How Much Does a Pet Cremation Cost in Australia?

Losing your furry companion is a hard time in anyone's life. They can be our best friends in life and are always there for us. Whether you had a dog, cat, rabbit, or any other pet, it still hurts just as much when we have to experience their passing. It can leave you distraught and feeling lonely. It's hard to know what's the best decision to make, so that's why we here at Eternal Urns have written this article to let you know how much a pet cremation costs as well as some other useful tips.

How does a pet cremation work?

Pet cremations can either be “no return” or “return” cremations. No return is simply when the animal's ashes are not returned to you after the process. This process is usually completed with a group of pets for those who do not wish to receive their pets ashes. Returned ashes are processed individually so as to keep each pet's ashes separated and not mixed in with another pet’s ashes. You would want to consider doing this to keep your pets ashes in a lovely urn, or scattering them in their favourite park. Depending on which option you select, and what crematorium you go with, the price point may vary. The process will also change depending on how large the animal is, which will in turn have a different cost. 

So how much will I pay?

For a no return cremation you could be paying as low as $30 but keep in mind this will mean you won't have the ashes returned to you. This means you won't be able to properly commemorate your pets life with an urn, or a special scattering or burial ceremony. This is a good option for those who don't want to deal with the unwanted ashes. A return cremation will usually cost you around $100 for most pet sizes but this cost may again vary due to size, crematorium or other services attached such as delivery. It is important to shop around and ask various crematoriums what their prices are and what is included with their services. Some places will give you a basic scattering box or urn with your cremation and others may even handle pick up and delivery. Some also offer engravings on ornate urns so make sure you are getting the best price for value. For certain large pets such as horses, a special crematorium needs to be used and these prices can be in the thousands. It's important to note that additions such as pet urns and pet cremation jewellery need not be acquired from the crematorium or funeral home themselves. They can be often bought from anywhere else at a much lower price for the same quality. If at the end of the day, none of these sound appealing to you then you can always elect to bury your pet in your backyard. Check your local council rules as this may not be legal in your area.

 

Pet cremation costs

Below is a table we've made to help outline the average costs associated with pet cremations for different types of pets. These are all assumed to be return cremations. Note that prices may vary depending on packaging options and cremation providers. 

Pet Animal	Price Range
Large Dog	320-590
Small Dog	200-400
Cat	170-400
Rabbit	170-400
Guinea Pig	170-320
Mouse	170-320
Bird	170-320
Horse	1000-1800

Additional costs such as pet cremation urns can go from anywhere between $50 to $300 on average, depending usually on the size and material of the urn. If a cremation urn is not to your liking and you would instead prefer to scatter your pets ashes, then a scattering tube can be obtained for $60 to $150 depending on size and quality. Losing a pet is hard but handling their passing shouldn't have to be. Knowing the average cost and what to expect afterwards will have hopefully helped you in this trying time. As Australia's largest urn store, Eternal Urns has an extensive range of the best quality pet urns available, so check out our range today.