We had no idea it would end this way

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As a lover, and serial adopter, of older dogs I have been through the above experiences many times and it never gets easier. But I have always resisted cremation in favour of burial but as I get older, even with a hired mini-digger (sold mine many years ago), it is unlikely to be an option in future.

So my question is, and without wishing to cause any distress, how confident do you feel that your loved ones' ashes are being returned to you? The only dog I have had cremated was Boss, the Rottweiler (because he was simply too big and heavy to handle), and I didn't ask for his ashes because of my lack of trust. I think of him with extra sadness and guilt though, each time I pass the 6 graves in the garden and forest.

Not just dogs. I once called on the 2nd wife (who I had never met) of an older, long time friend in England to look him up after years away. She invited me up to the flat after saying that he wasn't here. She corrected that statement once sat down with a cup of tea with, 'he's there', pointing to the urn on the mantlepiece. Stunned into silence my first, private, thought was 'how do you know?'.

I have to take on trust that I have got back the ashes of my pets. The crematorium issues a certificate with the ‘urn’. Certainly by weight the ashes seem right. Tigers were much lighter than Dawns and Dusk was a big dog and his ashes weighed the most.I had kept Dusk and Tiger to be placed with Dawn after her demise. I believe there are some pet crems where you can attend but I couldn’t handle that!

[Sparkle]

This thread is just so sad but also it's lovely to hear how much our pets mean to all of us in life and death and how we never forget them - oh hec I'm off again