When It Comes Time To Move On...

luxbear · 07-19-2013, 06:11 AM

Obviously I don't want to be a downer, but I've been thinking about what I'm going to do when my lil' ham passes away. She just celebrated her 2nd birthday, so I know I should probably prepare for these sort of matters (although she's still alive 'n kickin', haha).

How did you all handle the passing of a pet, literally speaking? Did you bring the body to a vet? Did you bury your lil' guy? I don't live in an area where I could bury my ham so that wouldn't really be an option for me.

evel_lin · 07-19-2013, 06:27 AM

You could probably bury them somewhere like a wood, it's not like they take up much space... just make sure it's deep enough that another animal can't disturb it, perhaps putting a heavy stone on top. Some people bury their hams in deep flower pots

kay · 07-19-2013, 06:34 AM

My brother buried his last 2 hammies in big flowerpots.

Some vets provide a service where they cremate your passed pets - my friend did this with his cat. they wil either do a mass crematin or you can pay little extra and they will do it separately and give you the ashes.

Gazmo · 07-19-2013, 06:34 AM

ive buryed mine in the garden, but I think for future ill do it in the woods or somewhere I can go and visit when I move..

luxbear · 07-19-2013, 06:39 AM

Yeah I like the idea of cremation. Unfortunately I live in a city. I feel bad even thinking about this, seeing as my ham just recovered from wet tail and she's quite the trooper, haha. However, I'm trying to be realistic.

Gazmo · 07-19-2013, 06:42 AM

sometimes when they get ill, its a shock of what could happen so i understand knowing why you asked

kay · 07-19-2013, 06:43 AM

If you have your ham cremated when it's time you can then do anything with the ashes - keep them in a little jar, scatter hem somewhere nice...
Unfortunately it's something we all have to think about. I've only had my hammy for a month an I don't know how old he is or anything as got him from a neighbour whose sister had just dumped him on when she moved so for all I know he doesn't have long left! He looks young and sprightly though

JBH316 · 07-19-2013, 06:48 AM

I've always taken mine to the vets for cremation.

I don't think there's anything wrong with thinking about what you might want to do when the time comes - it's much better than trying to think things through when you are upset.

All that being said, I hope she is with you for a good while yet

luxbear · 07-19-2013, 06:57 AM

When I was around 7, my first hamster died of a heart attack in front of me. My parents "took care of it" and I heard my dad said he threw its body into an orange grove...

Needless to say, I want to be an excellent ham owner through the very end.

racinghamster · 07-19-2013, 09:05 AM

I think it`s lovely that you are looking ahead at this and not waiting on death to happen. I have a garden so I`m lucky that I have access to that. I do like the idea of cremation but I`m not sure that a small pet like a hamster would be `individually` catered for and maybe cremated with larger pets and not really know if I was getting my hamster`s ashes back alone or mixed with another animals ashes or not, so without knowing the in`s and out`s of that, I go with burial. Wooded areas where laying a small pet to rest can be a peaceful place where you know they will rest in peace. A walk in a country area near to you and choosing a spot you know is well away from roads or where it`s busy. You could also plant a flower or mark the grave with a few pebbles or a larger stone if there was one nearby.

It can be sad when parents just see our small pets as disposable sometimes, so if you can better that, good on you.