Most people fail to consider what they are going to do with their pet's remains when he or she dies.  At a time when they are lost in their grief, they are forced to make difficult decisions they are in no shape to make and may later regret.

Death is a difficult topic for many people, so they keep postponing making decisions involving death, such as preparing a will, making burial plans for themselves and their loved ones, including their beloved pet.

It is essential that plans are made in advance, so you can grieve the loss of your pet without added stress of having to make difficult decisions. 

There are many options open to pet owners as to how they will dispose of their pet's remains.

The least expensive and most convenient method is to let the veterinarian dispose of the body.  However, most pet owners believe their pet deserves better than that.

One option, depending on the size of the pet, is a quiet burial in the backyard.  However, when using this option you run the risk of leaving your current residence and having to leave the pet remains behind.

Other options include burying your pet in a pet cemetery and/or having them cremated.  In order to find a pet cemetery or crematorium in your area  see the International Associations of Pet Cemeteries website at http://www.iaopc.com/membershiplist.htm

You will find that most pet cemeteries and crematoriums offer a variety of contains for your pet's remains.  For a brief glimpse at some available options, see http://www.pet-heaven.com/urns.htm.

With the increasing popularity of the Internet, the time has come to enable us to not only initially mourn the loss and later cherish the memory of our beloved pets at a traditional pet cemetery, but also in cyberspace at places like the Virtual Pet Cemetery.  In the vast wilderness of the Internet, virtual pet cemeteries are like a beacon, allowing us to share the memories with others.