Borough crematory taking private requests

MAT-SU -- Losing a cherished pet is a tragic event, sometimes worsened by confusion over what to do with a pet's remains. While many area veterinary offices offer cremation services performed through Anchorage crematories, few options are available for those who don't have the funds to pay the often high costs involved.

For those and other reasons, the Mat-Su Borough Animal Care and Regulation shelter added on to the shelter by building a crematory last year. At the first of the year, cremation services were expanded to allow the private cremation of pets.

The crematory was built last summer with funds set aside during the previous year's budgeting process. At the time, assembly members commented that, in their experience, cremation services cost about $100, when done through local veterinarians' offices.

The facility's primary purpose is to sanitarily dispose of the animals who come through the shelter and are either not claimed by their owners, not adopted out or rescued, or came for other reasons and had to be destroyed. Previously, the euthanized animals were bagged and placed in the landfill, a practice that the state's Department of Environmental Conservation recently advised against. Offering cremation services to the public was discussed when the project went before the assembly for funding as a way to recoup some of the construction costs and help the shelter balance its budget.

The assembly, last fall, passed fee schedules for three types of cremations: Mass cremations, private cremations and individual cremations.

Mass cremations, Bassett explained, are performed for those who don't want their animals' remains returned to them. According to the fee schedule, mass cremations are $20 minimum, with the standard fee for cats and dogs running $30. Animals weighing more than 25 pounds accrue added fees of $1 per pound for every pound over 25.

Private cremations are performed on a smaller scale, Bassett said. The cremation takes place with just three or four animals in the facility, each separated and marked for identification. Ashes of the animals are returned to the owner, Bassett said. The fee for private cremations is $50 minimum, with the standard rate for dogs and cats set at $75. Animals weighing more than 25 pounds accrue added fees of $2 per pound in a private cremation.

Individual cremations are simply that -- one animal is placed in the crematory at a time. The minimum charge for an individual cremation is $150, with animals weighing more than 25 pounds accruing fees of $6 per pound. The maximum animal weight the crematory can handle is 200 pounds, Bassett said.

In the case of private and individual cremations, Bassett said, the ashes are sealed inside a plastic bag and returned to the owner in a round, silver tin.

Cremations are generally performed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fee schedules and more information about the crematory can be obtained by calling the shelter at 746-5500.