GLOSSARY OF PET LOSS TERMINOLOGY PERTAINING TO PETS

 

The following listing of pet loss terminology has been prepared to help pet owners prepare for and manage the after-care of their pets. A number of these terms are used interchangeably while others are unique. In Ontario there currently are no regulations regarding the manner in which a deceased pet’s remains are handled, how pet cremations are conducted, or with respect to pet cremation terminology. In short, pet owners must rely on the experience, compassion and integrity of those assigned the responsibility of providing their pet’s after-care.

 

After-Care - The activities and processes relating to the handling and disposition of a pet’s remains following its passing (see also Burial, Cremation).

 

Annual Maintenance Fee - An annual charge levied by a pet cemetary following the burial of a pet’s remains. This fee may be waived by some pet cemetaries following receipt of a one-time perpetual care fee payment.

 

Ashes - The residual remaining following the cremation of a pet’s remains (see also Cremains).

 

Attended Private Partitioned Cremation - One of the pet cremations offered at Thistledown Pet Memorial. The remains of a limited number of pets are placed in the crematorium at one time but the pets are well spaced, have small blocks placed between them, and are individually identified on a map of the crematorium chamber. At the conclusion of the cremation, the ashes (cremains) are removed from the crematorium one pet at a time and are then processed individually. The pet’s owner, family and friends may attend and participate in this cremation option (see also Private Partitioned Cremation, Individual Cremation).

 

Burial – The act of placing a deceased pet’s remains in an underground chamber (see also Earth Burial or Interment).

 

Burial Fee - Fee levied by a pet cemetary to cover the costs associated with the actual burial of a pet’s remains. Additional charges may also be applicable (see also Annual Maintenance Fee, Burial Case, Casket, Coffin, Grave Liner, Grave Marker, Perpetual Care Fee).

 

Casket - A receptacle of wood, metal, plastic or cardboard into which the dead pet’s body is placed for burial or cremation (see also Coffin or Burial Case).

 

Cemetary - An area of ground set aside for burial or entombment of deceased pets. In Ontario, placement of pet remains in a human cemetary is not permitted.

 

Chapel - A room of the funeral home in which the farewell service is held.

 

Coffin - A receptacle of wood, metal, plastic or cardboard into which the dead pet body is placed for burial or cremation (see also Casket or Burial Case).

 

Columbarium – An indoor or outdoor wall for the Inurnment of cremated remains.

 

Committal Service - The final portion of the pet funeral service at which time the deceased pet’s remains are interred or entombed.

 

Communal Cremation - One of the pet cremations offered at Thistledown Pet Memorial. More than one pet is placed in the crematorium and no attempt is made to avoid the mixing (intermingling) of the pets’ ashes (Cremains). No ashes are returned to the pet’s owner. The ashes are scattered on the Thistledown Pet Memorial property (see also Group Cremation).

 

Cremains - The ashes created by the cremation of a pet’s body (see also Communal Cremation, Private Cremation, Attended Private Cremation, Dedicated Cremation).

 

Cremation - Reduction of the pet’s body to ashes by fire (see also Communal Cremation, Private Cremation, Attended Private Cremation, Dedicated Cremation).

 

Crematorium – See also Crematory.

 

Crematory - A furnace for cremating pet remains; a building housing such a furnace (see also retort).

 

Crypt – An vault or room used to keep pet remains permanently.

 

Deceased – A pet in which all physical life has ceased - cessation of all vital functions without the capability of resuscitation.

 

Dedicated Cremation - One of the pet cremations offered at Thistledown Pet Memorial. Only one pet is placed in the crematorium. The pet’s owner, family and friends may attend and participate in this cremation option (see also Viewing Cremation).

 

Disinter - To remove a pet’s remains from the burial place; to dig up (see also Exhume).

 

Earth Burial - Placing of a deceased pet’s remains in an underground chamber (see also Burial or Internment).

 

Embalm - The process of preserving a dead body by means of circulating preservative and antiseptic through the veins and arteries (not usually practiced with deceased pets).

 

Embalming Fluid - Liquid chemicals used in preserving a dead pet’s body.

 

Eulogy - A brief speech that offers praise and celebrates the life of the deceased pet.

 

Euthanasia - The procedure performed by a qualified veterinarian to terminate the life of a pet through the administration of appropriate prescription drugs. Euthanasias may be performed at a veterinary clinic, at a pet owner’s home, or at other locations such as Thistledown Pet Memorial.

 

Exhume - To dig up a pet’s remains; to remove from the place of burial (see also Disinter).

 

Family Room - A specially arranged room in the pet funeral home which affords the family privacy at the time of the pet’s funeral service (see also Quiet Room).

 

Funeral Arrangements - The details, including costs, of a pet’s funeral service.

 

Funeral Director (Pet) - The individual who prepares for the burial or other disposition of pet remains, supervises such burial or disposition, maintains a funeral establishment for such purposes, and provides support for the pet’s survivors. Currently, there are no qualification requirements for a Pet Funeral Director in Ontario.

 

Funeral Home - A building used for the purpose of arranging and conducting funerals for pets.

 

Funeral Service - The religious or other rites conducted immediately before final disposition of the deceased pet’s remains.

 

Grave - An excavation in the earth for the purpose of burying a deceased pet (see also Burial).

 

Grave Liner - A receptacle made of concrete, metal or wood into which the pet’s casket is placed as an extra precaution in protecting the remains from the elements.

