Send us a few lines about your dog, and we'll find your options
You don't need to know what you want yet. Tell us your dog's size and where you are, and we'll email back what's available nearby, from private cremation at around $260[1] on average to lower-cost communal choices.
- Takes about two minutes
- Replies by email, no sales calls
- No obligation to book anything
Before you write
What to include so we can help quickly
A short message is fine. The more of these details you can give, the more specific our reply can be, but leave out anything you're unsure about. "About 70 lb, at our vet in Tucson, want ashes back" is a perfectly good request.
- Your dog's approximate weight. Size drives price more than anything. A guess from the last vet visit is fine.
- Where your dog is now. At home, at your regular vet, at an emergency hospital, or still with you and you're planning ahead.
- Your town or ZIP code. Prices and pickup fees differ a lot between a city center and a rural county.
- Whether you want ashes back. If you're not sure, say so and we'll explain both routes.
- Anything that matters to you. Being present, a home goodbye, a paw print, a particular urn, a tight budget, or a date you're working around.
What happens next
What happens after you press send
We read every request ourselves. We look at who provides dog aftercare in your area, which of them offer the service you asked for, and what price information we can find. Then we reply by email with a short list of options, what each usually includes, and a couple of questions to put to them.
You then contact the provider you prefer. We don't book on your behalf, take payment or pass your details to a crematory without telling you first. If none of the options feel right, just reply and tell us what's missing.
If your dog has already died and is at home, you don't have to wait for us to keep them comfortable. Lay them on a towel in the coolest room you have, away from sunlight, and our transport and logistics guide explains how to move a larger dog safely if you need to.
How long things take
How much time you really have to decide
Most families feel rushed, but you usually have more time than it seems. A vet clinic can normally keep your dog in a cold room for a few days. Still, most owners would rather not wait long. In a large US survey, the most common wish was this:
26.1% want <24h[3]
Once your dog reaches the crematory, a private cremation and the return of ashes usually take between a few days and two weeks. Many US providers quote 5-10 days[4]. Witnessed services and engraved urns can add time. If there's a date that matters, such as a family member flying in, put it in your request.
Would you send a favourite toy or blanket with your dog?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
How your dog is treated
Questions about dignity that are completely fair to ask
Many owners worry about how their dog will be handled once they're out of sight, and they're right to ask. US researchers surveyed more than 2,000 dog and cat owners about end-of-life care, including which ways of wrapping a pet's body felt acceptable, and the answer was clear:
64% reject trash bag[5]
Other fair questions: whether your dog is kept refrigerated, how they're tagged so they can't be mixed up, whether the ashes come back with a certificate, and whether you can send a blanket or letter along. If the answers sound vague, that tells you something. Our list of questions to ask a dog cremation provider includes what reassuring answers sound like.
Asking how your dog will be carried isn't fussy. It's the last piece of looking after them.
Your details
What we do with your information
We use your details only to answer your request. We don't sell your email address, add you to a marketing list without asking, or post anything about your dog publicly. If we'd like to introduce you to a specific provider, we tell you who first.
You can ask us to delete your request at any time by replying to our email. Our about page explains who runs the site and how we make sure the information we send you is accurate.
Being clear
What we can and can't help with
We can help you understand dog aftercare choices, compare local options and costs, find providers who offer home pickup, witnessed or water cremation, and plan ahead for an older dog. We're happy to help with urns and keepsakes too.
We can't give veterinary or medical advice, collect your dog ourselves, or promise a price or date on a provider's behalf. If your dog is unwell right now, call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic first. If you'd like to prepare quietly beforehand, try the cremation cost calculator, read our overview of dog cremation services, or browse local pages for your state. If what you need most is someone to talk to, free phone lines run by veterinary schools, such as Cornell's Pet Loss Support Hotline and the Tufts Pet Loss Support Helpline, are there for exactly that.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Would you send a favourite toy or blanket with your dog?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
When did you (or will you) decide on aftercare?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Did you (or would you) compare more than one provider?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Do I need to call anyone before sending a request?
No. If your dog is at the vet, they're being cared for while you think. If your dog is at home, keep them cool and send your request whenever you're ready. The only urgent call is to a vet if your dog is still alive and in distress.
Will a crematory start calling me after I get in touch?
Not because of us. We reply by email, and we don't hand your phone number to providers without asking you first. If you'd prefer to be contacted a particular way, or not at all until you're ready, say so in your message and we'll respect it.
Can I ask for help planning ahead for a senior dog?
Yes, and many people do. Planning ahead lets you compare providers calmly, ask about home goodbyes and set a budget before an emergency. Mention your dog's age, size and any health concerns, and we'll send options without any pressure to decide.
What if I live outside the US?
Send your request anyway. Our guide is written mainly for US readers, but we also cover the UK, Canada and Australia where we can. Prices, currency and rules on home burial differ by country, so include your town and we'll tell you honestly what we can and can't find there.
Is there a cost to using the contact form?
No. Sending a request and receiving our reply is free, and there's no obligation to book anything. You only pay if you go ahead with a provider, and you pay them directly under their own terms.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] CareCredit's 2025 cost study put the US national average for private dog cremation at $260 (range $206-$473). CareCredit (Synchrony) - How Much Does It Cost To Euthanize a Dog? (2025 ASQ360 procedural cost study), 2025.
- [2] A 30 kg (66 lb) dog typically leaves about 0.9-1.5 kg of cremated remains, which helps size urns on location pages. Our estimate: 30 kg x 3% = 0.9 kg; 30 kg x 5% = 1.5 kg. How we calculate.
- [3] The most common owner preference (26.1%) was for a deceased pet to stay at the vet hospital less than 24 hours before transport to the crematory or cemetery; a further 18.1% said no more than 1-2 days. Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [4] A US aftercare guide says many families receive private cremation ashes within about one to two weeks, with 5-10 days commonly quoted. Funeral.com - Pet Cremation Timelines: How Long Until Ashes Are Returned, 2026.
- [5] 64% of US owners rated a trash bag as an unacceptable container for a deceased pet; 66.1% rated a blanket/shroud acceptable. Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
Get dog cremation options by email
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.