Anyone who has lived with animals has had to face their all too early demise. We each approach these deaths in different ways, and our options are pretty limited when it comes to how to handle what remains of our beloved pets when they pass on.

Until recently I was under the impression that we had three choices:

1. Bury our pet in the backyard (if we own our home)

2. Have our pet cremated

3. Leave the body with our vet

Personally, I cannot live with a pet cemetery in my backyard. Perhaps if I lived on a large property it would not be a problem, but I don’t want to be reminded of how many special family members I have lost every time I step outside. And what to do with their remains if I were to move?

The recommended burial depth is 3-5 feet to discourage any predators from digging the remains up. I was told by a veterinarian the drug used to put pets to sleep will result in secondary kill if any animal were to eat the body.

So many of my friends have their pets cremated, and I respect that. This too is not for me. I prefer to surround myself with photos taken while they were alive and well. I might consider cremation if I took it one step further and had the ashes infused into a piece of art. There are websites of artisans who do this, and they are quite beautiful.

That means the only choice left to me would be to have my vet take care of the remains. It may sound cold and unfeeling, but their bodies are empty and my pets will always live on in my heart. I do not need to have physical reminders of their deaths.

I have now discovered that some schools of veterinary medicine have body donation programs, similar to those for humans. What an awesome idea! Some may even offer transplant opportunities for waiting live animals.

Having just experienced the human side of donation through my mother’s gift of her own body to UCLA, I have witnessed the heartfelt thanks of those students who benefited from her selflessness. I believe our veterinary students deserve the same chance to become the best they can be.

Still researching schools and the criteria for donating, I hope to be ready the next time I face that heart-wrenching decision. Thankfully that is still some years off.