FAQs

At Lawnswood, we offer complete transparency at every stage of the pet cremation process. We have developed our 7 Point Pet Tracking system to offer ultimate peace of mind, ensuring that the ashes of your pet, and only your pet, will be returned to you. Your pet will be assigned a unique ID number upon booking, as well as an ID tag that contains their details (name, breed and location). This ID tag will stay with your pet and will be checked at many points throughout the cremation process.

You can find out more about our 7 Point Pet Tracking System on your pet’s journey page.

There is no easy way to say goodbye to your pet, and you may feel overwhelmed at times. By choosing to euthanise your pet, you are able to save them from any unnecessary suffering or pain, so though the decision is hard, you will have some comfort knowing that you have your pet’s best interests at heart.

Be sure to ask your vet any questions during this time, as they will be able to guide you through the process in an experienced and thoughtful way.

If you would like to know more, or are looking for some added support, our pet loss and grief brochure can help.

Taking time to prepare yourself for your pet’s euthanasia can help you on your grief journey, and help make the last moments with your pet as calm and peaceful as possible.

It is best to schedule your pet’s euthanasia for a date that gives you the opportunity to spend as much time as you need with your pet following the procedure. Additionally, if you would like to say goodbye in the comfort of your home, there are a range of mobile vet services available. 

To discuss your next steps and how you would like to say a final goodbye, please contact our friendly team today. You can also find additional support and guidance in our pet loss and grief brochure

Before making the choice to bury your pet at home, it is important to check with your local council first to see what your local laws and regulations are. Alternatively, our beautiful Lawnswood Pet Cemetery provides a tranquil resting place for your beloved pet, located within Clackline in the Avon Valley. Our range of burial services include traditional burial, or the burial or scattering of your pet’s ashes. Please visit our burial services page to find out more.

If your pet was euthanised, we recommend you choose a private cremation to avoid high levels of anaesthetic from harming local wildlife or other pets.

Our family have been offering personalised and affordable pet cremation and funeral services here in Perth since 1984. Our animal-loving team all share our strong family values, and know how important it is to honour the memory of your beloved pet, no matter how you choose to do so. You can rely on our Lawnswood team to offer the highest standards of service and support, whenever and wherever you may need us.

If you would like to know more about our story and services, visit our About Us page.

Lawnswood Pet Cemetery is located an hour’s drive of Perth at Clackline, near Northam in the Avon Valley.

Our services cover the entire Perth metropolitan area and extend as far as Broome and Karratha in the north, to Margaret River in the South West.

Our horse cremation service is available throughout Western Australia. Our standard horse cremation pricing includes the dignified collection of your horse from within 90km of Perth CBD. If you are located outside this area, please contact us to discuss applicable travel costs.

Surrounded by natural bushland, our Lawnswood Pet Cemetery offers a tranquil final resting place for your beloved pet. You can choose a traditional burial service, where your pet will be laid to rest in their own burial site, or to have your pet’s ashes buried within their own burial site. Our dedicated team can also scatter your pet’s ashes amongst the trees by our winter creek, should you wish.

To find out more about the various options available, visit our burial services page.

Lawnswood is a proud member of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC) and is honoured to care for beloved pets, providing them with the dignity and respect they deserve.

The International Association Of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the standards, ethics, and professionalism of pet cemeteries and crematories around the world.

The IAOPCC represents the gold standard in both business and ethics in the aftercare industry. IAOPCC Members are expected to uphold the high standards set by the Association and are bound by the standards and practices set forth by the Association.

If you would like to book our pet cremation services, please contact our friendly team today who will be able to assist you.

You can also read more about our services on our Services page.

Our services are available 7 days a week all year round, with the trusted availability you can count on when you need it most. Whether your pet’s passing was unexpected or planned, simply contact our team whenever you’re ready and we can assist you.

If you are booking your pet’s euthanasia with your vet, please let us know once you have a confirmed date and time. That way, we can make the whole journey as seamless as possible for you.

Should your pet pass away at home, you may choose to grieve at home with them for a short time. This will also give your family and any other pets a chance to say a final goodbye. Our team will be here to help whenever you’re ready. We recommend contacting us as soon as possible to arrange a collection time that suits you.

We also offer a range of goodbye services in our comfort room at our facility, where families and pets are welcome to share final precious moments with your pet.

