want to scatter her ashes in the garden at my mum's nursing home which is right underneath her window and where we can both be close to her. It's making me sad just thinking about it as I type but one has to give thought to such things and mum and I would both like this but Suzie's such a grand senior catizen that I'm hoping and praying that she has many more years left before I have to consider such things for real.

Best

Leigh

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Mark, the signage on that van is one I know, unfortunately. They specialise in horses.  Recently, I was working and on my route are several fields of horses. I know them all pretty well by now as most of their owners come on my bus. On one journey, I saw one of my favourite horses collapsed in it's field surrounded by people. She was called Rosanna and was 28 years old. Her owner was in floods of tears. The next time I passed by the field, all the people were gone but a large tarpaulin was drapped over her. The next day, the Cherry Tree horse box was there collecting her. 

I gently asked her owner about the Cherry Tree van and she said almost everyone uses the Cherry Tree people and they have an excellent reputation for treating people with respect. I would think they probably have the contract for cremation with a lot of vets. So I guess this is where little Hastings, Dover and Sandwich went. Also my own puss Tigger.  I have to say, I'm slightly relieved to see your photo, Mark, as it would be awful to think the council van comes round. At least they are using professionals who actually deal with owners feelings and have a track record for dignity. 

[maryas]

Must be awful Mark - but we do know it happens a lot unfortunately.

Like with humans we should try and talk about it and not let the subject be taboo.  I never thought about what I would do when Smudge died but as most of you know I had to bury him recently.

As soon as I brought him home I knew exactly what I wanted to do - it was strange how I didn't really have to think about it.

He loved to sit in the middle of the heather in my front garden so I asked my friend's husband to dig a grave in front of it.

I put some old bath towels on the bottom and then Smudge wrapped in his fave blanket and then his food mat with his name on it on top of him and then sprinkled some heather on top of the mat before the soil.  I then placed a black cat ornament in middle of the heather and one in front of it.  I'm crying my eyes out now but I can look at the place and actually give a little smile now.

Mary

[Kirst]

When we had Oscar PTS we were asked whether we wnted private or bulk cremation , and also whether we wanted th ashes in a sealed or openable box.

We choe private and sealed and he is buried in his fave spot in the garden

[ccmacey]

Was a bit baffled there for a minute lol

My box is sealed and it sounds like the ashes are loose inside. I give it a little shake on her birthday, christmas etc to awaken her spirit, so she can be here with us 

[LesleyW]

I don't really want them being buried.  I suppose if I change my mind, I may just scatter them in the garden but I would want to be somewhere where I knew I was going to stay forever.

My thoughts exactly!

After getting my cats ashes back I went through a stage of thinking how do I know if thats her ashes in there, is that normal? Also how would you open the sealed box without loosing the contents if you were going to scatter them?

This quite normal, but I know if you want to our local "man" will let you go to his place and they do a little service etc so you know it is your pet.  You can normally open the box, the ashes are in a litle bag inside.  I've often though of getting one of those little pendants you can put a very small amount of ashes in, but thought maybe this was a bit morbid.

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

I am surprised the van was there in the day light -
Most pick up at night and have a key to let themselves in.

[ccmacey]

I don't really want them being buried.  I suppose if I change my mind, I may just scatter them in the garden but I would want to be somewhere where I knew I was going to stay forever.

My thoughts exactly!

After getting my cats ashes back I went through a stage of thinking how do I know if thats her ashes in there, is that normal? Also how would you open the sealed box without loosing the contents if you were going to scatter them?

[ccmacey]

But Mark at least with seeing that van you know the pet has been loved and better than seeing a council van I suppose  

I will have all of my pets cremated because I want them to be buried with me. I have Renies ashes in a wooden casket and have to keep it out of sight as when I look at it it all comes flooding back.

I suppose people who dont want the ashes back have a communial cremation but I think thats ok too as they will be with pets that have been loved.

For all of the past animals that do get picked up by the council van I think thats so sad.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I've had a few of mine cremated and when I go, they will be going with me, nothing morbid it's just that I know the kids won't really want to be lumbered with them and I don't really want them being buried.  I suppose if I change my mind, I may just scatter them in the garden but I would want to be somewhere where I knew I was going to stay forever.

I've seen a few animals pts which isn't nice but I think when they are suffering, it also gives us humans peace of mind when they go.  I saw a cat that Sean was working on last week, and sadly he euthanised her whilst I was there, I know my vets get upset when doing these things but I also know how I feel and sometimes, when they are ill or injured, although upsetting, it's a relief as you know they are not hurting anymore. 

[tigerbaby]

I would prefer cremation, but can't get my head round the idea of keeping the ashes at home - I think I would scatter the ashes over my cats favorite playing/hiding spots. I don't know if that is legal though.

