KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR VET OR PET CARE PROVIDER
When saying goodbye to a beloved companion, the right questions can ensure they receive the dignity, respect, and care they deserve. Here’s what families should know—and how Shore Pet Cremation stands apart.
How long will my pet remain at the clinic before Cremation?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "We usually pick up pets within a few days. It depends on our schedule and when we’re already in the area." or "Your pet will be held until the cremation service does their next round of pickups."
With Shore Pet Cremation: Your pet is taken into our care as soon as the clinic notifies us—typically the same day, often within hours. We do not use third-party transporters. Your pet is personally and respectfully transferred by our licensed, trained team, directly to our facility. Your pet is never left waiting for days.
WhY This Matters
When a beloved pet passes, the time between death and proper care is sacred.
Most pet cremation services operate on wide pickup routes, meaning pets often remain at clinics—sometimes for several days—before anyone even arrives. This delay can feel unsettling to families who want assurance that their companion is treated with dignity right away.
Immediate, licensed transfer means:
Your pet is cared for promptly, not stored or queued
You know exactly who is handling your pet
There is no uncertainty or “holding period” in someone else’s facility
The chain of custody begins immediately and transparently
Your pet deserves timely, professional, and compassionate care from the very first moment—and that’s exactly what Shore Pet Cremation guarantees.
How long does the cremation process take?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "It usually takes about a week or so, depending on our schedule." or "We’ll call you when your pet’s ashes are ready."
With Shore Pet Cremation: Our typical turnaround time is 3–4 days, because we control the entire process from start to finish.
Since we own and operate our crematory and do not outsource any part of your pet’s care, we can provide timely, predictable service.
If families prefer, expedited options are available.
Your pet’s care is never rushed—and never delayed.
Why This Matters
Families are often surprised to learn that many pet cremation providers run on large regional routes, meaning a pet may:
Wait days at a clinic before pickup
Wait longer at a facility before processing
Move through a system based on volume, not individual care
Have very little transparency about timing
This can leave families anxious, unsure, and feeling disconnected from their pet’s final care.
A predictable, timely process provides:
Comfort and clarity during an emotional time
Confidence that your pet is not waiting or held for long periods
A smoother, gentler experience for your family
Respectful handling that balances timeliness with care
Knowing when your pet will return home helps provide closure—and gives families a more peaceful experience during their loss.
How is my pet identified throughout the entire process?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "We have our own tracking system to make sure everything is handled properly." or "Your pet will be labeled and kept separate—don’t worry."
With Shore Pet Cremation: The moment your pet enters our care, they receive a unique identification tag and number, recorded and verified by licensed professionals.
This ID remains physically with your pet at every stage:
During transport
Throughout secure holding
During the cremation itself
Through the final packaging of ashes
Every step is documented, checked, and cross-verified.
Your pet is always individually identified and never confused with another animal.
Why This Matters
Proper identification is the backbone of trustworthy pet aftercare. In facilities without regulated procedures, pets may be tracked with:
Handwritten notes
Unsecured tags
Verbal instructions
Group logs
Shared handling practices
Without a formal, verifiable chain of custody, mistakes can go unnoticed—and families may never know.
A strict identification system means:
Your pet maintains a single, secure identity from beginning to end
Each transition is documented—not assumed
There is zero ambiguity about who is being cared for
You receive your pet’s ashes with absolute confidence and peace of mind
Your pet’s identity matters. Their story matters.
A careful, consistent identification process honors both.
How do I know the cremated remains I receive are actually my pet’s?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "We have a system in place to make sure you get the right ashes." or "Everything is handled properly — mix-ups are very rare."
With Shore Pet Cremation: From the moment your pet enters our care, they receive a unique identification tag and corresponding tracking number, assigned and documented by licensed staff.
This ID follows your pet through every single step — transport, secure holding, cremation, and return.
Your pet’s cremated remains are returned with a Certificate of Private Cremation, confirming identity and guaranteeing that the ashes belong solely to your companion.
There is never any doubt. Ever.
Why This Matters
This is the single most important question a family can ask — yet the one most providers struggle to answer clearly. In many facilities, multiple pets are handled at once, identification systems vary widely, and staff may not be licensed or trained in chain-of-custody protocols. Without strict tracking, the risk of error is real, and families deserve transparency about how their pet is safeguarded.
A meticulous identification process ensures:
Your pet is singularly and correctly tracked
Every transition is documented — not just verbally “promised”
Your pet is never confused with another animal
You have written confirmation of private, individual cremation
Your trust is supported by a verifiable, professional system
Your pet was unique. Their final care should be, too — and knowing with certainty that the remains you receive truly belong to them brings immeasurable peace of mind.
How is my pet transported?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "We’ll pick up your pet along our regular route." or "Our driver will come get your pet when they’re in the area."
With Shore Pet Cremation: Your pet is transported personally and respectfully by our own licensed, trained staff—never by third-party drivers or route-based couriers.
We use clean, dedicated vehicles designed specifically for safe, dignified pet transfer.
From the moment your pet leaves the clinic or your home, they are treated with the same care, respect, and professionalism we would give to any beloved family member.
Your pet is always in trusted hands.