Our home collection service allows you to spend your last moments with your pet in comfort, and is available for an additional cost. Collections are available 7 days a week, including public holidays. We currently only offer home collection for pets in metropolitan areas.

We will collect your pet within two hours of receiving your booking, or you can talk to our friendly team to find a time that suits you.

If you are organising a home euthanasia service with your vet, please let us know once you have a confirmed date and time. This way, we can ensure the process is as seamless as possible.

If you would like to know more about our home collection service, visit our premium services page.

At Lawnswood, we will pay special consideration to the careful loading, transportation and unloading of your horse upon collection. Our custom-designed transport system allows your horse to be treated with dignity and respect at every stage of the journey.

Upon arrival at your property, our experienced team will take time to explain the process to you, so you can put your mind at rest.

Yes, you will have the opportunity to say a final goodbye to your beloved pet at our facility, should you wish to do so (additional costs apply). Final goodbyes will take place in our specially designed comfort room, which offers a welcoming space for families and other pets alike to come together and share a few last treasured moments with your pet.

If you would like more information on our final goodbye services, visit our premium services page.

The price of our pet cremation services varies, depending on a number of factors. These include:

• Your pet’s size
• Your pet’s location
• Collection time (weekday, after hours or a public holiday)
• Memorialisation options (view our range of vessels and memorabilia)

To find out more about our pricing, please visit our cremation services page.

The price of our horse cremation service varies, depending on a number of factors. These include:

• Your horse’s size
• Your horse’s location
• Collection time (weekday, after hours or a public holiday)
• Memorialisation options (view our range of vessels and memorabilia)

To find out more about our pricing, please visit our horse cremation services page.

We are pleased to offer Zip Pay and VetPay as alternative payment methods. These option allows you to give your beloved pet the goodbye they deserve, while being able to pay at your own pace.

With Zip Pay, you are able to make easy, interest-free repayments either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, with no upfront payment required.

Click on the link below to view the Zip Pay application process, or call us for more information.

View the Zip Pay application process.

With VetPay, you are able to make easy interest free payments over a set period of time.

Click on the link below to view the VetPay application process, or call us for more information.

View the VetPay application process.

As a family of animal lovers, you can rest assured that our Lawnswood team will treat your pet with all the loving respect they deserve. Our team have loved and lost pets of our own, and truly understand what you’re going through. That’s why we go out of our way to ensure we treat every pet under our care like they were one of our own.

Following your pet’s cremation, there are a number of options available to you. You may choose to scatter your pet’s ashes at a meaningful place, or have their ashes scattered by our caring team at our beautiful Lawnswood Pet Cemetery in the Avon Valley. We also offer burial services at our cemetery, which offers a tranquil location for families and pets to visit year-round. You can find out more about our Lawnswood Pet Cemetery on our burial services page.  

If you are choosing to have your pet cremated, you may wish to honour their memory through a physical piece that will have your pet’s ashes secured inside. We offer a range of options, including:

• Jewellery, memorial items and keepsakes
• Paw prints and fur clippings
• Plaques and burial markers
• Vessels and urns

View our range of vessels and memorabilia.

Engraving is a highly personable choice that reflects the personality and life of your pet during their time with you. Some people will choose to keep things simple with just their pet’s name or nickname engraved, whereas others like to include short statements, quotes or memories.

Available engraving space will vary depending on your chosen product, so make sure to view our range of vessels and memorabilia to view available character limits.

Always By My Side
Always In Our Hearts
Always Remembered
Forever Missed
Loved & Remembered Always
Loyal And Faithful Friend
My Best Friend
Rest In Peace
Treasured Companion

There are many reasons why people make the choice to cremate their pets. These include being able to keep their pet’s ashes close by as a treasured reminder, or being able to scatter their pet’s ashes at a special location.

Cremation offers an affordable, simple and professional way to say goodbye. In addition, many people choose not to bury their pets at home due to council regulations, no garden space or future relocations.

At Lawnswood, we offer a respectful and dignified pet cremation service to all kinds of pets, no matter how big or small.

The most common pets we look after include cats, dogs and horses. We can also cater for a wide range of pocket pets, which include birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats, mice and rabbits, to reptiles and fish, or larger pets including ponies, sheep, cows and donkeys.

