How do you organise a pet cremation in France and what are the costs?

Reader question: How do you organise a pet cremation in France and what are the average costs?

It is possible to cremate a pet in France, depending on the size of the pet.

If the pet is under 40kg (cats, most dogs, and other typical household pets), cremation is possible.

For other larger animals, such as horses, information on what to do after they die can be found at an official government website here.

Cremation of a pet can either be organised through your vet, or you can contact a local service directly.

There are two types of cremation you can choose from.

Collective cremation:

• Your pet is cremated alongside a number of other animals
• You cannot collect your pet's ashes after incineration
• This costs around €60 - €100 but, if the crematorium has to come to collect your pet, it may cost an extra €100
• Alternatively, your vet can organise the cremation, for a similar cost (minus the cost of collecting the animal)

Individual cremation:

• Your pet is cremated in an individual ceremony
• You can collect the ashes of your pet, to either keep or scatter
• Costs are around €150 - €200, excluding transport. Prices can be fixed, or vary (depending on size/weight of the animal) depending on the cremation centre used.
• Ashes are returned to your vet or can be picked up at the cremation centre. Alternatively they can be delivered to your home, for a fee

Some crematoriums offer additional services, such as grooming of the animal, time alone in a private room before the cremation and the option to attend the ceremony. This costs around €300 in total.

You can also purchase an urn for around €50, but the exact price will depend on the size, material, and additional content such as photos or engravings.

If you choose to keep your pet’s ashes, you can keep them at home or scatter them in a symbolic location.

If you choose the latter, you must avoid public parks, roads, and agricultural fields, but can scatter them in open areas or your garden.

It may also be possible to place them in a pet cemetery, if you have one nearby.

Another step you must take is to declare the death of your pet to the I-CAD database, but your vet can also do this if you ask them.

Discarding the dead body inappropriately can be subject to a fine of up to €3,750.

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