877072-river-valley-pet-cremation-services

How to Prepare Yourself For Your Pet's Death

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:16 GMT

As much as it scares you, the inevitable is coming, so what can you do to prepare?

No one is ever completely ready to lose a pet. Even if you have known for months that your pet is ill and will soon pass, when they cross that rainbow bridge, the shock still hits and the loss is heavy. There are, however, some things you can do that may make you feel as though you prepared as best you could.

Plan Ahead

This includes planning for their death and the aftercare.

With regard to your pet's death, will you euthanize? If so, does your vet do at-home visits or will you have to go into the office? Will you need an appointment? Should you contact someone other than your usual vet? Is there a wait lists?
With regard to aftercare, are you considering cremation? If so, private or communal? Will it be done through your vet or a private company? Do you want your pet's ashes? Do you want to preplan your pet's private cremation through the River Valley Pet Cremation Society? Read more HERE.

Planning ahead (if possible) will give you more time to spend with your pet in their last days or weeks.

Create Memories With Your Pet

Now is the time to take all the pictures and videos you've been meaning to but haven't had the time. Take paw (or foot) prints to make into ornaments or tattoos or other keepsakes you know you're going to want. Clip a bit of fur or keep a feather; there are all kinds of keepsakes for pets that you can make or purchase.

Spend A Lot of Time With Your Pet and Give In

Remember that filthy pond your dog always wanted to play in that you always said no to? Now may be the time to let him try it out. Your cat loved your grandma's quilt but it was a no-no until maybe tonight? Shower your pet with hugs and snuggles and a trip to every drive-thru in town.

Don't Forget About You

Prepare yourself for the grief that's coming. Talk to people about what's happening so they will know what to expect with regard to your emotions and mood. Remember self-care. Don't disregard yourself in this preparation. Try to sleep and eat well. You can't take care of your pet if you are under the weather.

Is There Grief Support for Pet Owners?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:15 GMT

Grief over pet loss is normal and there are many local groups to help navigate the grief process.

Pets are family and they offer us love and companionship, expecting nothing in return. Their value and loss cannot be minimized. Find grief support resources here and navigate the grief process with assistance.

U of M Pet Loss Grief Group/Companion Animal Love, Loss & Memories Group (CALLM)

The University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) offers a bereavement group to support those grieving the loss of a beloved companion animal. CALLM will provide you with a supportive and confidential environment in which to share your story. By participating, you will learn about what to expect from grief, strategies to cope with grief, signs of prolonged grief, and ways to memorialize and honor your deceased companion animal. CALLM sessions are facilitated by licensed social work staff and master’s level interns of VMC Social Work Services with the Veterinary Medical Center at the University of Minnesota.

Location: University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Specific room location and meeting dates/times will be provided to confirmed participants.

Fee: Sessions are free of charge.

To register: Please contact the VMC Social Work Services team in advance for pre-screening and to reserve a seat. Please either call 612-624-9372 or email swvet@umn.edu .

Helpguide.org/Coping with Losing a Pet

HelpGuide.org is an independent nonprofit that runs one of the world’s leading mental health websites. Each month, millions of people from all around the world turn to us for trustworthy information they can use to improve their mental health and make healthy changes.

Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota/Pet Loss Support

Tools, websites, and hotlines dedicated to animal loss and grief.

Insight Counseling Pet Loss Grief Support Group

A virtual support group for the diagnosis of a terminal illness, or loss of a beloved animal companion that meeting via Zoom on the first Monday of every month from 4-5 p.m. Central time.

MN Pets Grief Support Email Series

You have lost a dear friend. The grief you feel after losing a beloved pet is natural and can be very intense. We have written a series of messages to help you reflect on, move through, and heal from your loss. You can sign up to receive a new message every few days that is written especially for what you are experiencing.

What Types of Pets Can Be Cremated Privately?

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:00:10 GMT

Wondering if your beloved pet is eligible for private pet cremation with us? If it weighs less than 250 lbs., the answer is probably, "Yes."

By far, we see dogs and cats more often than any other animal. As the most popular pets in the United States, this is to be expected. But almost any type of pet can be cremated privately as long as it weighs less than 250 lbs., which is the size and weight capacity of our pet crematory.

We can accommodate small pockets pets like hamsters, gerbils and rabbits; other household pets like snakes, lizards and birds; and farm animals such as goats and pigs.

