One of our pets passed away unexpectedly a few weeks ago. My wife and I are both veterinarians, so though we were distraught we knew what we wished for his remains. For many of my clients one of the hardest decisions they have to make when a pet passes is how to care for the remains. This can be especially difficult when faced with a sudden loss.

Traditionally burial has been the way most people made their final goodbyes. As more people move often and tend to live in apartments or town houses this is not always an option. Cremation is very common and most hospitals offer this to their clients. We offer communal cremation for owners who do not wish to keep the ashes and individual cremation for those who wish to keep, bury, or spread their pet's ashes.

If a pet passes at home in the night or on a weekend at a time when most hospitals are closed, many overnight emergency hospitals offer cremation services. Almost all hospitals work with dedicated pet crematories. I realize this is not an easy thing to think about, but knowing how you are going to say goodbye can make it a little easier when that day actually arrives. As a personal note we planted a tree in Merlin's honor and spread his ashes underneath.

Erik Dorsch is a veterinarian at The Animal Hospital in Carrboro.