Another post has made me think about this one :-
What do you do with your pets ashes???
I really need to do soething with Gemmas. She has been gone 2 1/2 years and her ashes are still on my mantel piece.
She was a dog in a million, the ONE that you will never live without if you see what I mean.
I wont bury them as I rent.
All my other small pets have been buried at my parents house.
Lea :) :)

I am in the same situation. We asked for Luke's ashes to be in a casket, as with the previous dog we had been presented with them in a plastic vet's carton,which was horrid. However, I hadn't realised the casket would be completely sealed - so he's still on the book-case at present, nearly 18 months on. We do own our house, but I'm always loth to bury because we'll probably move at some time....so what does one do?

I have all mine at home and I wouldn't and couldn't part with them.
As morbid as it sounds, when I go, they will go with me...
Gabrielle

I love the idea of getting them turned into a 'diamond' so I can have my pooch near me as part of a piece of jewellery.  I think it is really expensive and a bit tacky but for my poochies it would be worth it.

http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/LGPrices2006.aspx

5 years on, I still have Megans,  along with Xanthe and Ellie.. I just cannot part with them.. I figure one day, we will all  be scattered together..

My two oldies are together in our local pet cemetery in a wonderful rural setting where they are running free. They were cremated alone and the ashes were buried in their own plot. We have a granite stone with a epitaph for Mars(Min's mum) who is now buried with her. It says 'It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all' To me that is what I feel about life especially when it comes to my girls. [pet

We hopefully have a few more years until we have to think about the next ones.

I do think (sorry if it upsets people) that keeping ashes on a 'mantelpiece' is a result of not letting go and so keep you in a certain stage in the grieving process and has a certain detrimental effect on your way you deal with things ? I maybe wrong but we have to let go and we can have memories and pictures to keep them in our hearts rather than an urn? Would they want to be couped or running free I know what my girls would have wanted.

I still have Bella (died in 1997), Polly (died in 2000) and Clover (died in 2006) on a shelf near the computer. Bella and Polly are bookends, and when Beattie joins them (I don't think it'll be very long :-() she can match up with Clover.

I took both the dogs I had cremated to our favourite walks and scattered them there. I hated the though of leaving them behind if I moved. I didn't want them trapped in a box for ever so the family all met up on our favourite walk and we scattered the ashes in their favourite bits of the walk. I think of them when ever I do those walks.

I still have two of mine too one from 1995 and one from 2004. they aren't 'on display' but they are kept safe

All our oldies are buried on the farm in Ireland but since moving to England, Spender is the first doggie loss we've had and he is in his casket on the mantelpiece over his bed with his picture and tributes.  It's been that way for the past 10 months and I can't see him going anywhere soon.  His spirit is free, we just have the ashes.

>I do think (sorry if it upsets people) that keeping ashes on a 'mantelpiece' is a result of not letting go and so keep you in a certain stage in the grieving process and has a certain detrimental effect on your way you deal with things ?

Not upset at all :-) it could be a sign of not being ready to let go for some, for others it could be comfort having the ashes close.  Whatever the case, moving on is in the mental state of mind, it's a psychological process saying goodbye and is not necessarily relative to where the ashes are kept, buried, etc, etc.  That said, grief is grief; grief has to be expressed, it knows no time and can take as long as it takes to resolve.  There is nothing worse that unresolved grief, repression or moving on too quickly as that means carrying grief and that can have a debilitating effect on how people deal with things.  Each person deals with it in ways and in a timeframe that is relative to them.  No one should feel that they should move on until the time is right for them.  Bless you all, it's hard losing loved ones.

I have my cats and dogs in their caskets kept safely when I eventually move they will come with me.
I think you explained it well Spender, I just find it a comfort having them in the house with me , not on show , they are all just part of the family still. 
I am not offended by the comments of not letting go I just understand what I need we are all different..

Everyone of us is an individual we all 'cope' with the loss of a beloved companion in different ways.
NO way is the right or wrong way.
It's the one that is right for you the individual that matters the most.

I have two dogs and one cat in their caskets.
They sit on my bedside dressing table, I lost one in 2001, one in 2005 and the most recent 2 weeks ago today :(
My reason for this, they all loved the sun, used to sleep on the bed and follow the sun.
Where they are sat now, they get the sun and are close to my bed - well you can't sleep with three caskets on your bed can you? :) ;).
It's the way that 'I' cope
To say that I have not let go....hmmm if that was true perhaps I wouldn't have been able to donate my two dogs hearts
for research into different heart conditions that affect my breed.
But then I wouldn't castigate others for not being able to do this - again it's an individual decision and not for all.

I am happy with my choices as I'm sure others are with theirs :)

The animal welfare charity here does the cremations.
They are lucky enough to have good grounds and it is a busy place with boarding kennels, and puppy training facilities.
Amongst these facilities is a beautiful garden of rest where there is an option (taken up by most) to scatter the ashes.
Luckily this is reasonably accessible to most people.
Karen

When Billybob passed away in March the intention was to scatter him in our garden,  or to bury his urn  in the garden.  But he is still sitting on the bookcase - he's not on full display, but he's safe!  Every time I broach the subject with James (he's 10) he says that he wants him to stay on the shelf until he can take Billy with him to his first house.  So that's what we'll do.

