Nobody prepares for this, and the first decisions get made in the worst possible conditions — in an exam room, at midnight, or on a kitchen floor. This page is what we wish someone had told us. It costs nothing and you don't need an account.
You have more time than you think. Nearly every veterinary clinic will hold your pet for 24 to 48 hours at no charge while you decide. Very few people know to ask, and almost nobody offers.
The first few hours
01
Don't decide anything yet
If your vet is asking, it's fine to say "I need to think, can you hold them?" You are not being difficult. It's a normal request.
02
If they're at home, keep them cool
Somewhere cool and shaded, wrapped in a blanket, ideally on a waterproof layer. Aim to have them collected within about 24 hours, sooner in warm weather.
03
Take the time you want with them
There's no rush and nothing morbid about it. Fur clippings, a paw print in clay, a photograph — these can only be taken now, not later.
04
Let your other animals see
Dogs and cats who see the body tend to search less afterwards. It looks strange and it helps.
05
Then decide what happens next
Cremation, burial, or aquamation. The options and what they actually cost are on the next tab.
If there are children
Use the words died and dead. "Put to sleep" and "went away" are kindly meant and reliably frightening — children take them literally and become afraid of sleeping, or wait for the pet to come back. Let them help choose an urn or a spot in the garden if they want to. Let them not, if they don't.
About your own grief
People will be surprised by how hard this hits, including you. Grief for an animal is real grief, and it's often not treated as such, which makes it lonelier. If it's heavy and staying heavy, pet loss support lines and counsellors exist specifically for this, and using one isn't an overreaction.
What the options are, and what they cost.
These are the prices providers charge families directly. A clinic arranging it on your behalf usually adds $100–160 for the same service.
Private cremationYour pet alone. Ashes returned in 7–10 days
$195–320
Communal cremationCremated with other pets. No ashes returned
$85–140
AquamationWater-based rather than flame. Ashes returned
$250–380
Burial at a pet cemeteryA marked plot you can visit
$480–760
Home burialOn land you own, where local rules allow
No fee
Ranges for a pet around 40 lb. Price rises with weight almost everywhere. Home burial rules vary by county — depth, distance from wells and boundaries — so check yours first.
Two things worth knowing
Private isn't always private. Some providers describe partitioned cremations, several pets at once separated by dividers, as private. If it matters to you, ask directly: one pet at a time, or several? A provider who does it properly will be glad you asked.
Many local names are one company. Much of US pet aftercare has been consolidated, and several local-sounding brands in the same region are often owned by the same group. Comparing two of them isn't really comparing.
Find providers near you.
Tell us where you are and what you're considering. We pass this to providers in your area so they can come back to you with real prices and timings. Free, and we don't sell your details on.
We've got it.
We're matching you with providers near you and will be in touch with names, prices, and how soon each one can collect.
Things to keep.
Optional, and easy to regret either way. The important thing is knowing which of these have to happen before cremation — after that, the choice is gone.
Time-sensitive. Paw impressions, nose prints and fur clippings can only be taken beforehand. If you think you might want one, say so when you arrange collection, even if you're unsure.
Before cremation
Clay paw impression
Pressed and fired. Most providers will do this if asked.
$25–45
Fur clipping
Kept in a small envelope or locket. Usually free if you ask.
Free–$20
Afterwards
Wooden urn, engraved
Their name and dates. Often included in private cremation.
$60–140
Ashes pendant
Holds a small portion. Sterling silver or steel.
$120–280
Scattering tube
If you'd rather scatter somewhere they liked.
$20–40
Portrait from a photo
Commissioned. Takes a few weeks.
$80–400
Ranges reflect what makers charge. Ordering through a clinic or crematory is usually more. Nothing here is necessary, and plenty of people keep only the collar.
The loose ends.
The part nobody warns you about: the reminders that keep arriving for weeks. None of it is urgent. Do it when you can face it, and tick things off as you go.
Insurance, for later
If another animal joins you eventually, this is the moment worth remembering: cover has to be in place while a pet is healthy, and pre-existing conditions are the thing that catches people out. We're not insurance brokers and don't sell policies — but we can point you at comparisons when the time comes, and not before.
Families are looking for you.
Most pet owners only ever meet the crematory their vet happens to use. Cerberus is how families find you directly — the ones already deciding, in your service area, this week.
ListingYour services, your prices, your service area
Free
LeadsFamilies near you who asked for you by name
Free while we build
ExclusivityNone. Keep every clinic relationship you have
None
ContractCancel any time, no minimum, no notice
None
What we ask in return. Your real price list, and a reply to families within four hours. That's it. When we start charging, you'll have months of data showing what the leads were worth before you decide.
We publish your direct-to-family prices only. Wholesale clinic pricing stays private and never appears on Cerberus.
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We'll call to go through your services and pricing, and you'll see exactly how your listing looks before it's published.