 

Grave Marker - A method of identifying the occupant of a particular grave. Permanent grave markers are usually of metal or stone and give such data as the name of the pet, date and place of birth, date and place of death (see also Memorial Marker).

 

Grief - The process of acknowledging and accepting the loss a beloved pet, spouse, parent, sibling, friend, relationship, job, etc., and implementing a strategy to move on with life.

 

Group Cremation - One of the pet cremations offered at Thistledown Pet Memorial. More than one pet is placed in the crematorium and no attempt is made to avoid the mixing (intermingling) of the ashes (Cremains). No ashes are returned to the pet’s owner. The ashes are scattered on the Thistledown Pet Memorial property (see also Communal Cremation).

 

Individual Cremation – Referred to as a Private Partitioned Cremation at Thistledown Pet Memorial. The remains of a limited number of pets are placed in the crematorium at one time but the pets are well spaced, have small blocks placed between them, and are individually identified on a map of the crematorium chamber. At the conclusion of the cremation, the ashes (cremains) are removed from the crematorium one pet at a time and are then processed individually. The pet’s owner may not attend or participate in this cremation option (see also Private Partitioned Cremation). See Private Cremation if Individual Cremation terminology is used by a clinic.

 

Inter - To bury a deceased pet’s body in the earth in a grave or tomb.

 

Inurnment - The act of placing the ashes (see also Cremains) of a cremated pet in an urn.

 

Mausoleum - A public or private building especially designed to receive entombments or caskets of deceased pets. A permanent above ground resting place for the dead.

 

Memorialization - The act of creating a memorial to a deceased pet. This may include a Funeral Service, Burial of the pet’s remains, placement of a Grave Marker, placement of the pet’s ashes in a Columbarium, etc.

 

Memorial Marker - A method of identifying the occupant of a particular grave. Permanent grave markers are usually of metal or stone and give such data as the name of the pet, date and place of birth, date and place of death (see also Grave Marker).

 

Memorial Service - A religious service conducted in memory of the deceased pet without the remains being present.

 

Morgue - A place to where pet remains are maintained in a cool environment prior to cremation or burial.

 

Mortuary - A building specifically designed and constructed for caring for dead pets (see also Funeral Home).

 

Niche - A hollowed space in an indoor or outdoor wall made especially for the placement of urns containing cremated pet remains.

 

Obituary - A notice of the death of a pet usually placed in a newspaper, or on the Internet, containing a biographical sketch.

 

Paw Print - An impression in clay or an ink print on paper of the pet’s paw.

 

Perpetual Care - The ongoing effort required to maintain the grounds and structures of a pet cemetary, pet memorial or other location where pet remains or cremains have been buried or placed.

 

Perpetual Care Fee - Costs associated with Perpetual Care are often offset through the levying of an Annual Maintenance Fee or a one-time Perpetual Care Payment.

 

Plot - A specific area of ground in a pet cemetery owned by a family or individual.

 

Pre-Arranged Funeral - Funeral arrangements completed by an individual prior to the death of his/her pet.

 

Pre-Arranged Funeral Trust - A method by which an individual can pre-pay the funeral expenses for his/her pet.

 

Private Cremation – A term used by many clinics to describe a cremation where a pet`s ashes are returned to the pet`s owner. Often mistakenly interpreted by pet owners to mean that their pet will be cremated on its own without any other pet`s in the crematorium. Unless stated otherwise by the crematorium, more than one pet is in the crematorium during this type of cremation. May also be referred to as an Individual Cremation.

 

Private Partitioned Cremation - One of the pet cremations offered at Thistledown Pet Memorial. One of the pet cremations offered at Thistledown Pet Memorial. The remains of a limited number of pets are placed in the crematorium at one time but the pets are well spaced, have small blocks placed between them, and are individually identified on a map of the crematorium chamber. At the conclusion of the cremation, the ashes (cremains) are removed from the crematorium one pet at a time and are then processed individually. The pet’s owner may not attend or participate in this cremation option (see also Individual Cremation).

 

Private Service - This service is by invitation only and may be held at a place of worship (not always possible), at Thistledown Pet Memorial, or at the pet’s family home.

 

Quiet Room - A specially arranged room in the pet funeral home which affords the family privacy when the pet’s remains arrive at the funeral home and/or at the time of the funeral service (see also Family Room).

 

Remains - The deceased pet’s body.

 

Retort - The actual cremation chamber located in the Crematorium or Crematory.

 

Rigor Mortis - Rigidity of the muscles which occurs at death. Our experience has been that not all pets go into rigor following their passing while others come out of rigor after a short period of time.

 

Support Group - A regularly scheduled meeting convened by one or more experienced volunteer leaders designed to help attendees cope with the passing of their pets.

 

Survivors - Those outliving the deceased pets; particularly the immediate family members and their surviving pets.

 

Urn - A container into which cremated remains (Cremains) are placed; made of metal, wood, stone, plastic, concrete, etc.

 

Vault - A metal, concrete or plastic, casket or urn container that protects the casket or urn from the elements when buried in the ground.

 

Viewing Cremation - One of the pet cremation options offered at Thistledown Pet Memorial. Only one pet is placed in the crematorium. The pet’s owner, family and friends may attend and participate in this cremation option (see also Dedicated Cremation).

 

Visitation - An opportunity for survivors and friends to view the deceased pet in private, usually in a special room within the funeral home.

 

Wake - A watch kept over the deceased pet, sometimes lasting the entire night preceding the funeral.

 

 

 

Adapted for pets from a listing presented at: http://www.generations.on.ca/funeral-terms.htm