Cremation Fees

Implementation Date: 06/10/2009

Date of Last Revision: 05/16/2022

Next Review Due: 05/15/2024

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: 03/13; 01/18

Reviewed by VTH Board: 03/2013

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

Doctors will educate clients on the options for body care for their animals which may include a combination of the following:

1. Client to take body
2. Private cremation
3. General disposal 4. Necropsy

Small animal clients may make arrangements with the cremation service of their choice OR they may make arrangements here at the VTH for a private cremation by the VTH’s cremation provider. Large animal clients may make arrangements for cremation with the cremation service of their choice. LAC staff will provide clients with contact information for businesses that offer large animal cremation.

Guidelines

Cremation at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital should be guided by compassion, respect, and sensitivity to the needs of clients. See references:

• VTH Policy Euthanasia Fees & Protocols for Client Relations for Euthanasia and Cremation.
• VTH SOP for Small Animal Euthanasia, Care of Body Remains and Fees

Procedure (if applicable)

SAC Private Cremation ProviderEndearing Pets

Kibler Brady Ruestman Memorial Home

1104 North Main Street

(309) 828-2422 https://www.kiblerbradyruestman.com/services/pet-services

Fees for Private Cremation of SAC Patients

Current fees for individual private cremations may be found through the Hospital Information System. There is an additional handling fee for animals sent to the VDL for necropsy.

Documenting Consent for Private Cremation

Doctor and client must document consent and completion of the VTH Euthanasia / Care of Remains Authorization and Release form. Animals without authorization/consent forms will not be cremated.

• The form is a triplicate. Write clearly and firmly. • Put a patient label on each of the three pages. Cremation Fees Category: Billing VTH Policy #Bill314
• Have the client initial, date, and sign. Do a telephone authorization if the client is not in the building. Ensure the form is signed by the client and witnessed appropriately, after being completed.
• Hand the client the yellow copy of the authorization (page 3) and an Endearing Pets brochure*.
  1. Clients can purchase a different urn by contacting Endearing Pets directly – at 309-828-2422. The phone number is also on the brochure.
  2. Clients can talk with Endearing Pets staff about the selection of additional pet memorial merchandise (pet urns, cremation keepsake ink paw print, Garden Stones, and jewelry with the option of personalized engraving.
     • * Giving the client the Endearing Pets brochure (explanation of services) is required by Illinois law. See Section 15 of the Companion Animal Cremation Act (815 ILCS 318/5)

Inform clients of the following:

• Animal cremains will be returned to the owner via Endearing Pets
• Arrangements for shipping or other services, such as choice of urns, must be made directly with Endearing Pets.
• If the client chooses a different cremation provider, the client must make pick-up arrangements of the body for another cremation provider from the VTH. The client will need to notify us of those arrangements.
  • The client is welcome to utilize these providers: Cherished Like Family: (217) 949-2402 Sunset Funeral Home: (217) 239-2874
• The client must retrieve their pet’s remains or arrange private cremation within 10 days, or the remains will be sent to group cremation with no return of animal cremains.
• All arrangements will be between the client and that provider.

Preparing the Body for Cremation **If Zoonotic suspect, double bag, and label accordingly**

Your service may choose to make a clay paw print if the client wants a keepsake.

For client-elected private cremation only (no necropsy):

1. Place a completed pink private cremation tag on the leg of the animal and the outside of the cadaver bag and place the animal in the SAC 90 walk-in cooler.
2. Leave white and pink copies of the Euthanasia/Care of Remains Authorization and Release form in the file folder along the wall by the door in SAC 90. 

For client-elected private cremation with necropsy:

1. Place a completed pink private cremation tag on the leg of the animal and the outside of the cadaver bag
2. Place a completed red necropsy tag on the leg of the animal and the outside of the bag and place the animal in the SAC 90 walk-in cooler.
3. Leave white and pink copies of the Euthanasia/Care of Remains Authorization and Release form in the file folder along the wall by the door in SAC 90.
4. The Caretakers will take the body to the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (VDL). Once done in the VDL, the body is returned to the VTH by a caretaker and sent for cremation.

For client-elected general disposal (group cremation) only (no necropsy):

1. Place the pet’s tagged body (blue tag) (no bag) in the red barrel in the SAC 90 walk-in cooler.
2. Leave white and pink copies of the Euthanasia/Care of Remains Authorization and Release form in the file folder along the wall by the door in SAC 90.

For client-elected general disposal (group cremation) with necropsy:

1. Place the pet in a body bag. (Utilize two bags if the patient is too large for a single bag). Use tape to secure bag closed.
2. Affix the 2nd completed color-coded tag(s) to the bag (blue and red)
3. Place the body bag in the SAC 90 walk-in cooler.
4. Leave white and pink copies of the Euthanasia/Care of Remains Authorization and Release form in the file folder along the wall by the door in SAC 90.
5. The Caretakers will take the body to the VDL for a necropsy.

Contact Information for LAC Clients

Cherished Like Family

McLean, Illinois

Tricia Braid

(217) 949-2402 tricia@cherishedlikefamily.com

www.cherishedlikefamily.com

Definitions (if applicable)

Private cremation – the disposal of a deceased animal by burning it to ashes separate from other bodies. The cremains are returned to the client.

Group cremation – the disposal of a group of deceased animals by burning them to ashes. Cremains are not returned to the client.

General disposal – the disposal of a deceased animal by group cremation

HIS – Health Information System

VTH: The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.