FacilityCheckList

Evaluate the Facilities
All veterinarians or perhaps, representatives of local veterinary medical associations should visit the pet disposal facilities to which they are referring clients
and ask questions about the facility’s business practices. Although such inquiries may seem invasive, veterinarians must keep in mind that the pet disposal
industry is largely unregulated and even where it is regulated, enforcement is inconsistent. Inquiries from referring veterinarians help to shield veterinarians
form liability and provide an important service for clients, who may not be aware of problems with the pet disposal industry. In addition, the veterinary
profession, by asking questions of the pet disposal industry, may bring this industry to the public’s attention and, therefore, serve as a catalyst for creation
and enforcement of regulations.

Veterinarians should ask the following questions when visiting pet disposal facilities:

   What kinds of records dose the facility keep? How long are the records retained?
                   At C.C.P.C.-Our records include MD Dept. of the Environment, Authorizations Forms and Intake Sheets. The records are retain for 5 years.
   What type of system dose the facility use to identify the body bags in which animals are received?
                    At C.C.P.C.-We use “The Pet Tracker ID System” which includes a body tag, stainless steel ID tag, an ID card in plastic and an intake sheet.
   How will the facility handle multiple transfers from veterinary clinics to prevent loss of an individual body’s identification tag?
                   At C.C.P.C.-We do not make multiple transfers.
   Are the bodies provided with toe tags or identification collars so that they can be identified even if they become displaced from the bags in which they are transported?
                   At C.C.P.C.-We use a body tag.
    Where and how are bodies stored after receipt by the facility and before disposal?
                  At C.C.P.C.-We have a holding area and a freezer for communal cremations.
   Dose the facility have refrigeration and freezer capacity to accommodate the volume?
                  At C.C.P.C.-We have freezers to accommodate our volume of cremations.
    What method is used to identify patients’ individual ashes and store and transport them after cremation?
                   At C.C.P.C.-Remains are identified using the same as human remains as required by law. This includes an ID card in plastic attached to the bag of cremains and the
                   outside container labeled.
   If the facility provides for burials, what size plot is allocated for each animal?
                   At C.C.P.C.-We do not do pet burials.
   What is the daily capacity of crematorium furnace?
                   At C.C.P.C.-Our retort is rated at 75 lbs per hour.
   What is the breakdown between the number of communal cremations versus individual cremations?
                   At C.C.P.C.-The breakdown numbers between communal versus individual cremations are not available at this time.
   How dose the facility ensure that ashes of individually cremated pets are only those of the pet being cremated?
                   At C.C.P.C.-After each cremation, the retort chamber is completely cleaned.
   What is the largest sized body that can be cremated in the facility’s furnaces?
                   At C.C.P.C.-The largest sized body that can be cremated needs to fit into a cremation container not exceeding 4 foot in length.
   Can the facility handle large breed dogs or small farm animal?
                   At C.C.P.C.-We can handle large breeds of dogs that are 175 lbs. and can fit into a cremation container not exceeding 4 foot in length.
    If communal cremations are provided, how many animals are cremated at one time?
                    At C.C.P.C.-Communal cremations will not exceed 150 lbs.
   Are owners and veterinarians permitted to observe the cremation or burial?
                   At C.C.P.C.-Veterinarians are permitted to observe cremations and owners have a choice to be present at an additional charge.
   What is the standard turn-around time for receipt of a body from the veterinary practice to return the ashes to the practice?
                    At C.C.P.C.-Our turn-around time is 1-2 business days.
   What kind of packaging is used for the ashes and can owners open the containers and view the ashes?
                   At C.C.P.C- The remains are placed into a hand crafted wood urn that the owners can open.
   What type of fuel ( fuel oil or natural gas) is used in the cremation?
                   At C.C.P.C.- Our retort uses natural gas.
   Do ashes contain chunks of bone or teeth or are they sifted to remove those fragments before they are returned to the owners?
                   At C.C.P.C.- We return all of the cremains to the owners and they will contain very small fragments.