FREQUENT PET QUESTIONS

Anger and guilt are natural, but you must allow yourself to go through all the reaction stages of death: denial & disbelief, anger, guilt, depression, and finally, acceptance. There is no order to these stages. Be sure each person in the family, including children, is allowed to share their grief.

You are the best judge of how much information your children can handle about death and the loss of their pet. Don't underestimate them, however. You may find that, by being honest with them about your pet's loss, you may be able to address some fears and misperceptions they have about death.

Honesty is important. If you say the pet was "put to sleep," make sure your children understand the difference between death and ordinary sleep. Never say the pet "went away," or your child may wonder what he or she did to make it leave, and wait in anguish for its return. That also makes it harder for a child to accept a new pet. Make it clear that the pet will not come back, but that it is happy and free of pain.

Never assume a child is too young or too old to grieve. Never criticize a child for tears, or tell them to "be strong" or not to feel sad. Be honest about your own sorrow; don't try to hide it, or children may feel required to hide their grief as well. Discuss the issue with the entire family, and give everyone a chance to work through their grief at their own pace.

Pets observe every change in a household, and are bound to notice the absence of a companion. Pets often form strong attachments to one another, and the survivor of such a pair may seem to grieve for its companion. Cats grieve for dogs, and dogs for cats.

You may need to give your surviving pets a lot of extra attention and love to help them through this period. Remember that, if you are going to introduce a new pet, your surviving pets may not accept the newcomer right away, but new bonds will grow in time. Meanwhile, the love of your surviving pets can be wonderfully healing for your own grief.

Many leave the decision of the disposition of their pet up to their veterinarian and/or friends. Unfortunately, by doing that they never really understand what happens to their pet. It is important that you know about the alternatives available to you. We, at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center work with many of the veterinarian clinics in the Monadnock Region. You may instruct your clinic to call us, or you may call us directly. Once we receive your call, your pet will be picked up just as soon as we are able to - usually within 2 to 4 hours and brought back to our funeral home. If your pet dies at home, we are available 24-hours a day for your assistance - all that is needed is a telephone call from you to our office.

Absolutely, anyone can transport their own pet and sometimes there is wonderful therapy in providing some of the care yourself. Whether your pet dies at home, a clinic or pet hospital, you are always welcome to take an active role in the process, however, if you prefer, we will travel to your pet to help you. We make no additional charges if it is within our local service area.

The crematory we primarily use is the All Paws Pet Crematorium located in Merrimack, New Hampshire. We will bring your pet there and will also return them to our funeral home in person. We only offer assistance with individual cremations; therefore you can be assured and comforted knowing that you are receiving only your pet's cremated remains when we return them to you.

Individual: The term "Individual Cremation" means that your pet will be kept separate from other animals at all times during the cremation process. The ashes, also, will be kept separate and returned to you in the urn of your choice. This is a dignified process and your pet's privacy is assured at all times. Individual Cremations also make it possible for family members who wish to be present for the cremation, may be there throughout the entire process.

Communal: "Communal Cremation" implies that your pet is cremated along with other animals and the ashes are typically  not returned to you. Your pet's ashes are not able to be separated from the others.  We do not offer this option, period.  In fact, we travel an hour out of town to insure that communal cremation does not occur to your beloved pet.

When making this decision there are many factors to consider. Cremation is an option that allows you to handle your pet's remains as you wish, whether it be burying them, scattering them, or keeping them in a decorative urn. Consideration of your living situation, personal and religious values, as well as plans for the future can help you determine whether cremation or burial of your pet is the right choice for you and your family. No matter what you decide, we, at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center can certainly be of assistance to you.

All cremation prices are based upon the weight of the pet. Generally all prices start at $195.00.

Under normal circumstances we do not make a charge for our assistance over what the pet crematory charges for the cremation process itself. However, some special requests or arrangements may necessitate additional fees.

This decision is entirely a matter of choice. Some considerations to think about include: Am I planning to remain at my residence indefinitely? If not, you may want to consider a more permanent urn which will allow you to bury the cremated remains in a sealed container and take it with you when you move. Some prefer to keep their pet’s cremated remains in an urn in their home with them. There are many options available to you, no matter what your preference is.

For those who desire a quiet and uninterrupted resting place for their pets cremated remains, they may be scattered on our grounds or on your own property at no charge. For an additional fee, the cremated remains may also be scattered over your property or another scenic location by airplan

Under normal circumstances, we will typically be able to return your pet to you in about a week. However, depending on our schedule with other services, prior commitments or holidays, it may take up to two weeks.

Yes we do. You may also want to use something from home that can be used as an urn and perhaps hold more personal meaning. However, if you prefer, we have a large selection of pet urns made from a variety of materials such as metal, wood, porcelain and stone available for you to select from. Brass name plates and laser engraving are also available should you wish to inscribe loving memories. Please click here to visit our special page showing all of the pet urns we currently have available to you.

While home burial was a common practice many years ago, some town ordinances may prohibit pet home burial today. Also, if you are renting, or move frequently, home burial may not be an option. To many, a pet cemetery provides a sense of permanency, as well as a tranquil place to spend time reflecting on fond memories. It signifies a dignity to your pet that was a constant part of your life, always ready to give you love and companionship. Burying your pet in a pet cemetery brings honor and the ultimate gesture of love to a life that will be forever cherished.

We have been serving the Monadnock Region since 1915. As a family-owned and operated business, we specialize in individualized attention and service. The quality and care our pet owners experience is represented by the fact that they recommend our services to their family and friends. We are very proud of the reputation for assistance we have achieved and strive very hard to continue to meet the individual needs of each pet owner. We feel we provide that extra, caring touch that makes a difference....one you'll notice now, and feel forever.