Saying goodbye to your dog in London
Losing a dog in London is hard enough without guessing at prices. We explain the options in plain English and can email you clear, local choices.
- Home, vet or emergency clinic pickup
- Private cremation confirmed in writing
- No obligation, we reply by email
London, Ontario
What arranging dog cremation in London is like
London sits in a snowbelt area, and squalls blowing in off Lake Huron can bring heavy snow with little warning. Clear the front path before a collection if you can, and expect delays on snowy roads. From December into March the ground is frozen, which pushes any backyard burial into spring, and many London families decide cremation is simpler than waiting.
London, Ontario, is known as the Forest City, and many pets here share homes with big, tree-lined yards in older neighbourhoods like Old South and Wortley Village, or in newer subdivisions on the city's edges. Students and young families also rent apartments near Western University and downtown. In a rental, check who controls the parking and the building door before arranging a collection.
Home goodbyes are increasingly common in London. If you'd like a vet to come to the house, book as early as you can; in-home euthanasia vets often cover a wide area and their diaries fill up. They can usually hand your dog straight to the crematory afterwards so you don't have to make another call.
London is home to about 422,000 people, the 6th-largest of the 15 Ontario communities we cover. Some of the providers who serve London are based about 72 miles away in Hamilton, the nearest larger centre, so collection times reflect that drive.
Nearby, we also have local pages for Guelph (63 miles), Hamilton (72 miles) and Burlington (77 miles), which can help if your vet or the provider you prefer is based there.
81.1%[1]
CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030.
$260[2]
CareCredit's 2025 cost study put the US national average for private dog cremation at $260 (range $206-$473).
3-5% of body weight[3]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
We built the this numbers from Embrace Pet Insurance and CareCredit (Synchrony), and both are worth a look if you want the detail.
The local attitude to cremation
A high cremation rate, about 81.1%[1] for people in Canada, also means some local funeral homes offer pet cremation themselves or partner with a pet crematory. That can be a comfortable route if your family already knows a funeral director. Ask them what you'd ask any provider: where the cremation physically takes place, whether your dog will be the only animal cremated at that time, and the expected return date.
That Canada rate is a human one, published by CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030). We quote it for London only as a pointer to how families here already think about cremation.
How London's weather affects the first few hours
Local weather affects two things: how quickly your dog should be collected, and whether a burial or scattering outdoors is practical. Your provider in London will know the seasons well, so ask them what they'd recommend at this time of year.
Budgeting for your dog's cremation
In London, as across Canada, most families arrange cremation through their vet, but crematories will also deal with you directly. Size, private or communal cremation and collection are what drive the price, so give your dog's approximate weight when you ask for a quote.
We keep the detailed Ontario price table on one page so it stays current: see Ontario prices.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
What's allowed in Ontario after your dog dies
Rules about pets after death are set locally, so it's worth knowing the basics for Ontario before you decide. Cremation itself is straightforward everywhere; burial and scattering are where local rules come in.
Across Canada, most dog cremations are arranged through the family vet, but crematories deal directly with owners too. Winter matters: in much of the country the ground is frozen for months, so many families cremate first and bury the ashes in spring.
For Ontario's rules on burying a pet at home or scattering ashes, see the Ontario guide. Local rules in London can be stricter than the state's, especially in homeowners' associations and rentals.
What to do first, and what can wait
- Tell children the truth in simple words: the dog has died and isn't coming home. Steer clear of "put to sleep" with little ones, since it can turn bedtime into something scary.
- Let each child choose whether to say goodbye, without pushing them toward either answer. Stroking the dog one last time, or leaving a picture they've drawn, can help.
- Give them a small job, like choosing the blanket or toy that goes with your dog.
- Arrange the vet visit or collection so that any child who would prefer not to be there can spend that time with an adult they know well.
- Explain what happens next plainly: your dog will be cremated and come home in a special container.
- Plan a small memorial together once the ashes are back, such as planting a shrub or filling a memory jar.
Small ways to keep your dog's memory close
Many London families have seen the same vet for years, and that clinic is often the easiest first call, since most arrange cremation and can keep your pet for a day or two. You can also request quotes independently, particularly if a private cremation with the ashes returned matters to you. Ask for a written total covering collection, cremation and any container.
Compare every option on our services page, or look at how readers voted in our polls, use the free tools before you ring anyone, go deeper with the guides or catch up on recent articles. More local pages: Toronto, Brampton, Markham and Hamilton, the Ontario overview and every city in Canada.
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.
For your dog, would you choose private or communal cremation?
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Where did (or would) you say goodbye to your dog?
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If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
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Free tools to help you plan
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Urn size calculator
Find the urn volume you need from your pet's weight, plus keepsake and sharing options.
Pet age & senior years calculator
Convert your pet's age and see when senior-care and planning conversations usually start.
Questions people ask
Can a provider from a neighbouring town collect from London?
Usually yes. Guelph is about 63 miles away, Hamilton is about 72 miles away and Burlington is about 77 miles away, all inside a normal collection radius. Get the mileage written into the quote so there is no surprise on the day.
Why does the London page quote a human cremation rate?
Because it is the best local signal we have. CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030) reports about 81.1%[1] of Canada residents are cremated. There is no official pet equivalent, and inventing one would be worse than quoting a real, clearly labelled number.
Where are the providers that serve London actually based?
Some are local, and some run from Hamilton, about 72 miles away. That is normal for a city this size. What matters is the collection time they quote for London and whether the drive is priced into the total, so ask both up front.
Should my other dog see the body before collection?
Many owners let their other dogs sniff and sit with the body for a few minutes, and it does no harm. Some dogs show interest, others walk away; both are normal. Afterwards, keep routines steady, with the usual walks and mealtimes. If your remaining dog seems withdrawn or off their food for more than a couple of weeks, mention it to your vet.
Do I need a vet to confirm my dog has died?
It isn't usually required, but it can be reassuring if you're unsure, especially after a sudden death. Your vet or an emergency clinic can confirm it and then arrange collection for cremation at the same time.
How much ash will I get back from my dog?
Cremated remains usually weigh about 3 to 5% of your dog's body weight[3], so a 30 kg (66 lb) dog typically leaves about 0.9 to 1.5 kg[5]. For urns, a common rule of thumb is one cubic inch of space per pound of body weight. Our urn size calculator does the math for your dog.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030. CANA Industry Statistical Information, 2030.
- [2] 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.
- [3] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [4] In the US, at-home dog euthanasia costs about 2.9x the in-clinic price ($410 vs $139 national averages). Our estimate: 410 / 139 = 2.95; 410 - 139 = 271. How we calculate.
- [5] 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.
Get help arranging your dog's cremation
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.