When Your Beloved Animal Passes
Please accept our sincerest condolences on the loss of your animal.
We understand how difficult this time can be for you and your family. This resource will help walk you through the steps necessary to complete your animal’s final arrangements.
We have compiled a list of local pet cemeteries and crematoriums here.
Do You Want A Necropsy?
An animal autopsy, also known as necropsy, is performed to provide you with a diagnosis of your animal’s disease, and when possible, a cause of death. Necropsies are performed to provide you with a diagnosis of your animal’s disease, and when possible, a cause of death. This examination may include internal anatomy, requiring dissection of organs and removal of limbs in a respectful manner. Accordingly, once a necropsy is performed, the final remains of your animal would not be viewable. Veterinary students will assist and learn from the necropsy, under the direct supervision of a faculty pathologist. Please know that by choosing this procedure, you are helping to advance veterinary medicine, and we are grateful.
Yes
If you would like a necropsy, you will asked to choose one option for both of the following:
- 1. Unrestricted Use or Further Use Forbidden
- Unrestricted Use
You are authorizing UC Davis to use your animal’s remains for teaching and/or clinical discovery purposes, in addition to the standard necropsy to determine a probable cause of death.
- Further Use Forbidden
Your animal’s remains will not be used for clinical discovery purposes. A necropsy will be performed to determine a probable cause of death.
- Unrestricted Use
- 2. Standard Handling or Private Cremation
(Owner pick-up is NOT ALLOWED on animals that have been necropsied.)- Standard Handling of Remains
Your animal will be transported to a rendering facility for disposal. - Private Cremation
You will be responsible for contacting a private crematorium within one business day of your animal’s passing. You must provide payment and animal details to your chosen crematorium in order for them to pick up your animal from UC Davis. (Partial cremations are also generally available.) The crematorium you choose will then return your animal’s ashes to you directly. Crematoriums do not return ashes back to UC Davis.
Please contact the Anatomic Pathology Service at 530-752-1368 to inform them which private crematorium you have chosen to pick up your animal. . If a necropsy or other post-mortem examination is being performed on your animal, please inform the crematorium. They will call the Anatomic Pathology Service to confirm and arrange pick-up. Most animals are ready for pick-up the day after a necropsy or post-mortem examination.
- Standard Handling of Remains
Necropsy results will be relayed to you by your UC Davis veterinarian in approximately 30 days.
No
If a necropsy is not desired, you will asked to choose one option:
- Standard Handling, Private Cremation or Owner Pick-Up
- Standard Handling of Remains
- Private Cremation
- Owner Pick-Up
Owners can take their animal home after its passing if no necropsy or post-mortem examination is being performed. Owners/agents must take their animal home within three business days of passing. If you change your mind and request a standard handling or private cremation, please inform the Anatomic Pathology Service within two business day of animal’s passing.
Hold For Decision
If a handling of remains or necropsy request decision cannot be made at the time of your animal’s passing, your animal will be placed on hold with the Anatomic Pathology Service, and you will have two business days to make a decision. A necropsy on your animal cannot be requested outside the two business day post-mortem window. Due to health hazard concerns, if no decision or owner communication has been made within five days, we will implement our standard handling of remains practice for your animal and a morgue holding fee will be applied.
Disclaimer: In the rare instance your animal is determined to have a possible infectious or zoonotic (transferable to humans) disease that requires immediate cremation, it will not be possible to release remains directly to you or to a private crematorium. All remains will be transported to a designated facility for cremation. We will contact you immediately if this is found to be the case.
Other options: If an insurance necropsy is desired, please inform your UC Davis veterinarian at the time of your animal’s passing. Additional fees apply.