Tell us about your pet, and we'll find who can help
Only 47%[1] of UK cremation buyers remember being told about the full range of options. Send us a few details and we'll set them out for your species, in writing.
- One message, no phone calls needed
- Species, size and paperwork taken into account
- Your details used only to answer you
Before you write
What to include so we can answer properly the first time
The more precise you are about the animal, the fewer back-and-forth emails you'll need. "Small exotic" can mean a 90 g glider or a 10 lb skunk, and providers answer those very differently. These details help most:
- The exact species, and the common name if you know both. "Chilean rose tarantula" or "leucistic axolotl" is ideal.
- Approximate weight, and for long-tailed or long-legged animals, nose-to-tail length.
- Where your pet is now: at home in the fridge or freezer, or with a vet or lab.
- What you'd like: ashes back, preservation, a necropsy first, communal cremation, or you haven't decided.
- Any paperwork your pet had in life, such as a state permit or CITES certificate.
- Your town or ZIP/postcode, so we look at providers you can actually reach.
Not sure what you want yet? That's fine. Say so, and we'll lay out the options side by side. You can also read the services overview first, or check what ash to expect with the ashes weight estimator.
What happens next
What happens after you send your request
We go through the details you send. For common small exotics, like hedgehogs and gliders, we look for providers near you who confirm they handle animals that size individually. For unusual cases, like a wallaby, a primate or a CITES-listed animal, we ask the specific questions that matter before passing anything on.
Then we reply by email with what we found: which providers can help, what each would do, the prices they gave, and anything they couldn't confirm. We don't promise a reply time, because some answers depend on providers getting back to us, but we'll tell you if we're still waiting on someone.
Most pet owners rely on whoever the vet suggests: 48.8%[2] of US owners in one survey named their veterinary team as their main source of aftercare advice. That works well when your vet sees exotics regularly. If they don't, a second set of options can help.
If your pet has died today
While you wait for our reply: keeping your pet safe and cool
You have more time than it feels like. For a small exotic, a sealed bag in the fridge keeps the body well for a day or two, and in the freezer for weeks. If you might want a necropsy, choose the fridge. If you might want preservation, choose the freezer. If you're not sure, the freezer keeps the most options open except necropsy.
64% reject trash bag[3]
Wrap your pet in a soft cloth or paper towel before bagging them, if that feels kinder. A clean box or cloth pouch inside the bag is a gentle compromise between dignity and hygiene. Our page on transport and logistics covers travelling with a body to a vet or crematory.
26.1% want <24h[4]
Wash your hands after handling a reptile or amphibian, even after death; the CDC's reptile and amphibian guidance explains the Salmonella risk. If your pet was put to sleep, keep the body secured indoors: the drug-label warning summarized in Cornell's Waste Management Institute fact sheet is why euthanized animals should go to deep burial or cremation, never an open bin. On timing, our estimate from published return times is that ashes usually come back within 3 to 14 days[5], so tell us if you need them sooner. Meanwhile, your local page lists nearby options and the cost calculator gives a price range.
Being clear with you
What we can help with, and what needs someone else
| We can help with | Ask someone else about |
|---|---|
| Finding providers who handle your species | Medical questions or euthanasia timing (your vet) |
| Explaining what ash or remains to expect | Whether a permit is needed (your wildlife agency) |
| Comparing written prices and what's included | Performing a necropsy (a vet or diagnostic lab) |
| Pointing you to preservation studios | Exporting remains abroad (your national CITES office) |
| Planning ahead for an elderly or ill pet | Crisis or grief counselling (a helpline or counsellor) |
If your pet is still alive but ageing or unwell, you're welcome to write too. Planning early is easier for exotics, since the right provider may take time to find. The pre-planning checklist for uncommon species is a useful start.
Your details
How we look after the information you send
We use what you send only to answer your request. When we check with providers, we share your pet's species, size and your general area, not your name, email or phone number. If a provider needs to speak to you directly, we'll ask your permission first.
We don't sell your details or add you to marketing lists. If you'd like us to delete your request once you've had your answer, just reply and say so. More about who we are is on the about page.
Did your species need a permit or paperwork while alive?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Did your species need a permit or paperwork while alive?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Which unusual companion are you planning for, or saying goodbye to?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
When did you (or will you) decide on aftercare?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Is there a charge for sending a request?
No. Sending a request and receiving our reply is free, and there's no obligation to use any provider we suggest. If you do choose one, you'll pay them directly at the price they've quoted, and we'll have shown you that price in writing before you decide.
Can you collect my pet today?
We don't collect animals ourselves. Collection is arranged with the provider you choose, and some offer home or vet pickup while others ask you to deliver. If timing is tight, keep your pet cool in the fridge or freezer, and mention your deadline in your request so we can ask providers about it.
What if no provider near me will take my species?
It happens, especially for large or protected animals. We'll widen the search to providers further away who can accept delivery, check whether your vet can hold the body in the meantime, and explain alternatives such as communal cremation, preservation or burial where it's allowed.
Can I ask a question without booking anything?
Yes. Plenty of people write simply to understand their options, often while a pet is ageing or ill. Ask whatever you need to, whether that's how much ash a hedgehog leaves or whether a permit matters, and we'll answer as clearly as we can.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Fewer than half (47%) of UK cremation buyers recalled being told about a range of options, including communal cremation or home burial. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [2] 48.8% of US pet owners named their veterinary team as their primary resource for recommendations on pet death and dying. Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [3] 64% of US owners rated a trash bag as an unacceptable container for a deceased pet; 66.1% rated a blanket/shroud acceptable. Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [4] The most common owner preference (26.1%) was for a deceased pet to stay at the vet hospital less than 24 hours before transport to the crematory or cemetery; a further 18.1% said no more than 1-2 days. Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [5] Published ashes-return times across the network's markets range from same-day (paid express) to about 4 weeks; a conservative typical window is 3-14 days. Our estimate: min/max across sources: Lambeth 3 days; US 5-10 days; RSPCA QLD within 14 days; AniCura Sweden 2-4 weeks. How we calculate.
Send your exotic pet's details
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.