Please call us with any questions. The River Valley Pet Cremation Society is ready to help in any way, and if you would like to preplan, click HERE to read about a lifetime membership. One $15 payment saves you $50 off private cremation and covers all current and future pets in your household.

Plan ahead to honor your pets. Knowing the arrangements have been taken care of ahead of time will give you peace of mind and you’ll know your pets will be treated with dignity.

Five Ideas for Remembering Your Pet

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:00:16 GMT

You've lost a beloved pet and want to pay tribute to the unconditional love and companionship they gave you over the years, but where do you start?

How do you cope with the grief of losing a beloved companion? Here are five ways to honor the memory of the pet who was by your side through thick and thin.

Write An Obituary

Pets are family and should be treated as such. We honor our human family members with an obituary to announce their death, share their life stories, preserve their memories, and provide closure, so why not our pets? Every family served by the River Valley Pet Cremation Society receives an online tribute for their pet as part of our signature package.

Create Keepsakes

Have a paw print ornament made or create jewelry from their ashes. Get a tattoo, place pictures in frames, or find other tangible items that keep their memory alive. Keepsakes can help pet owners process their grief. Every family served by the River Valley Pet Cremation Society receives a paw (or foot) print ornament keepsake as part of our signature package.

Pass On the Love

Donate your pet’s toys, blankets, or other items to a shelter or other pet owner where they will continue to be useful and bring comfort to another animal companion.

Celebrate in Their Honor

On their birthday or the anniversary of their passing, take the day off or do something special in their honor. Visit their favorite park, donate supplies to a vet clinic or money to a shelter or animal organization in your pet’s name.

Save a New Life

Adopting a new pet doesn’t disrespect the relationship or memory of your previous one. Every situation is unique and you’ll know when you’re ready to share your love with another animal companion. Doing so can help you process your grief and a fresh start can help fill the empty place in your heart.

The Best Private Pet Cremation Package

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:34:53 GMT

What do pet owners look for in a private pet cremation package?

A private pet cremation package that truly honors your pet will have quality elements that speak to the uniqueness of your pet and allow you to remember them in multiple ways. Our signature private pet cremation package includes the following:

beautiful rosewood urn engraved with your pet’s name/nickname and dates
clipping of your pet’s fur
clay paw (or foot) print ornament
certificate of cremation
online pet tribute
typical return time of 1-2 days (may be affected by weekends and holidays)

Our signature private pet cremation package is available for $325 (or $275 for members of the River Valley Pet Cremation Society. ) Join for a one-time $15 enrollment fee and cover all current and future pets in your household to save $50 off every cremation. Read more and become a member HERE.

Why Private Cremation Is the Right Choice For Your Pet

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 21:30:02 GMT

Families in the Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin are choosing private pet cremation for its level of care and personalization.

Private pet cremation is the most compassionate and dignified way to honor your pet after death. At the River Valley Pet Cremation Society , your pet is cremated alone so you are guaranteed to receive only your pet’s cremated remains, and you may witness a private cremation at our location. Private cremation allows you to memorialize your pet in a number of ways (with a funeral, memorial garden, keepsake jewelry, paw print ornaments, or scattering ashes, etc.) and private cremation offers a higher level of care and provides more comfort to those wishing to keep their pet close after death. While it may come at a higher cost due to the personalized handling of your pet, owners choose it for

In communal pet cremation, multiple pets are cremated together in one chamber. Ashes are not separated and cannot be returned to owners. Communal cremation offers no option to witness your pet’s cremation and the ashes are disposed of by the crematory’s policy. This is considered to be the simpler and more budget-friendly solution to handle your pet’s remains.

The River Valley Pet Cremation Society is a family-owned, local pet cremation facility in Hastings, Minnesota. We believe that pets are part of the family and they should be treated as such. This is why we only offer private pet cremation and guarantee that you and your pet will be treated with dignity from the first point of contact. At the River Valley Pet Cremation Society, we're pet owners too. We understand how hard it is to say goodbye to a pet and hope we can help you arrange a dignified farewell for your pet.

Join the River Valley Pet Cremation Society to plan ahead and save $50 off cremation for every current and future pet in your household. One $15 payment covers every pet, guarantees the price, and your membership never expires.