Frequent Questions

A pet crematorium uses heat for a process called cremation. This reduces a deceased pet to bone fragments and ash. In Tennessee, facilities must register for a general air permit to operate crematory equipment for companion animals. Careful monitoring ensures Faithful Friend meets all regulations and requirements.

Private Cremation. The term "private" can be defined differently by each crematorium and is sometimes confused with individual cremation. A private cremation indicates that the pet is cremated alone, with no other pets in the chamber, and that the ashes are returned to the pet owner.

Individual Cremation. This term usually refers to the process in which more than one pet is placed in the cremation chamber at the same time, but each is separated by trays or space, so the ashes may commingle. Sometimes, this term is used interchangeably with 'private cremation.' Always check the crematory’s specific definition of these terms.

Communal Cremation. Communal or mass cremation means several pets are placed in the chamber and cremated simultaneously. The remains are buried or scattered in a cemetery, a garden, or another location unique to the crematorium.

When a pet dies at home, wrap it in plastic and keep it as cold as possible. Placing your pet in a freezer is the best option. If that is not possible, wrap the pet in a blanket or towel and use a container, pet carrier, or pet bed to bring it to our facility. For large animals, such as a dog or goat, use a sheet, blanket, or tarp for transport. We have rolling carts to help remove your pet from your car or truck. We accept pets by appointment only during office hours: 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We are not available after hours, including on weekends and holidays. Please wait until the next business day to contact us.

Please note: if you want a clay paw print and fur clipping, keeping the pet as cold as possible is necessary. Placing them in a freezer is the best option, as it is the only way to stop the decomposition process.

Besides cats and dogs, most types of pets can be cremated, including birds, rabbits, sheep, miniature goats, small pigs, reptiles, and other mammals. Our weight limit capacity is 180 pounds.

Faithful Friend upholds strict procedures to ensure integrity, using a metal identification number system that tracks every pet from cremation through return of ashes—the same standard as human funeral homes. We only work on one pet at a time.

Our professional and caring staff is here and committed to you and your cherished companion's memory. We treat every pet as if it were our own.

In many areas, burying pets at home is a long-standing tradition. Before doing so, check with your city or county government to see if it is legal where you live. If you bury your pet at home, put the body in a heavy-duty plastic bag. Then place it in a wooden or metal box and bury it at least 3 feet deep to deter other animals from digging at the gravesite. If you change your mind and dig up a buried pet, we cannot accept the animal for cremation.

Unfortunately, the grief experienced by children is often overlooked or minimized. But their sorrow is as genuine as the grief adults feel. Depending on a child's age, they will deal with grief differently.

An extensive discussion on the topic of children dealing with pet-family member death: https://www.bridgingrainbows.com/childrens-compassion-corner/

There are many books for adults and children regarding the grieving process after a pet loss. For a list of children's books, please visit: https://www.aplb.org/support/recommended-reading/

Faithful Friends provides cremation services in accordance with the "Definitions and Standards for the Cremation of Companion Animals" set forth by the ICCFA and PLPA. Please read below to educate yourself about the various aspects of cremation.  

The PLPA Mission Statement The Pet Loss Professionals Alliance is committed to being an educational resource to its members. The membership, including pet loss suppliers and pet crematory operators, will be dedicated to the respectful and dignified treatment of those pets entrusted to us. We will do this by creating programs to profitably meet the changing needs of the pet death care industry and our process partners in cemeteries, crematories, and pet loss facilities, as well as the creation of standards to meet our customers' expectations willfully.