Ashes?

[some-budgie-loves-me]

If you had your bird cremated, what did you do with the ashes? I live in an apartment so I don't have a yard so I couldn't bury her or her ashes. I can understand why other people might scatter the ashes, but I can't do that. I really want her with me. Actually, I'd like to have her ashes buried/mingled with mine when I die. I was just wondering what others have done, as far as ashes or some kind of physical memorial. I was thinking of maybe getting a large shadowbox frame for her container of ashes, her favorite things, pictures, etc. It's just kind of hard to know what to do.....

[Chief's Mom]

I have both Habanero and Trixie (my first bunny) in little cherry wood boxes. I got a little name plate engraved with their name and dates on it (Things Remembered is where I got mine from) and glued them on the boxes. They are on one of the shelves of my entertainment center. I found a small porclain bunny that looked a lot like Trixie and that sits on top her box. The day Habanero died, my dad and step mom were in Jamaica and bought me a wood carving of a bird that ironically looks just like Mr. Banero (they didn't know until they got back home). That sits on top of his box.

A shadowbox sounds like a good idea, or anything that you can place a picture or some feathers you've saved. I totally agree with not wanting to bury her while living in an apartment or somewhere you know you won't live forever. The only animal we've buried is Zoe our black lab because it was going to cost us a fortune to have her creamated. We buried her in my grandparents backyard, since it's family land. Her collar and name tag are also on the shelf with Trixie and Habanero. Good luck finding something...you'll know when it feels right.

[Alan]

I have mine in small boxes waiting for us to build our house on family land. I live in a town home and own it but didn't want to bury them there since I am not going to be staying there forever.

[Jwhear]

I haven't had any of my birds pass on, but I have had 2 of my dogs cremeated. The older dog who passed first was kept in a box with us and was later buried with my father in law who loved him (don't know if that was illegal since we put him in the casket just before he was placed in the ground). My other dog is in a box here at my home since she passed after my father in law was buried. We are not sure where we are going to put her ashes yet but she is still with us.

[Lisa B]

I have Sampson and Otis's ashes to mix with my own when the time comes. I have a portrait of Sam, with his tail feathers, as well as an oil painting and pencil drawing people have made for me. I treasure them.

[Eliza]

I've never cremated a pet... They have all been laid to rest in my parents' backyard. In hindsight, I wish that I had Beetle cremated.

Urns come in all shapes and sizes, from keepsakes the size of a matchbox to large sculptures. You can even get keepsake jewelry, which is a nice option.

There are lots of vendors out there on-line that sell pet-specific urns/keepsakes. Most funeral homes have a showroom (or at the very least, catalogs from different manufacturers; Batesville and Wilbert are popular) that you can select from as well. Pricing varies according to retailer, size and materials used.

You don't have to use an urn, of course -- you can find all manner of small jewelry boxes/treasure boxes that you can place the ashes in.

There are artists out there that will incorporate your bird's feathers (or hair, if you want a keepsake to memorialize a horse, dog, etc.): Horse Hair Pottery

I really like the idea of a shadow box. You can include a photo of your beloved pet, a poem, some feathers... whatever reminds you of the special relationship that you had.

[mabird]

I haven't lost any of my birds yet, luckily, however I lost my dearest friend in the world, Annie (a beagle) 6 years ago. I still have her ashes, eventhough we own our own house, I just can't bring myself to remove her from my room to bury her. I want her to wait so she can be laid to rest with mommy, and I believe that is what she would want as well. Ironically enough, her can of ashes hangs from a chain (in of all things a decorative bird cage) in my room, just over my night stand. She was by my side every single night for 12 years & I don't see any reason why that should change now.
I still give her a kiss and say "nite-nite, angel, mommy loves you" every single night, just as I did when she used to be hogging my pillow, snoring. Damn, I still cry when I think of that precious girl.

[jdlilfan]

I had my budgie Muffin, & tiel, Sydney, cremated when they passed on. Their ashes are in a keepsake treasure box so when I pass on, I can have them buried with me. I really like the idea of a shadow box though.

[tabooh]

That sounds so sad, I have no clue but hopefully somebody here well have an idea.

[kellywess]

I have all three of my lost babies ashes kept in this box below (its has a lot of stained glass-very pretty up close). Their ashes are combined in a tin (had them cremated together) and they are inside this box. I bought this box at a store for $12.00... never thinking at the time it would ever be used in the way it has been. When I lost them, I knew exactly where I would keep their remains. I have also heard of some people taking the ashes of a lost pet, sealing them tight in a plastic bag and going to "Build a Bear." Great idea, I have always thought. You can name the Bear after your pet and their remains are in the Bear. Just a thought. A co-worker has done that with two of her dogs.