Frequent Questions

If you're at home:

First, make sure your pet is truly deceased. Check for breathing, heartbeat and movement. Many things slow down before death, especially in aging animals.

Second, you may choose to call your vet and let them know. They can help confirm the death and offer guidance or next steps, if needed.

Third, place the body in a cool, dry area to slow down the decomposition process, then contact the River Valley Pet Cremation Society 24/7 at 651-318-4020. We will arrange for you to bring in your pet during business hours or we will pick them up. See our hours HERE. We will accommodate you as soon as possible. Our Signature Cremation Service is available for $325, and you can upgrade to a different urn or add a keepsake. If you are a member of the Pet Cremation Society, your price is fixed at $275. Click HERE for more information on joining. You can join at any time, even right after your pet has passed. 

Our transportation fees are:

$75 fee within 10 miles of our location in Hastings, Minnesota.

$95 fee within 11-20 miles of our location

$115 fee within 21-30 miles of our location

Beyond the 30 mile radius will be charged additional $4/mile.

If you're at the vet:

You can bring your pet to us or we can pick up your beloved pet at your veterinarian’s office within 20 miles of our office in Hastings, MN, with no transportation fees. You or your vet can contact us at 651-318-4020 and we will accommodate you as soon as possible.

If we pick up your pet from your home or veterinarian's office, your pet will be placed in a private area until we meet with you to discuss our Signature Package and any upgrades. If you are a member of the Pet Cremation Society, your price is fixed at $275.

If you choose to bring in your pet, you will have time to sit with your pet in our Comfort Room and say your final goodbyes before we place him or her in the private area.

Your payment and the signed Cremation Authorization Form must be received before the cremation process begins. Payments can be made by cash or check, or online HERE. There is a 3.64% processing fee and $.30 transaction fee for all online payments. Cremation cannot begin until the form and payment have been received.

We will then request a photo and short pet tribute to post on our website and Facebook page. We will share the link with you as soon as it's available. Any further information we need from you for package personalization will be gathered at that time.

We will contact you as soon as your pet's cremated remains are ready to be picked up, typically owithin 1-2 days. The time frame of  pick up can be lengthened due to circustances such as arrival after operating hours, weekends, and holidays.

We understand that one of the biggest concerns families have is whether their beloved pet is truly receiving a private cremation. That's why we have strict procedures in place to ensure your pet is cared for individually and respectfully throughout the entire process.

From the moment your pet comes into our care, they are assigned a unique identification tag that remains with them throughout every step of the cremation process. This identification system allows us to maintain continuous tracking and accountability. Identification documentation also accompanies your pet throughout the process.

For private cremations, only one pet is placed in the cremation chamber at a time. Once the cremation is complete, the ashes are carefully collected and returned to your family in the selected urn.

We welcome questions about our process because we believe transparency builds trust. Our commitment is to treat every pet with the same dignity, respect, and individual care that we would want for our own family companions.

When we say "private cremation," we mean exactly that—your pet is cremated individually, and the ashes returned to you are those of your beloved companion.

You can also tour our facility ahead of time and witness your pet being placed into the crematory when you need our services. These details often provide additional reassurance that your pet's dignity and your trust matter to us.

Your pet's body will be moved from the private area where it has been stored, then we will remove its collar or tag before it is placed in our cremation chamber dedicated for pets. The chamber is heated to 1,600-1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and the extreme heat vaporizes the organic matter and reduces your pet's remains to ashes. 

When the cremated remains cool, any surgical equipment (pins, plates, or joints) are removed and any larger materials that haven't reduced, such as bone, will be turned into a powder and combined with the rest of your pet's ashes. The ashes are placed in a plastic bag that is put into an urn. 

Our signature service comes with a rosewood urn with brass accents. We have many other urns available for purchase. See urn and keepsake options HERE.

You certainly may. Add $75 to witness your pet's cremation in the crematory.

Your pet’s cremated remains will be available to pick up at our location typically within 1-2 days* (Monday-Friday) at no charge. If you prefer, we can mail the cremated remains via U.S. Postal Service. Extra fees will apply based on the size and weight of the package and travel distance. Delivery date by U.S. Postal Service cannot be guaranteed.

*Time frame of cremation completion can be lengthened due to certain situations including, but not limited to;

• Your pet coming into our care after 4 p.m.
• Special order urns
• Your vet clinic is closed before we can bring your pet into our care (ex. weekends, holidays, etc.)
• Weekend deaths

Please confirm with our staff as to when you can expect your pet’s cremated remains.

Out of respect for the crucial roles they play in assisting individuals and law enforcement, we are honored to offer our standard private pet cremation package at no charge to: 

• Guide dogs and service dogs (ADA definition: dogs of any breed or size who are trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability) 
• Active or retired military dogs
• K9 units
• Government (TSA, CBP, ATF, USDA, and FBI) detection dogs

At this time, we do not provide free service to ESA or companion animals. 

If owners prefer a different urn or keepsakes, they may pay to upgrade. See options HERE.

Definitely. Visit our Grief Support page for resources.