Aftercare Arrangements: Honoring Your Pet’s Memory

Aftercare Arrangements

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, and deciding on aftercare can feel overwhelming. At ZenVeterinary, our goal is to help make this process as gentle, respectful, and meaningful as possible for both you and your pet.

We offer several trusted aftercare options, including at-home burial, flame-based cremation through Final Gift Pet Crematorium, and eco-friendly aquamation through our partner Petrichor Aquamation.

🌿 At-Home Burial

For families who wish to keep their pet close, at-home burial can be a deeply personal and comforting option. If you choose this route, we recommend:

  • Checking your local and state regulations to ensure burial is permitted on your property

  • Selecting a location that is safe, secure, and free from future disturbance

  • Digging a grave at least 3–4 feet deep to minimize wildlife disturbance

All pets cared for by ZenVeterinary are placed in a Euthabag burial and transport shroud, which provides a dignified, eco-conscious covering appropriate for burial or cremation.

🔥 Traditional Cremation with Final Gift

For families who prefer traditional flame-based cremation, ZenVeterinary partners with Final Gift Pet Crematorium, a trusted provider known for compassionate, respectful care.

Available Cremation Options:

  • Private Flame Cremation – Your pet is cremated alone, with no other pets present. This is a true private process with extremely minimal to no risk of intermixing. Ashes are returned in a standard urn or a memorial vessel of your choice.

  • Communal Flame Cremation – Your pet is cremated alongside other pets. Ashes are not returned.

This option offers familiarity, trust, and a dignified farewell rooted in traditional cremation practices.

🌊 Eco-Friendly Aquamation with Petrichor

For families seeking an environmentally responsible aftercare solution, ZenVeterinary partners with Petrichor Aquamation.

Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a gentle, flame-free process that uses warm water and alkali salts to return your pet to the earth in a way that mirrors natural decomposition—without fire or fossil fuels.

Compared to flame cremation, aquamation:

  • Uses no flames or combustion

  • Produces 20% more ashes, typically lighter and more natural in tone

  • Generates no harmful emissions or pollutants

  • Offers a more sustainable, eco-conscious choice

Available Aquamation Options:

  • Individual (Partitioned) Aquamation – Your pet is placed in a dedicated partition within a shared chamber. While designed to keep remains separate, this is not the same as a true private process. The risk of intermixing is very minimal, but not zero. Ashes are returned in an aesthetically pleasing bamboo urn along with an elegant 3D-printed pawprint.

  • Private Aquamation – A true private aquamation cycle with no other pets present. Due to the nature and cost of this process, it is not offered as a routine option but can be arranged upon request.

  • Communal Aquamation – Your pet is respectfully cared for alongside others; ashes are not returned.

🖤 Memorial Keepsakes

As part of your in-home visit, ZenVeterinary can provide meaningful memorial items:

  • Clay pawprint impressions

  • Locks of fur

  • Guidance on urns or personalized mementos available through our trusted affiliate partners

🤍 Need Guidance?

If you're unsure which aftercare path is right for your family, ZenVeterinary is here to help. Whether you choose burial, cremation, or aquamation, your pet will be cared for with reverence, respect, and compassion.