At HOMEWARD BOUND, we offer various cremation options for pet aftercare. We are available to assist you in making a decision that will be dignified, respectful and accommodate your needs. We assure you that your very special family member will be handled in a gentle and loving manner.
Some families choose a private attended cremation. A private cremation allows you to observe the cremation process, as your pet is the only animal in the crematorium. You can watch as the cremation process is started and then return when it is completed to receive your pet's cremains.
An individual cremation service uses a "separation" cremation method, in which several pets are placed in isolated zones within the cremation chamber. Each individual pet is kept separated from other pets with no commingling of ashes. Strict quality controls are used to monitor each pet throughout the cremation process. This method provides a more economical alternative, while still providing pet-owners with their own pet's cremains. We also minimize overall "greenhouse gas" emissions and the environmental impact with a shorter equipment operation time.
In order to provide a dignified alternative at a very modest cost, we also offer communal cremation. This option provides for joint cremation of your pet with a number of other pets. Remains from individual pets are not returned to the owners following cremation, but are scattered on a private ranch. Cremains are never disposed of in a landfill.
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2. How do I know that the pet returned to me is actually my pet?
In order to ensure that your pet is treated with the utmost care, each and every pet is issued a cremation number at the time it is received in our facility. The documentation with this ID number stays with your pet throughout the process, and strict quality controls are followed each step of the way. A cremation certificate with the same ID number will accompany the urn at the time it is returned to you.
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3. How long does the cremation process take, and when will I receive my pet's remains?
HOMEWARD BOUND PET CREMATORIUM makes every effort to pick up your pet from your local veterinary hospital on the same day as requested. We also try our best to ensure your pet is cremated within 12 hours of arrival at our facility. HOMEWARD BOUND will return your pet's remains to your veterinarian's office within 2-3 days, with delays only when a special order urn is requested or for weather difficulties. If a pet is brought directly to our facility, we will generally have the cremated remains completed and ready to return to the owner within 48 hours.
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4. In what type of container will my pet's remains be returned?
Pet owners have a wide choice of urns, which we have in stock at all times. These include carved wood, ceramic, pottery or brass permanent urns. We also offer temporary urns, including water burial urns, biodegradable paper and scattering urns. Local veterinarians who use HOMEWARD BOUND for pet aftercare have catalogs showing our urn options, or an owner may wish to visit our facility to choose a special urn. Pet owner may also opt to provide the own urn.
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5. Can I make arrangements for my pet's aftercare before we need the service?
Absolutely. We welcome pet owners who wish to visit our facility prior to their pet's passing. It can be much easier to establish these plans before the actual need, as the grief of loss can make these decisions more difficult.
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6. Will you pick up my pet at my residence?
HOMEWARD BOUND does offer home pick-up, although there is an additional fee for this service. If possible, we ask that pet-owners transport their pet to their local veterinarian, or to one of the emergency hospitals during off hours. During normal business hours, we also accept pets at our facility, by appointment only.
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7. I have a large farm pet that has passed on. Can HOMEWARD BOUND provide services for my farm animals?
Yes. HOMEWARD BOUND has cremation equipment that can accommodate up to a full-sized horse. We have provided services for pot-bellied pigs, large snakes, llamas and alpacas, big cats, miniature horses, deer and other wildlife, goats and horses. We work with a transportation service in the local area when transporting animals too large for our trucks.
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8. Are we allowed to include a blanket or some toys with our pet during the cremation process?
A small lightweight blanket or a small toy can accompany a pet during the cremation, but we do not allow collars or leashes to go into the crematory equipment. Any toy must not have any metal, and large comforters or dog beds are not permitted.
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9. Are there any other types of services available in the Pikes Peak region? What about burial or other interment?
In the unincorporated area of El Paso County, it is possible to bury a pet on private property. For many years, a pet cemetery called Pet Rest Memorial Park has been in existence, located on Highway 115 south of Colorado Springs. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region also has a pet memorial garden where pet owners can permanently bury their pet's cremains or scatter the remains in the scattering garden after we have completed the cremation process.
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10. Does HOMEWARD BOUND provide home euthanasia?
We do not provide for euthanasia of pets. We suggest you contact your regular veterinarian, or we can recommend several veterinary house-call services here in our area.
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11. After the loss of our pet, we opted for a communal cremation. However, a few days later, we changed our mind. Is it possible to have our pet cremated on an individual basis now?
If you contact us soon enough, usually within 24-48 hours, we may still be able to make changes to your aftercare directives. After that time, however, it is likely the communal cremation will have already taken place. Unfortunately, after multiple pets have been cremated communally, it is not possible to identify one animal from another once the cremation is complete.
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12. What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit/debit cards for services and products payment. We do not accept American Express or Diner's Club cards. Payment must be made prior to the services being performed.
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