Is cremation of animals wrong?

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PiousTemplar

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Before I came to the Church, my Dog had just passed away. God bless her soul. She was cremated.

I have heard that cremation of humans is not accepted, but not sure about animals.

Thanks.
 
PiousTemplar said:
Before I came to the Church, my Dog had just passed away. God bless her soul. She was cremated.

I have heard that cremation of humans is not accepted, but not sure about animals.

Thanks.
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Cremation of humans IS allowed now, for Catholics, so there shouldn’t be any problem about animals.
 
PiousTemplar: You heard wrong.The Church does allow cremation albeit certain consideratjions.
 
PiousTemplar said:
Before I came to the Church, my Dog had just passed away. God bless her soul. She was cremated.

I have heard that cremation of humans is not accepted, but not sure about animals.

Thanks.
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The various rules about how to treat human remains after death all have to do with respecting the human body, which was the temple of the Holy Spirit. No such reverence is due to animal bodies, which we can lawfully treat in many different ways, depending on the animal. In fact, if there were a rule about cremating animal remains, it would be with the opposite intention, that is, to remind us that an animal, however beloved, is not to be considered equal to humans.
 
No, it isn’t wrong. And understanding the attachment many of us have to our pets, if you still have the cremains, you might want to bury them in a pretty spot in your garden if you have a house, or even take them to a pet cemetery for burial there. I have such a plot that holds the cremains of perhaps ten pets I’ve had through my adult life. The cost was very reasonable (about $200 for perpetual care, and it is a registered cemetery.) It is comforting to me to know that I have treated the remains of these cherished little gifts from God with dignity, and I have thanked Him for the privilege of having entrusted them to my care.

I’m sorry on the loss of your dear dog.
 
PiousTemplar said:
Before I came to the Church, my Dog had just passed away. God bless her soul. She was cremated.

I have heard that cremation of humans is not accepted, but not sure about animals.

Thanks.
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Over the years we have had many pets (all dogs and we loved them all) but when they died we simply let the vet take the bodies away. Why would anyone have a service for a pet dog (even though it was a loving and faithful animal). It is still just an animal with no immortal soul. When the dog dies its soul ceases to exist.
 
Alonzoa said:
yeah agreed…according to the catholic rule…cremation of the humans will never be accepted…
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That is totally untrue.

The Church teaching:

CCC 2301 Autopsies can be morally permitted for legal inquests or scientific research. The free gift of organs after death is legitimate and can be meritorious.
The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body.
 
Our parish even has a ‘columbarium’, in the form of a grave (the only way I can think of to describe it) with shelves round inside for the placement of urns containing ashes.
 
Many Catholic cemeteries now have whole buildings where cremated remains can be interred. We are finding more and more funerals at our parish involve cremated remains, especially with older folks who perhaps died while wintering in another state and the cost of transporting a body is very costly. There are special prayers in the RIte of CHristian Funerals for cremated remains at the funeral Mass.
 
Does anyone know the rules of the Church with regard to scattering of ashes?
 
RSD said:
Does anyone know the rules of the Church with regard to scattering of ashes?
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Ashes may not be scattered; they must be intered. Burial at sea is permitted if the entire unopened urn is put overboard (like JFK jr.)
 
PiousTemplar said:
…not sure about animals.
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Animals may be cremated. In certain areas of the US, for example my county, veterinarians and required to cremate animals they’ve put down. Also, some housing associations - again my own is an example - forbid burying animals on association lands, so cremation is the only decent option.
 
RSD said:
Does anyone know the rules of the Church with regard to scattering of ashes?
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Catholic1954 is correct. They must be buried/entombed.

Ashes may not be scattered nor kept in an urn at home.
 
Last week…i made cremation of my two dogs… cremation for love ones…there is no matter about human or pet… so no need to hesitate… you should cremate your dog…and cremation of dog is ethical as human…
urns for cremation
 
thistle said:
Catholic1954 is correct. They must be buried/entombed.

Ashes may not be scattered nor kept in an urn at home.
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My beloved companion passed away due to fiberglass, insulation and debris which also had mold that had been unknowingly flowing through the ventilation system and then a pipe burst forcing a massive amount throughout the home. At the time she passed I was also quite ill ( very, very, ill) I had her cremated, but had to move from that house and live in a hotel until I found a home. I learned a year ago that due to other circumastances… I would most likely have to move at some point. I picked her remains up last year, but haven’t done anything with them yet as I can’t afford to at this time and can’t bare the thought of burying her somewhere I will never be again… In tears just thinking of it… Anyway, is it wrong to hold on to them until I am either financially able or have found and moved to a new home? I don’t think so due to the unusual circumstance.
 
No, you can keep pet cremains indefinitely, since they are not human remains. However, if you’re planning on staying in the same locality (e.g., the same city,) and if there is a pet cemetery in the area, you might want to check with them what their policies are. They might be a lot more financially reasonable than you’d think. There is a pet cemetery near us, and you can get a plot large enough to bury a horse (intact,) for about $200 for perpetual care (grass mowing, keeping grass trimmed back around headstones, that sort of thing.)

When I bought the plot, they told me that up to twenty cremated household pets could be buried in it. Each time they have to open the plot, they charge $50 for that, and there is a smallish marker with “beloved friends of (our family name)” on it. I’m pretty confident that the pet cemetery will be there for at least as long as I’d be around to care one way or another, they’ve been in business since the 1890s and the land is permanently deeded by the county as being a cemetery, meaning it can’t be used for anything else.
 
Along a similar line, is it permissible for a Catholic to have a pet’s urn placed in his/her casket upon death?

I really don’t see the harm personally. I have a Protestant friend who intends to be buried with his dog’s ashes.
 
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