Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Every cremation at Greenfields is individual.

We made the decision to provide individual cremations only because it allows us to offer the kind of service Greenfields was created for – small, personal and centred around each pet and their family.

Your pet has their own dedicated cremation and their own identification throughout.

They are never simply another pet in a system.

Because we want your time here to feel private and unhurried.

We carefully manage our diary so that families don’t cross over wherever possible. If you have an appointment with us, that time has been set aside for you.

If your pet passes unexpectedly and you don’t already have an appointment, please still contact us and we will do our best to make arrangements with you.

Yes, absolutely.

If you would like Greenfields to care for your pet, please contact us directly so we can make the arrangements with you personally.

If your pet is at your veterinary practice, you will also need to let the veterinary team know that you have chosen a private cremation with Greenfields and give them permission for us to collect your pet.

Once we have your instructions and your veterinary practice has your consent for us to collect, we will liaise directly with their team to arrange the collection.

If your pet is at home, we can arrange to personally collect them from you, or you are very welcome to bring them directly to Greenfields by appointment.

If you know that a home euthanasia or veterinary appointment is approaching, you are welcome to contact us beforehand so we can have the arrangements in place for when the time comes.

If we are collecting your pet from your home or veterinary practice, we ask for the paperwork and payment to be completed beforehand.

This means that when we arrive to collect your pet, our attention can be on you and your pet rather than forms or payment.

If you are bringing your pet directly to Greenfields, payment can be made at your appointment, although you are very welcome to arrange it beforehand.

Everything you have chosen and the cost will be confirmed with you when we make the arrangements.

We care for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other small companion animals.

We know that the smallest paws can leave an enormous space behind.

Whether we are caring for a hamster that fitted into the palm of your hand or a much-loved family dog who has been beside you for many years, they receive the same care and respect from us.

Yes. We personally collect pets from homes and veterinary practices across Dorset and the surrounding areas.

For a home collection, we arrange a time directly with you.

If your pet is at your veterinary practice, please contact Greenfields first to make the arrangements with us. You will also need to let your veterinary team know that you have chosen a private cremation with Greenfields and give them permission for us to collect your pet.

Once this is in place, we will liaise directly with the veterinary team to arrange collection and personally bring your pet into our care at Greenfields.

Alternatively, you are very welcome to bring your pet to us yourself by pre-booked appointment.

Your pet always travels individually with us in our discreet, unmarked vehicle.

If we collect your pet from home

We arrange a time directly with you and, when we arrive, there is no rush.

You can say goodbye in your own home, in your own way. If there are other pets in the family, they can also spend some time with their companion before we leave.

Smaller pets are carefully wrapped in a blanket and carried to our vehicle, where they are gently placed in a pet bed for their short, local journey to Greenfields.

For larger dogs, we use a stretcher so they can be moved safely and with dignity, before carefully covering them with a blanket for their journey.

If we collect your pet from your veterinary practice

Please contact Greenfields directly to arrange your pet’s cremation with us. You will also need to let your veterinary team know that Greenfields will be collecting your pet and give them permission for us to do so.

Once we have your instructions and the veterinary practice has your consent, we will liaise directly with their team to arrange a suitable collection time.

We personally collect your pet and bring them directly into our care at Greenfields.

Of course.

You are very welcome to bring your pet directly to Greenfields by pre-booked appointment.

Because Greenfields is appointment-only, we carefully manage our diary so that families don’t cross over wherever possible.

When you arrive, we will be expecting you and will meet you personally. There is no rush.

If you would like to spend some time with your pet before leaving them in our care, our private Reflection Room is available by prior request.

Please contact us. You don’t need to have everything decided before you call.

We will talk you through what happens next and can arrange to personally collect your pet from your home, or make an appointment for you to bring them to Greenfields.

While your pet is at home, place them somewhere cool and peaceful, away from direct sunlight, radiators and other sources of heat.

You may wish to gently wrap them in a favourite blanket and place a towel or absorbent pad underneath them.

When you are ready, contact Greenfields and we will guide you through the next steps.

If your pet passes away during the night or at a weekend, place them somewhere as cool as possible, away from direct sunlight, radiators and other sources of heat.

You may wish to gently wrap them in a favourite blanket and place a towel or absorbent pad underneath them.

Natural changes begin after death and the speed at which these happen can vary. Keeping your pet as cool as possible can help to slow these changes.

You can leave us a message, email or voicemail and we will contact you when Greenfields reopens.

If you are unsure what to do before then, your veterinary practice or their out-of-hours service will be able to offer further guidance.

Yes.

Our private Reflection Room is available by prior request for families bringing their pet directly to Greenfields.

It offers a quiet and tranquil space to spend some time with your pet before leaving them in our care.

If you would like to use the Reflection Room, please let us know when making your appointment so we can prepare the room and allow time within our diary.

There is no rush. You can say goodbye to your pet in your own way.

After your pet’s individual cremation, we carefully prepare their ashes and place them into the scatter tube, casket or keepsake you have chosen, ready to come home to you.

When everything is ready, we will contact you personally.

You can collect your pet’s ashes from Greenfields by appointment, or we can arrange to hand-deliver them to your home at a mutually convenient time.

Whichever you choose, their ashes will be handled with the same care and respect we have shown your pet throughout their time with us.

We usually aim to have your pet’s ashes ready within 48 hours, excluding weekends.

For example, if your pet comes to Greenfields on Monday, we would usually contact you on Wednesday.

If they come to us on Friday, we would usually contact you on Monday.

If you have chosen engraving, a specially ordered casket or a memorial being made especially for your pet, it may take a little longer.

If that’s the case, we will let you know so you know what to expect.

We understand just how important this is.

Every pet who comes to Greenfields is individually recorded and given their own identification tag.

This stays with your pet throughout their time here and through to the careful preparation of their ashes.

Your pet has their own dedicated cremation here at Greenfields.

When their ashes are returned to you, you will also receive a Certificate of Authenticity confirming their individual cremation.

Yes.

We work with Nicole at Cherished and Loved Keepsakes, a local jeweller who creates beautiful, bespoke pieces using a small amount of your pet’s ashes. More information can be found on our Keepsakes page.

Memorial jewellery can be a beautiful way to keep a little part of your pet close to your heart, always and forever.

If you think you might like something made, either now or sometime in the future, we can place approximately one teaspoon of your pet’s ashes into a separate jewellery pot.

This means you don’t have to open or disturb the ashes within your pet’s main scatter tube, casket or keepsake later.

You can then contact Nicole whenever the time feels right for you.

Yes, of course.

We can take an ink paw print, a small clipping of fur, or both.

They may seem like very small things, but we know how precious they can become.

Just let us know when we arrange your pet’s care and we will prepare them for you.

Yes.

The ink print we take is your pet’s own unique paw print, so you can keep it just as it is or use it to create something personal later.

It can be used for a tattoo, memorial jewellery, framed artwork or other personalised keepsakes.

You don’t have to know now what you might want to do with it. Once you have the print, it is yours to keep.