Pet loss Terms
This glossary is designed to help dog, cat, and other pet owners understand common terms related to end-of-life care and after-care.
After-care – The steps taken to care for and handle a pet’s body after it has passed away, including the chosen method of final disposition.
AquaCremation – An alternative to flame-based cremation that uses a combination of warm water, flow, and alkaline solutions to gently return the body to its basic elements. It mimics natural decomposition but speeds up the process.
Ashes – The remains that are returned after cremation. In AquaCremation, the resulting material is very similar in appearance to ashes produced by traditional cremation.
Bereaved – The people mourning the loss of their pet; the family and loved ones affected by the passing of a dog, cat, or other animal companion.
Columbarium – A structure or space designed to hold urns. For pets, this may be a dedicated shelf, cabinet, or another special place in the home where urns are kept.
Communal Cremation – A cremation in which multiple pets are cremated together. Because the remains cannot be separated afterward, ashes are not returned to individual families.
Coping – The methods and emotional tools people use to manage the sadness and stress of losing a pet.
Cremains – A commonly used term for the ashes that result from a pet’s cremation.
Cremation – A process of final disposition that reduces a pet’s body to ashes, either through intense heat or through AquaCremation.
Euthanasia – A medical procedure performed by a licensed veterinarian to end a pet’s life peacefully and humanely. This may take place at a clinic or, in some cases, in the pet’s home.
Grief – The emotional experience of losing a beloved animal companion. The grieving process—recognizing the loss, feeling the emotions, and finding a way forward—is similar to mourning a human loved one.
Inurnment – The placement of a pet’s ashes into an urn.
Keepsake Urn – A smaller urn designed to hold a portion of a pet’s ashes. Many families choose keepsake urns or memorial jewelry to keep a symbolic amount with them.
Memorialization – Any act of honoring a pet’s memory, such as holding a service, placing a marker, displaying an urn, or creating another meaningful tribute.
Pet Urn – A container specifically crafted to hold a pet’s ashes. Urns can be made from materials like wood, metal, stone, ceramic, or other durable materials.
Pet Memorial – A tangible or symbolic way to remember a pet, which may be a physical monument, a written tribute, artwork, or a commemorative event.
Photo Urn – An urn that includes an area for a photograph, allowing families to display an image of their pet along with their ashes.
Private Cremation – A cremation where only one pet is present in the chamber, ensuring that the ashes returned belong exclusively to that pet.
Remains – Refers to the pet’s body after it has passed.
Support Group – A gathering, often guided by trained volunteers or grief specialists, where individuals can share experiences and receive support following the loss of a pet.
Survivors – The family members, both human and animal, who continue on after the passing of the pet.
