Aftercare for your pet       
Basically there are 2 choices with regards to your pet's body after euthanasia:
burial and cremation.  Please read on for information about each of these options.

Burial - If you own your land and there are no covenants preventing it, you may choose to bury your pet at home.  Please realize that the drugs used to euthanize your pet may be harmful to scavenging animals, so it is important to enclose your deceased pet in a plastic bag and dig a deep grave.  Another option is to bury your pet at a pet cemetery.  Braemar Pet Cemetery is located at 906 B Old Las Vegas Highway and can be reached by phone at (505) 466-6034.

Cremation - There are 2 animal crematoriums in the Santa Fe area, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Braemar Loving Care.  Each one offers either private cremation or mass cremation.  Private cremation means that your pet is cremated by itself and you get your pet's ashes back afterwards.  You may choose to keep your pet's ashes in an urn at home, bury them at home or at a pet cemetery, or spread them someplace your pet loved.  Mass cremation means that your pet is cremated at the same time as other others and you do not get the ashes back. 

For a small fee, we will transport your pet's body to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter for private or mass cremation.  If you choose private cremation, they will call you in about 2 weeks to come pick up your pet's ashes. Braemar Loving Care is also available to pick up your deceased pet for cremation services at their facility. You might also choose to transport your pet yourself.

Santa Fe Animal Shelter is located at 100 Caja Del Rio Road, Santa Fe, NM 87507. 
You can reach them at (505) 983-4309.

Braemar Loving Care is located at 906 B Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe, NM 87505.  You can reach them at (505) 466-6034.

Aftercare for you
Yes, you need care after losing your pet, too.  Anyone who has loved an animal will tell you that the death of a pet is a heartbreaking experience. It is not uncommon to feel guilty after choosing euthanasia for your pet.  Try to remember that euthanasia is an act of kindness when your pet is suffering.  It is truly a noble way to honor our pets by letting them pass with dignity and grace.  Be kind to yourself during the grieving process, knowing that the joy your pet brought you throughout his or her life will always outweigh the sadness you feel now.

Sometimes the grief can feel overwhelming.  Talking with other people who have lost pets may help.  Please visit our resources page for links to books, online articles, and other sources of bereavement support.