5 minute read
written by a person, not a computer
Hello fellow animal lovers, I’m sorry you need this content.
Losing your four legged family is so difficult, I’m genuinely sorry for your loss whether it just happened, or is approaching. About a million of us go through this each year, that doesn’t make it easier, but know that you are not alone. If you need to learn the basics of pet cremation, I recommend you read the post titled The Basics of Cremation.
If you are seeking pet cremation costs in the Seattle and Tacoma area, you can choose between classic cremation and the more modern aquamation. There doesn't seem to be a functional pet cemetery.
The Seattle/Tacoma area is physically large with a population of about 4 million. It is a very pet friendly place boasting many restaurants where your dog is welcome, in addition to ample open space, trails, and dog parks. Within the city limits of Seattle, there are more dogs than children. Overall the people are more affluent than average, leading to high housing prices, and depending on where you shop, that affluence will be included in the price.
My goal is to provide you with empowering consumer information, not to advertise for anyone, or malign their business, so no names will be used, but it isn't difficult to figure out an individual business if you wish to. Despite the areas population, there are relatively few business that provide these services, so I'll be reviewing 5 today.
Location 1, West Seattle area- This business offers aquamation, either communal, individual, or private. With communal, you do not get any remains back as there are likely many animals in the vessel and the remains mingle. With private, and urn is included and your pet is the only one in the vessel. With individual, dividers are used which in theory keeps pets from mingling, and an urn is included.
This business also offers pet funeral or memorial services in their visitation rooms. This starts at 200 but can go up depending on your additional desires for time or flowers. If you want to have your own service, the posts How to have a Pet Funeral and What to Say at a Pet Eulogy will help you out with what to do at home.
Finally, they offer some unusual but not unheard of options. They partner with a taxidermist who will preserve just part, or all of your pet. Right now it is in vogue to save an ear, tail, or foot. Also, you can have the whole animal saved and posed, or just certain bones. These kinds of services cost several hundred for simple versions, but plan on 4 figures if your having your whole pet preserved. Also, you will need to be patient, this can take months or even over a year to complete.
Private 600 regardless of size
Individual Cat 240 Medium dog 330 Large dog 420
Communal Cat 150 Medium dog 205 Large dog 260
Location 2, Gig Harbor Area- This business offers classic flame based cremation, either individual or communal. The prices for individual include an urn and fur clipping, for communal, no ashes are returned. Pickup is a minimum of 100, and it sounded like they really prefer to have the pet dropped off.
Individual Cat 165 Medium dog 200 Large dog 290
Communal Cat 125 Medium dog 125 Large dog 200
Location 3, Tacoma- This business offers classic flame based cremation, Private, individual, or communal. The private and individual prices include an urn, for communal no ashes are returned. It sounds like they strongly prefer that you drop your animal off. If you want to drop off on an evening or weekend, it will cost you150 more.
Private Cat 375 Medium dog 375 Large dog 485
Individual Cat 200 Medium dog 240 Large dog 285
Communal Cat 65 Medium dog 75 Large dog 95
Location 4, the Seattle Humane Society- I don't typically name a provider, but the Humane Society isn't a business, they provide community services. The individual prices include a simple urn.
Individual Cat 150 Medium dog 175 Large dog 225
Communal Cat 30 Medium dog 60 Large dog 120
Location 5, Southeast of the airport- This business does classic cremation. For individual cremation an urn is included, and they offer local pickup at 110.
Individual Cat 190 Medium dog 210 Large dog 260
Communal Cat 80 Medium dog 120 Large dog 160
Summary
The Seattle/Tacoma area is spread out, affluent, and loves their pets, but doesn't seem to have an active pet cemetery, and relatively few choices for your pet's aftercare.
-Though I chose not to get into the weeds with added services, some crematoriums offer additions that will quickly escalate the price. If you want a fur clipping, nicer urn, plaster paw print, cremation casket, to view the cremation, etc. the price can rise rapidly.
-Overall, this area wasn't very pick up friendly. This is a large geographic area and when bridges and traffic is factored in, a business may logically conclude that the cost of having a person who may work all day, and only make 2 pick ups, not make sense.
-A private cremation or aquamation for a cat or medium size dog will likely cost between $375 - 600
-A private cremation or aquamation for a large dog will likely cost between $485 - 600
-An individual cremation for a cat will likely cost between $150 - 240
-An individual cremation for a medium dog will likely cost between $175- 330
-An individual cremation for a large dog will likely cost between $225 - 420
-Communal cremation or aquamation doesn't cost much here, as little as 30 for a cat, or 160 for a large dog
-The prices are highly variable in this area. This could be due to the relative lack of providers. Businesses that don't have local competition aren't likely to try an price their competitors. So it is especially important to shop around and be willing to drive a bit in this area.
Sometimes people are in a rush to make cremation or funeral decisions. Slow down. Consider your options carefully, once you make these choices, there is no going back. Your four legged family will be fine lying in state at home for a day or two if that’s what it takes to do this right. You can check out this page for an eBook on how to have a pet funeral at home.
Written by Peter of Pawsitive Memorials, I"m sorry for your loss.
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