Jack is under the bed right in the middle of us as it was his favourite sleeping spot. When I'm cleaning under there I lie beside him and have a wee chat. The family knows that when my time is up, he's coming with me.

I have my Buster and Bonnie's ashes from december 2005.I was going to scatter their ashes with John's,who died in December 2007.I discussed everything with my children,because if they're not happy about it,then it won't happen until they do.I chose a beautiful seaside place and John's birthday,which this year was also Mother's day.The weather was glorious,but in the end my older girl didn't want it to happen,so it didn't.I think it's so lovely to go to a place that you know the person or the pet enjoyed.Can you scatter Gemma's ashes on her favourite walk?
I am looking forward to freeing John and the pup's into the fresh air,where they would like to be.

Thanks guys. :) the only reason gemma is still on my mantle piece is because i dont know what to do with her. Once i know she will be moved. But dont like the thought of putting her in a cupboard! I have thought about buying a huge pot, putting the casket in plastic. And putting her at the bottom. As i know i wont be in my house forever. But haunt got round to it yet. Think am going to have to before my partner notes in in next few months. Lea :)

> What do you do with your pets ashes???

> I wont bury them as I rent.

I think scattering them on one of her favourite walks would be lovely. you could still go there if you wanted to 'visit her' and it would always remind you of happy times :-)

I now have three of mine scattered in the country park where we often walk, it's nice to stop at the top of the hill were they are and say good morning girls and have a breather. I think timing it is a very individual thing. I just wanted to get Treacle up there with Jodie and Sheena in the fresh air, to chase the squirrels again, but I can quite understand those of you who keep them at home with you. I don't think it's about "letting go" at all, we have let them go already it is just showing a constant life long love for a true friend. We can do that wherever suits us best, at home, on a favourite walk or scattered to the four winds. Different dogs would like different places too, I can see a small lap dog happy on the mantlepiece over the fire to keep warm but a Greyhound scattered from the top of a rolling hill on a windy day!!! A Newfie might like to be "scattered" at sea??
Aileen

We keep all of ours at home in a huge box we bought in Cyprus with a silver model sleeping on the top, the box sits in the snug and just looks like a piece of furniture. We won't bury them as we don't want to stay in this house forever, as we've both now retired we want to go back to England, when the market picks up we shall put the house up for sale.  Couldn't bear the thought of leaving any of them behind.  We've only scattered one boy at his favourite place, 20 years ago, but I wish we hadn't, I would rather have him here with us.  Everyone is different and have their own ideas on what is right for them.

I have had my ponies ashes for over 11 yrs now she has been gone, At the time they were a great confort for me and do forget she is there in my room , Only problem is she is in like a bucket type thing (with lid) Im sure she wont mind!!! She makes a good holding place for my fan!! Bless her - miss her deeply
I now wish i had scattered her ashes in the river where she spent alot of her time (eating and getting fat) but could not face it at the time, I now say she will come with me!!

I have never had the 3 dogs ashes we have lost over the years as i was worried i would not part from them, sadly on the 12th May 09 we sadly lost one of our dogs under tragic circumstances and felt this time it was right to have her come back home , so for now she sits on the mantle peace, The dogs wag their tails at her when they pass. We have brought her a plant for the garden instead which we planted at the weekend!

RIP Phoebe 12:05:2009

I have mine on a shelf in the office , its where i spend most of my time , and the living ones spend their time sprawled in there as well .

My cats ashes were sprinkled under the pampas grass in the back garden , it was her favourite place to lie on a hot sunny day whilst 'batting' at the pampas leaves .  I obviously can't take her with me when i leave but i wanted her put in her favourite place , left to 'rest in peace' .

Ive never parted with the ashes of my animals... my cats are away in a memory box that i just dont go in... i cant its too sad..
My dogs... charlie who was pts in march 2003 and murphy who died last year are on show... surrounded by their pics... and flowers. I often say to my O.H its time to scatter.. but charlie hated the cold and so i cant put him outside... silly i know.
I know i cant let go... and i dont think i ever will. They were my boys and my life.
I miss them..still.
I still have their blankets and sleep very close to them... i panic when i think someone has touched them.
But honest im pretty normal otherwise ;)

Donna x
(and my boysx)

I keep the ashes of my boy in the van then he gets to come everywhere with me - he would be delighted - although I have almost lost him a couple of times when he has rolled out of the box in the side of the door.

I lost my horse 5yrs ago and have her ashes...i keep saying im going to take her to her favorite place but back out at the last minute.
I will do it one day when im ready.
I had her for 25yrs...she was 30 when she died.

I have ashes from two of my pets sitting on the dresser behind me.  When I 'go' all the family know that mypets remains join me.  I have checked with the council that deals with the cemetary that I will be buried. Any remaining dogs will then be buried beside me.  It isnt a problem so long as I pay the 'ooening up' fee.