[Desley (booktigger)]

That is one of the reasons I couldn't be a vet, although i do still go through it a lot. I am not sure how detached vets are actually, I know my vet sedated Pebbles cos she didn't want to be looking into her eyes, and she did seem upset when we had to let my mum's dog go. i dont have mine cremated, I Can't get my head round that for animals (mind you, I dont want a funeral for myself, so I just have weird views with death), but I know my vets do offer private cremation, it is more expensive though.
That lady sounds wonderful Mark, we could do wtih more people like that.

[Rosella moggy]

  Bless her. What alovely woman....

[Mark]

I homechecked a lovely 80 year old woman today and she was talking about it - maybe that's why I was thinking about it all. She told me that when her husband went, they told her if he came home, he would have tubes, would be bedridden deaf & blind. She said "How could you do that to someone you love" so she asked for DNR - she said it was the same with her 4 year old Siamese who went to the vet for what they thought was an obstruction. The vet phoned during the op and said it was a serious tumour. He offered to stitch the cat up and said if she wanted to she could have a few more days with him but he would be poorly. She said she asked them to do it while he was already asleep as she loved him so much it would have been selfish to have him brought round again so she could see him  - She was the model home check 

She also wanted and oldie as she said that she is 80 but still wants a bit of love and companionship and it should be the same for animals 

[Liz]

Mark we have had all ours cremated to date and I like to bring them home on their own with me so they leave and come home just with me the way they go

We have a wonderful crematorium for animals up here and when you go to pick them up there is a remembrance book and a chapel for folks who need extra time and the man is nicer than some of the human folks in this line we have had dealings with!

All ours are on a shelf in our bedroom and gems kittens will be going with Cod the goldfish  - all together and come home to us soon

We cremate because that way we can if they get in to the garden we can dig up the urns and take them with us - once a Clan member always a Clan member!!!!!!!

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

When my sister's babe passed over, my sister asked for an individual cremation and to have the ashes back. The whole process was very sensitively dealth with, her ashes were returned in a very simple box with no frills, and a lovely poem.   It gave my sister peace to take the ashes and place them in Fuddy's favourite shady spot in the garden. Strangely enough when Spenny came along  Fuddy' ashes were still in the box on the cabinet with her photo and collar beside it.

Spenny would go every day, without fail, onto the cabinet and knock the collar off and the photo over and the walk off 

The funny thing was that when he first arrived (a stray with no home found) he frist made himself known to them by sleeping in Fuddy's favourite shady spot... and she hadn't been laid there yet after the passed on.. Strange but so sweet.

[Rosella moggy]

I agree Mark. Knowing a little of what to expect helps alot.

[Mark]

Yes, you can ask for the ashes back. There are so many options. One I "Like" if that is the right word is a wooden carving of a cat sleeping. I sometimes think that if we talk about these things it somehow makes the whole business easier to deal with rather than it being taboo.

[Rosella moggy]

I hardly dare ask, as don't want to upset others, but when we tell a vet we would like our pet cremated (sorry don't know how welse to put it and feel awful for anyone going thru this atm) are we supposed to specify "individual" or "bulk". Is it perhaps a question of whether we would like ashes back? 

Afraid I have no qualms about cremation either way for humans or animals. I don't believe in a hereafter for me or my loved ones although would like to think we all might be able to do a we bit of fertilizing. I don;t mean to sound cold as I hurt as much as the next person belive me  . Really no offence meant to anyone and I truly respect other views.  I have never asked for ashes to be returned so don't know the ropes.

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

I have to admire people who can do that job. We know bulk cremations happen for various reasons, though my personal choice will always be individual cremation when the time comes. It so sad.

[Mark]

I suppose it's all part of the job and they are just relieving suffering. I suppose they learn to be detached. I was in the private part of a vets a couple of weeks ago and I was standing in the corridor and the practice manager came out of a room shaking a plastic bag open that had the words "Bulk Cremation" in big type on it - she saw my face and quickly put it behind her back and scuttled off 

[hOrZa]

When I was young I wanted to be a vet but ideas change and found myself in IT but I did a network job in a vet recently and on every day of the three days I worked there I saw animals put to sleep In a way I'm glad I didn't become a vet for that part

[Mark]

I know and it's obviously done for people that love their animals but it still spooks me every time I see it from my window.
The blue carrier bag surprised me though 

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

  you work in rescue, so you know that it happens more often than we'd like to see, since their lifespans are so much shorter than ours.

[Mark]

I looked out of my kitchen window yesterday and saw this van - I try not to look but he was putting something in a carrier bag in the back  - It's the pet crematorium van - I always seem to see it and I hate it