Not a pleasant subject I know but I wonder whether anyone knows of a pet cemetry in the South London area? My mother's Lhasa apso is 16 years old and sadly on her last legs. I thought if I could get a telephone number sorted now then when the time came I could organise things swiftly and with as little fuss for my mother as possible. She lives in the Kennington area. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

Oh dear, your poor mum, how is she doing?
If you search the www.askjeeves.co.uk under pet cemetries it brings up a list - hope there is one near you!
Wendy.

Woody, I think you are very wise to be forward thinking and caring in respect of both your Mum and of course her beloved dog. 17 years is along time to have a companion and when the time comes it is better to be prepared. There is nothing worse than having 'no choice' in the end. Some vets are exceedingly good and use a reputable pet crematoria but some rely upon the services of a collection service that does not rank high and is involved in clinical waste collection from all types of other sources. They may all say they offer an individual cremation but personally I have my doubts that in some instances they do. I feel sure that the ashes that are returned are sometimes not of that individual animal but of others too.
I personally would insist on using a pet crematoria that has as its only business simply as a pet cremtoria and not one that takes clinical waste from hospitals and vivisection research centres, there is a very very large one that I am refering to but as to not offend or upset anyone that may have used their services I will keep quite.
One that is not too far from London and would highly reccomend is Resting Pets Crematoria and Cemetery Wood Farm Moreton Road Moreton Nr Ongar Essex CM5 0EY tel 01277 890009. They offer collection and delivery to London and Essex. The pet is individually cremated or they offer burial, they have a garden of remembrence, chapel of rest and bereavement counselling service too.
Pat

Hi Woody

Was it specifically a burial that you wanted? My dogs have been dealt with via my vet. The vet has come out to my house to put my dogs to sleep so that they are comfortable in their own home with familiar surroundings. He has then taken them to the pet crematorium for me for an individual cremation and their ashes have been returned a few days later. I collected them from the vets.
I wouldn't have it any other way. Some people on another recently discussed thread here said that they buried their dogs ashes in the garden and others put them into pots and planted flowers to remember them by so that if they ever moved they could take the pots with them. I've kept mine.
Your mothers vets will be able to answer any queries about euthanasia and what follows. If you'd rather do it yourself then they will point you in the right direction. I feel very sad for your mother :(

Hello

i recently lost my dog and was absolutely devestated. I had him individually cremated having it in mind i would bury his ashes. When his ashes returned they were in a lovely sealed casket with an engraved name plate and i found i did not have the heart to bury them. I have kept his ashes and take great comfort from having him close by.

Good luck with your enquiries.

This is exactly what happened to my friend. she kept the box in the bedroom, and then it wasjoined by another 3 years ago, and two more in the last six weeks. She even manages to smile when she put one boy and one gilr on each of two shelves, so the boys wouldn't fight!