Cremation is a process where a pet is carefully placed within a private cremation chamber and their body is reduced to its basic elements through heat and evaporation over time. Once the process is complete, the remaining elements of the pet are referred to as ‘ashes’ and can be placed inside a vessel or keepsake.

The time it takes to fully cremate a pet depends on their size and weight and can take two or more hours.

At Lawnswood, we offer private pet cremation services. This means that your pet will be cremated privately in their own separate chamber. Following cremation, your pet’s ashes, and only their ashes, will be returned to you.

Yes, we can. If you have any special requests and would like your pet to be cremated with their favourite toy, collar or small items please speak to our caring Client Care team and we will facilitate this for you. Please note that due to the high heat of our crematorium, very little to no traces of these items will remain with your pet’s ashes following cremation.

Yes – all horses we look after are cremated intact, no matter their size. We have worked hard to design a custom-built horse crematorium and transport system that ensures every moment of your horse’s final journey is dignified and considered. Our horse cremation service is a private service, which means that the ashes of your horse, and only your horse, will be returned to you in a standard vessel.

You can also choose from a range of vessels and memorabilia for an additional cost.

Many metals, not including light alloy metals, will remain after cremation. Our team will remove any metal from your pet’s ashes, unless you specify upon booking that you would like the metal to remain (such as surgical metal).

This is due to a number of factors, including:

Additional items cremated

If you have chosen to have additional items cremated with your pet (such as a letter or other personal effects), this may create a larger volume of ashes. This is especially true for items high in carbon that are able to resist complete combustion.

Bone density

Pets with lower bone density (including older pets or pets with cancer) can produce a lower volume of ashes.

Bone structure

Different breeds of pet (such as a Labrador or Golden Retriever) will produce different amounts of ashes, even if they are similar weights.

Cremation temperature, processing and time

Finer ashes are produced from longer cremation times and higher temperatures, which will give the impression of less ashes being produced (as ashes will become more compact as they settle). The longer the cremation time, the more impurities will be removed, which will also contribute to less ashes being produced.

We strive to return your pet’s ashes to you within 14 days of receiving your pet, depending on whether other arrangements have been made. The time it takes to receive your pet’s ashes may vary depending on your location, and your choice of vessel or memorialisation option.

We offer two expedited private cremation options to ensure your beloved pet is returned to their forever home sooner.

These include:

• Our platinum service, where one of our dedicated and experienced carers will pick up your beloved pet from your home and deliver them to our facility for a private cremation. Your pet’s ashes will then be returned to your home within 24 hours (if located in Perth metro) in the vessel of your choice.Your pet’s ashes will be returned to you in your choice of standard vessel. If you would like to create a truly heartfelt reminder of your pet, we offer a range of vessels and memorabilia for you to choose from for an additional cost.
• Our gold service where you can bring your pet to our Lawnswood facility for a private cremation. The Gold service allows your pet to have a priority Private cremation within three days. Once your pet’s ashes are ready, you will be contacted to arrange collection.Your pet’s ashes will be returned to you in your choice of standard vessel. If you would like to create a truly heartfelt reminder of your pet, we offer a range of vessels and memorabilia for you to choose from for an additional cost.

To find out more about our same-day services, please speak to our friendly team.

The first thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to grieve the loss of your beloved pet. You may feel a number of emotions during this time, but rest assured that this is a normal part of your grief journey.

For additional pet grief support, please refer to our Pet Loss and Grief brochure. You can also find helpful books and guides for adults and children on our resources page.

The loss of a pet may be the first time your child has experienced death, so try and be as sensitive and honest with them as you can during this time. All children will grieve differently, just like adults do.

For additional pet grief support, please refer to our Pet Loss and Grief brochure. You can also find helpful books and guides for adults and children on our resources page.

It may take weeks or months to acknowledge the full reality of your pet’s loss. Just remember that your grief isn’t a burden that you have to shoulder alone – there are always people ready to listen and support you if you need it.

At Lawnswood, we offer a regular Pet Loss and Grief Support Group to assist you in making sense of your emotions during this time, within a loving and supportive group environment. Talk to our friendly team today if you would like to make a booking for the next session. You can also find additional pet grief support information on our resources page.

Support services

24/7 Pet Loss Support Line – 1300 431 450
Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
Griefline – 1300 845 745
Lifeline – 13 11 14