Saying goodbye to your pet is difficult. At Karingal Vet Hospital and Ballam Park Veterinary Clinic, we work with a licenced and registered pet crematorium to take pets on their final journey.
We work with Edenhills Pet Cremation. Edenhills perform pet cremations with the utmost care and respect for your pet. An environmentally-friendly crematorium, Eden Hills is an ethical and affordable pet crematorium operating in Victoria. For peace of mind, the company will collect and deliver your pet to either Karingal Veterinary Hospital or Ballam Park Vet Clinic.
If you wish for us to organise your pet’s cremation we can do so. Alternatively, you may wish to bury your pet at home or in a pet cemetery, or go with another pet cremation service. If you can, discuss with your family ahead of time how you plan on saying goodbye to your pet. Some pet insurers also cover cremation costs, so be sure to check your policy.
Eden Hills Pet Cremation offer a range of memorial vessels with their cremation services. These can be arranged during your booking, before or after the cremation. A simple, respectful vessel (a cloth drawstring bag, white tin or burial box) will be provided with the service. Should you wish, other vessels, trinkets, plaques and mementos are available to purchase.
Losing a pet is losing a loved one and it is important that you take time to grieve appropriately.
There is no right way or wrong way to mourn and everybody does it differently. If your pet is to be euthanised, it is a good idea to organise a grieving ceremony beforehand or a funeral afterwards. Some owners given the opportunity choose to fill their pet’s final night with extra affection and special treats, inviting friends, family and people whose lives your pet has touched to share stories and say goodbye.
When you receive your animal’s ashes, you may wish to bury them with their collar or favourite toy. Other pet owners set aside a shelf to display the ashes with a small memento or photograph. Ultimately, there is no singular way to mourn your pet, but it is an important part of the grieving process. We recommend acknowledging the passing of your pet in whatever way feels right to you.
If you are experiencing distress at the loss of your pet, you may benefit from talking to your friends and family. Remember it is normal to experience grief after losing your pet, but if you feel like you would benefit from extra help, if the grief is overwhelming, there are support networks and resources available:
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement offer dedicate pet-related support groups and hotlines. Contact them on (03) 9265 2100.
Eden Hills’ Facebook page encourages pet owners to share memories of their pets and to remember the good times they had with them.
Alternatively, GriefLine operates from 12pm to 3am every day and have dedicated operators who may be able to help. Call them on (03) 9935 7400.
Kids Helpline is an anonymous helpline for children and may help kids grieving over their pets. It has a call-free number, 1800 55 1800.