Why This Matters
Transport is one of the most overlooked—and most important—parts of pet aftercare. Many families assume their pet is handled gently and individually, but in reality, many providers use:
Route drivers with no death-care training
Multi-animal pickups across many clinics
Long transport times
Undocumented transfers
Stacked or shared transport containers
These practices leave families with uncertainty about how their pet was treated after death.
Professional, licensed transport ensures:
Dignified handling from the very first step
Immediate care, not hours or days of waiting
No third-party handoffs or anonymous drivers
Chain of custody begins the moment your pet leaves your side
You can trust every part of the process, not just the cremation itself
Your pet deserves to be cared for with respect every moment of their journey—and that begins with the people who come to bring them into our care.
What happens if my pet passes away at home?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "If your pet passes at home, you’ll need to bring them to your vet or wait until we’re in your area." or "We don’t offer home pickup, but your veterinarian can hold your pet until we arrive."
With Shore Pet Cremation: If your pet passes at home, we can come directly to you with licensed, trained staff who will gently bring your pet into our care—day or night.
If you prefer, you may also bring your pet to one of our local funeral home locations, where we will receive them immediately and with dignity.
We also partner with veterinary clinics who expect a higher level of aftercare, ensuring seamless support whether your pet passes at home or under veterinary care.
You are never left alone to figure this out.
Why This Matters
A pet’s passing at home is deeply emotional—and often unexpected. Many families feel overwhelmed, unsure what to do next, and afraid of doing something “wrong.” Unfortunately, most providers are not equipped to help in these moments, leaving families to:
Transport their pet themselves
Wait with their pet until the next business day
Take their pet to a clinic that may not have immediate support
Encounter long delays before anyone comes
Having immediate, compassionate help makes all the difference.
Home support means:
You can call anytime, and help is available right away
Licensed professionals handle your pet with dignity
You don’t have to manage difficult logistics while grieving
Your pet receives direct, respectful care from the very first moment
When a pet passes at home, families deserve gentleness, guidance, and immediate support—not uncertainty.
What happens if my pet passes away after hours, on a weekend, or on a holiday?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "If it’s after hours, your pet will need to stay at home or at the clinic until the cremation service can come next business day." or "We don’t have staff available 24/7. Someone will reach out when we reopen."
With Shore Pet Cremation: We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—including nights, weekends, and holidays. Our licensed, trained staff can guide you immediately and, when needed, pick up your pet right away. You will never be left waiting until “the next business day.” Whenever your pet needs us, we’re here.
WHy This Matters
Losing a pet rarely happens at a convenient moment. Many families experience a passing late at night, early in the morning, or over a holiday weekend—precisely when most providers are closed. During these vulnerable moments, the last thing you should feel is alone, confused, or forced to wait with your pet until someone is available.
True 24/7 availability means:
You can speak to a real, licensed professional at any hour
You receive immediate guidance on what to do next
Your pet can be transferred into compassionate care right away
You’re never navigating those first difficult decisions by yourself
Your pet—and your family—deserve support the moment you need it, not just during office hours. That’s why Shore Pet Cremation is here around the clock, every single day of the year.
Are you a licensed establishment in death care?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "We follow industry standards, and our staff is trained in pet aftercare." or "There isn’t really a licensing requirement for pet cremation, but we do our best to operate professionally."
With Shore Pet Cremation: Yes. We are fully licensed by the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors—the same board that oversees human funeral homes.
Shore Pet Cremation is operated by a local, long-trusted funeral home family, bringing true professional standards, transparency, and accountability to every part of your pet’s care.
Licensed. Regulated. Responsible. Always.
Why This Matters
Most pet cremation providers operate without any state licensing or regulatory oversight. That means no required training, no certified procedures, and no governing board ensuring your pet is cared for with the dignity they deserve. Families are often surprised to learn that the pet aftercare industry is largely unregulated—leaving enormous gaps in quality, consistency, and accountability.
A fully licensed death-care establishment provides:
Oversight from a state regulatory board
Professionals trained in ethics, identification, and care standards
A level of accountability most pet crematories simply do not have
Assurance that your pet is handled with the same respect and standards you’d expect for any member of your family
Licensing isn’t just a credential—it’s a safeguard. It means your pet’s care is trusted, monitored, and guided by true professionals from start to finish.
What memorial options and keepsakes are available?
Likely Response From Most Providers: "We offer a standard urn and a basic paw print." or "We have a few options—just whatever the crematory provides."
With Shore Pet Cremation: We offer a thoughtful selection of urns, keepsakes, paw prints, and personalized memorial items so families can choose what feels most meaningful.
Whether you prefer something simple, traditional, customized, or unique, our licensed staff will guide you through the options with care and respect.
Your pet’s memory deserves to be honored in a way that reflects the bond you shared.
Why This Matters
Memorial items are more than products—they’re a way for families to hold on to love, connection, and remembrance.
Yet many cremation providers offer very limited choices or rely on mass-produced items that don’t reflect a pet’s unique place in the family.
Having meaningful options ensures:
Families can choose a memorial that truly represents their pet
Keepsakes feel personal, not generic
You have lasting ways to remember your companion beyond the ashes
The experience honors not just the process, but the relationship
Memorialization is an important part of healing.
When families are given thoughtful, beautiful, personalized options, it helps transform grief into a lasting tribute to a beloved companion.
