Pet Loss & Legal Issues

Pet Legal Issues

Short-term Power of Attorney for Pet Care Every good pet owner makes sure their pet is cared for by a responsible party when they’re traveling. However, accidents happen and pets can become ill unexpectedly.


Helping Children Cope with the Death of a Pet

The death of a family pet is often the first time a child faces the passing of a loved one—and it’s important to give the event adequate attention. Too often, parents are so engulfed in the logistics and emotions surrounding the pet’s death they forget to help children grieve. Other times, children are shielded from these upsetting experiences, yet they sense something is wrong. Older children recognize this loss and can be expected to manage their emotions themselves. Typically, the subject of death is unfamiliar to children. Their friends may have experienced the loss of a family member.


Pet Cremation and Burial

Just as there are local ordinances that dictate how a person’s death is handled, there are laws regarding how to proceed after a pet dies. Whether you plan a funeral or memorial, one immediate practical issue to address is transporting your pet’s body from the home or veterinary hospital to the final resting place. Your veterinarian is a valuable resource for information on laws and costs pertaining to the options in your area. Burial of a Pet



Deceased Transportation

Inter-city Transportation of Human Remains In many cases a loved one's body is initially transferred from the place of death to a local funeral home (i.e., the "first call" funeral home) and then subsequently transported to another city for funeral ceremonies and/or burial. If this is your situation, you'll need two funeral homes - one locally to handle the first call, and a second one in the final destination city.


The First Call: Who to Call When Someone Dies

Who to Call When Someone Dies When you need to have a loved one's body removed from the place of death, you'll need to contact a local Funeral Director to transfer the body to a funeral home or comparable care facility ("first call"). Funeral directors are available through funeral homes and other funeral service organizations.


Offering Condolences – Saying & Doing the Right Things

Note: Our etiquette tips, including Offering Condolences, have a broad application to many religious traditions; however, some religions and ethnicities have specific requirements or traditions of their own. For more information, see our Funeral Customs section. Acknowledging the Death One of the reasons why people are so uncomfortable at a wake or funeral is because […]


Writing Eulogies

The eulogy is usually the most personal part of a funeral service because it acknowledges the uniqueness of the deceased and his or her meaning to others.


Preparing the Deceased for Viewing or Visitation

The time we spend caring for someone’s needs, does not end with death. There are many questions that must be answered after a loved one has passed and some of those questions revolve around preparation and proper disposal of the body. An individual’s death can be just as unique as their life and having the right information will help you be informed as you make those important decisions.


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