position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

bob lehner — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 11:53:03 GMT

[quote user="GrooveJet"]

Years ago a bereaved owner requested her beloved WHW terrier be "stuffed"

[/quote]

I had a dotty client who had a pack of hunting beagles - when a favoured hound died she would have its head removed, stuffed and mounted on the wall in her house - as hunting people like to do with all manner of their prey species.

Anyway - first time I went into her sitting room I was accosted by a hound head mounted at low level on the wall. For some bizarre reason my first thought was that it had galloped through the wall from the next-door room and got its head stuck....

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

ell — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 21:06:21 GMT

I have to say that there is absolutely no reason not keep the ashes if not paid for.

however like others we don't send any to the crem without payment first, after it happening to us years ago

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Thomas Johnson — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 11:11:56 GMT

[quote user="GrooveJet"]I good few months later I saw the taxidermist again and he asked me if I'd like a stuffed WHWT for our waiting room. Apparently when he called the owner to advise her that her beloved "Rufus" was ready for collection she shrieked in horror, qualifying that young Rufus-II simply would not tolerate an intruder (stuffed or otherwise) in his home! [/quote]

I heard an interview with a taxidermist who said that it was quite common for people to decide not to take their animal back once they'd seen the end result, or to return it to him shortly afterwards. His company also provided stuffed animals for film sets, apparently it's not uncommon when there are large groups of animals in a film to use a combination of live and stuffed animals, owls in Harry Potter for example.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Dinu Catilina — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 07:45:46 GMT

HA! About 12 years ago a friend of mine did the same with a Peckinese dog. The dog was collected by his owner so all good. Friend's wife though was traumatised for life, said she'll never forget the sight and the smell of a boiling dog in the kitchen.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Miriam Lodewyks — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 11:53:58 GMT

Little anecdote:

Years ago a bereaved owner requested her beloved WHW terrier be "stuffed". I happened to know a very good taxidermist, so enquired on her behalf whether this might be possible and how much it would cost.

Client took the dog to the taxidermist, paid a deposit and I assumed that was that.

I good few months later I saw the taxidermist again and he asked me if I'd like a stuffed WHWT for our waiting room. Apparently when he called the owner to advise her that her beloved "Rufus" was ready for collection she shrieked in horror, qualifying that young Rufus-II simply would not tolerate an intruder (stuffed or otherwise) in his home!

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 18:32:21 GMT

[quote user="Edward Jones"]If it happened by accident I'd leave the vessel in a prominent place as a reminder as to why the Christmas party kitty is smaller than it could be.[/quote]

You could take the ashes out and keep the kitty in the vessel.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Edward Jones — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:49:44 GMT

I think it's insane to allow a body to go for an individual cremation without the account being settled first.

If it happened by accident I'd leave the vessel in a prominent place as a reminder as to why the Christmas party kitty is smaller than it could be.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 09:59:28 GMT

[quote user="Beats"]In my current work-place the body is not collected by the crematorium for a private cremation unless the fee has been paid[/quote]

Our euthanasia consent form has a line on it stating that bodies will not be sent for cremation until the bill has been paid. This includes routine cremation. We normally keep them for at least 3 months then send multiple letters stating that if the bill isn't paid they will just go for routine cremation.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

patrick murphy — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 15:01:18 GMT

no the heart was included in the cat price! it was one of those craft type memory jewellery things.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Chris Geddes — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:17:14 GMT

[quote user="patrick murphy"]

cat was £50 to me and heart £27

[/quote]

You sent just a heart off to be cremated?!

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Bob Russell — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:37:25 GMT

I have paid for cremation and not been paid for doing so.

As long as the owners are aware then I cannot see what arguments a court could have.

We do keep them a heck of a long time and do make lots of effort to contact owners.

I suppose I could just deliver a heap of ashes back to their front door. Keep the box I have paid for!!!

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

patrick murphy — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 12:46:03 GMT

Bob, are you allowed to do that? it is my inclination, but frightened about the possible negative impact if goes south. having just had my butt delivered to me in court I am not quite as bold about these things as I was 1 month ago.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

patrick murphy — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 12:43:40 GMT

cat was £50 to me and heart £27

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Bob Russell — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 10:21:56 GMT

We have been caught out a few times but nor often. We do not release ashes without payment and try to get money up front where possible.

We will store the ashes as we go through the unpaid bill process. The last letter gives seven days or the ashes go back to the crematorium for standard disposal.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Sammy82 — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 22:07:02 GMT

Not sure how much PCS is actually charging us but £200 sounds ablout right. I paid about £130 for my cat at a small local crematorium (direct, not through a practice), xl dogs are £199 according to their price list, plus any urn etc. on top.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Stephen Pointing — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 20:38:22 GMT

[quote user="patrick murphy"]when a person requests an individual cremation but never returns to settle the account, what is your position re. keeping the ashes/urns/etc.?[/quote] As a matter of interest can you tell me what the average cost of pet cremation is in the UK these days? Our charges have jumped from £50 to £200 in one fell swoop and I just wondered whether we now expensive by UK standards or still charging less.

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

vetbl.locum — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:45:11 GMT

Never a good place to be seen to be with holding ashes ,even though the clients should do right thing and pay.

We avoid this now by getting clients to pay crematorium direct

If they haven't been collected in 3 months ,clients are sent letter and body goes for mass cremation

Rgds

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

James Dunne — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:26:10 GMT

We never send pets away nowadays without payment up front. We had this happen a few times and some people just don't bother showing since sometimes the sentimental value of having their pet's ashes wears off between them leaving the scene of euthanasia and the time it takes for ashes to be returned. We explain that we get charged prior to collection, most clients are reasonable and understand. They can always have a standard cremation if they don't wish to pay for the bells and whistles. As for what to do with said ashes and urns when they are not collected, put them aside in some corner of a filing cabinet etc in a labelled bag with the owner's and animal's name on them. Some of them show up and they can always pay then. Or put them somewhere you'll see them to remind you not to make exceptions….harsh but we all need it sometimes!!

RE: position re. keeping ashes from an individual cremation

Beats — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 19:22:50 GMT

one practice manager I knew kept them for 6-18 months and then scattered them at the top of a local hill en masse in an annual ceremony.

In my current work-place the body is not collected by the crematorium for a private cremation unless the fee has been paid - I don't think a body would be held more than 2 weeks before it went for general cremation if payment was not forthcoming.