4 Big Cremation Questions

Do you perform all of your Private Cremations at your on-site, company owned and maintained crematorium, or do you utilize an outside service provider or outside facilities to perform cremation?

At Cedar Hills we are in full compliance with the IAOPCC’s Code of Ethics. Each and every Private Cremation is performed at Cedar Hills’ grounds in our state-of-the-art, company owned and maintained crematorium. From the moment you choose Cedar Hills, whether a member of our staff picks your pet up personally from your veterinarian’s office or we meet you to receive them at our grounds, your pet is always solely under our care, and is always treated in a caring, dignified manner. Your pet is clearly identified and never leaves Cedar Hills’ grounds until their cremated remains are respectfully returned to your veterinarian’s office. You entrust your beloved pet to us. That is something we never take lightly. We would never pass your pet off to an outside provider or off-site facility.

Is my pet the only one behind the crematorium door – or do you use pans, bricks, or space for separation?

We can’t stress enough the need to have your service provider describe in detail the service they are providing so that you have a full understanding of the service you are receiving for your beloved pet. It is not enough for them to use the term “Private Cremation” because often it is used incorrectly.

How can I be sure that I am getting all and only my own pet’s remains back?

This is the most important question to ask when considering cremation. Since the pet cremation industry is currently unregulated, all cremation services, and service definitions are not the same. In our area, the terms “Individual Cremation” and “Private Cremation” are loosely interchanged.

Cedar Hills performs Private Cremation as defined by the IAOPCC so that our clients have full assurance that they are receiving all and only their pet’s remains.At Cedar Hills our integrity is above reproach.

Truly Private Cremation is the only cremation service in which you can be fully guaranteed that you are receiving all and only your pet’s cremated remains returned to you. However you do need to make sure your service provider clarifies that they are providing the true service of Private Cremation, as defined by the IAOPCC “Each pet is cremated one at a time, with the cremated remains returned to the client.” Otherwise you may be receiving the lesser service of “Individual Cremation.” (For further explanation, refer to previous question)

Do you offer Private Cremation, or Individual Cremation, also referred to as Individual Segregated/Separated Cremation?

Cedar Hills offers Private Cremation, the highest standard in dignified cremation service available. Private Cremation is defined as, “Each pet is cremated one at a time, with the cremated remains returned to the client.”

Some crematoriums call their services “Individual Cremation” when it should be more appropriately termed “Individual Segregated” or “Individual Separated Cremation.” This service as defined by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories is when “more than one pet is placed in the crematory and cremated at the same time with some form of separation between pets such as trays, refractory bricks, or space.”

We do not offer Individual Cremation, also called Individual Segregated/Separated Cremation for 3 reasons:

1. The term, “Individual Cremation” can be misleading, giving a false impression of the service that is actually performed.
2. Protection against the commingling of ashes cannot be guaranteed, and pets’ remains are not handled with the utmost in dignity.
3. This service does not align with Cedar Hills’ commitment to always uphold the highest standard, and strive to raise the level of our profession. Our industry’s cutting edge technologies, in which Cedar Hills is fully invested, now allows for Private Cremation, a much higher standard of excellence.