Choosing the Right Pet Coffin
After your pet has sadly passed away, you may wish to pay tribute to their life with a pet coffin. Many owners use them for pet funerals, memorials or pet burials, in much the same way as we do with humans. It can provide a beautiful goodbye and brings closure in a gentle way which we are familiar with. When looking to buy a pet coffin, there are a few things to think about when making your decision. Remember, if you need more time to make arrangements after your companion has passed, contact your local veterinary practice as they usually allow clients to use their freezers to store remains for a few days.
Size
The first and most important thing to cover is which size coffin to buy. Many companies will provide either small or large sized pet coffins. We would recommend measuring your pet’s length and width in the resting position that they will be in when placed into the pet casket. Once you have this, you can compare this against the measurements provided for the internal size. For example, with My Pet Coffin sizes, all our small pet coffins measure 70cm in length, 40cm widthways and 26cm high internally. Therefore, you would need to make sure your pet’s measurements fit comfortably within this. If you are concerned the measurements are too close or you are unsure, it is recommended that you choose the next size up. It is always better to have a pet coffin that is slightly on the larger side, than too small for your pet.
If you choose to bury your pet, and are planning to create a burial grave, you may have a burial site in mind. In this case, you will need to make sure the external size of the pet coffin is smaller than the internal size of the grave. We would suggest adding a minimum 50cm on the width and 50cm to the length of the external size of the coffin to ensure your grave will be large enough to fit the pet coffin comfortably. If you would like to find out more about pet burial, take a look our previous blog post.
For a rough guide on which breeds will often fit in our small and large sized pet coffins, please see our Pet Coffin Size Guide.
Style
There are a variety of different styles of pet coffins on the market, so it’s important you find the right coffin for you and your pet. Some outlets sell wooden pet coffins in different wood effects and veneers to suit your taste. Plastic coffins are also available which can be painted and personalised with the family. A popular choice is woven pet coffins as they have a soft appearance that can be comforting to many families. Not only is there a great deal of craftsmanship and care that goes into each handwoven coffin, but it is usually highly sustainable and has the feeling of taking a pet back to nature.
At My Pet Coffin we take sustainability seriously, and strongly believe in providing environmentally conscious tributes for natural send-offs. In our case, we sell woven coffins made from natural materials that are biodegradable, such as a Seagrass Pet Coffin, Rattan Pet Coffin, Water Hyacinth Pet Coffin and Willow Pet Coffin. Each is intricately handwoven, creating a high-quality finish whilst looking harmonious with nature. To find out more about the materials used in each coffin visit our pet coffins page.
Whichever style you choose, make sure that it will be accepted on the site of burial. If it is a natural burial ground for example, they may not accept coffins made from plastic or veneers which don’t easily biodegrade. To find out more about natural burial grounds click here.
Extras
Pet coffins can also include some extra items. You may wish to have an engraved nameplate to personalise with your pet’s name, age and dates to create a personal touch. These can be brass effect, silver effect or oak. Some pet coffins will come with liners, often natural cotton or silk effect. You can even have your pet coffin zinc lined. Pet blankets and pillows may be something you would like to include to make your pet comfortable. All My Pet Coffin caskets come with a fitted natural cotton liner, pillow and sheet. Customers can choose to add an engraved nameplate made from FSC oak.
Delivery
When you are placing an order for a pet coffin, you may find that you are in a hurry to receive it. Wanting a quick burial is completely understandable, so make sure you check what the delivery policy is from the retailer you’re looking to buy the pet casket from. At My Pet Coffin, orders placed before 1pm will be dispatched for Next Day delivery. So, if you have chosen Royal Mail delivery you will receive it within two working days following the day of dispatch. If your order is particularly urgent, you can choose to upgrade your delivery to a Next Day Before 12am or Next Day Before 10am service. You will then receive your order the next day after ordering if placed before 1pm. As pet coffins are fairly large items, remember to stay in at your address to receive your order.
Choosing a pet coffin can be unsettling, but it can also help bring closure and allow you to grieve by paying tribute to their life. Take the time you need to look for something that feels right and remember that if you need any help, most companies will have a number you can call to ask all the questions you need. If you are struggling with the loss of your pet, the Blue Cross offer Pet Bereavement Support Services where you can talk to someone about how you are feeling.