What are the procedures at Dignity Pet Crematorium?
As a founder member of the APPCC we are committed to adhering to the Code of Practice which clearly defines both the handling and cremation procedures that members must adopt:

Taken from APPCC Code of Practice

5. In providing cremation and burial services members ensure that companion animals are treated in a dignified and caring manner at all times. The Association will agree all handling procedures for cremation and burial and members will give details to clients on request.

6. The following cremation services may be offered by a crematorium. It is the Association's policy that all services termed "cremation" shall encompass respectful procedures for handling and final return, burial or scattering of the ashes.

Individual Cremation: Pets are cremated alone within an enclosed chamber and all ash carefully collected before the next cremation commences. Clients are guaranteed that the ashes they receive or are placed into a memorial garden will be all and only those of their pet.”

Our handling and cremation procedures

Collection: Pets will be collected in a pet hearse either the same or next day that we are contacted. Pets will be carefully placed in a Dignity pet bed or stretcher and the white copy of our Client Form will be attached and kept with the pet throughout.

Arrival at the crematorium: Pets will be taken to our Cool Room to lay in state prior to their individual cremation. The Cool Room is a walk-in room with shelving around the outside that is kept to
approx 7–9ºC.

Individual Cremation: A pet will be carefully transferred onto a bespoke stretcher that is used to gently lay them into the cremation chamber. They are lifted from the Dignity bed/stretcher using the cremfilm (white plastic sheeting) that lines every Dignity bed. Whether they are a hamster or a Great Dane only one pet is cremated in the chamber at a time. A log book is kept by each chamber and the details of the pet (including their name, the owners’ surname, their size, the start time of the cremation and the date) are recorded for every cremation. The white copy of the Dignity Client Form is attached to the log book and the time, date, size of pet and chamber number is noted at the bottom of the Client Form. Clients can request an Attended Cremation Service if they wish to be present when their pet is placed in the chamber.

Removal of cremated remains from the chamber: Once the individual cremation has completed the chamber is allowed to cool and the cremated remains of the pet are removed into a collection tray. This is done using a hearth rake and then a brush dipped in water to ensure that all the remains are collected. The Dignity Client Form is attached to the tray and it is set aside to cool.

Cremulation: After cooling the remains are reduced to ash using a disk grinder known as a cremulator. The cremulator will reduce the cremated remains from recognisable fragments of bones to a fine powder. The inside of the cremulator is carefully swept clean after each use and all the ashes of the pet are sealed in a plastic bag that is placed in a temporary container along with the Dignity Client Form

Preparation: The ashes are then transported to the office where the other copies of the Dignity Client Form are placed with the ashes before they are transferred into the casket or urn that has been chosen by the customer. Only one set of ashes is prepared at a time by the member of staff responsible for homing the ashes and depending on the option chosen either one or two Certificates of Authenticity are placed with the ashes:



Above: example of a Certificate of Authenticity

Once the ashes have been placed in the casket another member of staff then double checks everything has been carried out in accordance with the instructions of the customer.

Returning the ashes: The casket is then either collected from Dignity by the pet owner or returned in person by Dignity to the vet / pet owner. Alternatively, if requested, we will return ashes by Royal Mail Special Delivery.