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Original poster

Went to collect my beloved dogs ashes to find they had given them to another family

36 replies

Pinkwellyboots3 · 09/05/2026 08:32

As per the title. I am absolutely furious, heartbroken, so angry.

my beloved dog who was the centre of our family passed away a few weeks ago, after the vet discovering aggressive cancer in 75% of his abdomen.

I trusted the vets, they arranged his cremation. They called me to collect this ashes, when i called back to say I was heading in (2 days later, we had took the children away to distract them as they are heartbroken), they discovered that his ashes had been given to another family.

I have already contacted the vet head office as this isn’t just a mistake, it’s a life that we loved, cared for and cherished for years and years.

God knows what has happened to his ashes now. I feel sick to my stomach.

What can I do to ensure this doesn’t happen again? Who can I contact? I appreciate in this moment I am angry but there is no excuse for the ashes of a living being to be given to someone else.

OP posts:
Myblueclematis · 09/05/2026 09:09

TokyoSushi · 09/05/2026 08:46

Oh how awful. I have had my cats ashes for 18 months and I still cannot bear to scatter them, I know a few people who still have theirs too so there’s definitely a chance that they haven’t been scattered yet.

I have two little decorated boxes of two of my cats ashes and they are at the back of the fireplace by the log burner.

I've had them there since 2013. I figured that they loved the warmth of the fire in life, they would love it there rather than scattered in the garden. 🐱

Myblueclematis · 09/05/2026 08:57

I was taking one of my cats to the vet to be PTS, already in tears, the nurse dropped the cat carrier with her in, the PTS experience was so upsetting and when I left and had to pay there and then (previous vet let you go and billed you after). I paid the bill crying my eyes out in a reception area with other people in and included the cremation fee for her ashes to be returned.

I get a phone call a couple of days later to say that she had been accidentally cremated with other pets and so they would not be able to return her ashes to me. They were very apologetic and refunded all my money but to say I was heartbroken at the way my poor cat was handled on her last day and then to not get her ashes back still upsets me even now.

I never went back to them with the next cat, found another vet.

For you💐

UnhappyHobbit · 09/05/2026 08:46

Honestly, I’d make the biggest fuss about this. Tell them they need to make contact urgently with this other family. Where are the ashes of their beloved pet? They would also need to be informed. If they have scattered them, it would be nice for you to know where too. This is shocking.

TokyoSushi · 09/05/2026 08:46

Oh how awful. I have had my cats ashes for 18 months and I still cannot bear to scatter them, I know a few people who still have theirs too so there’s definitely a chance that they haven’t been scattered yet.

Luckydog7 · 09/05/2026 08:45

This is awful, I hope the vets have been appropriately mortified. They should be the ones trying sort this out with urgency!!!

I hope they aren't charging you for this shoddy service!!

There's a decent chance that they haven't scattered the ashes yet. Our family dogs ashes have been taken out to a favourite walking spot usually at a weekend when everyone was together. They won't necessarily do it immediately.

Our cats ashes went on a trip weeks later to be scattered at all the homes he had lived at.

Pandolly · 09/05/2026 08:41

No advice but I am so so sorry. As someone who's pets are my world, and who I've had individually cremated many times now, I can only imagine the emotions you're dealing with.

It is completely not on.

The crem i use, I take my pets there myself.
Everything is labelled, and when I collect their ashes, I check everything before leaving.
I don't understand how they've made such a big mistake unless they are not labelling pets and their remains correctly with name, surname and an address to ensure pets with the same names aren't mixed up in the process.

If you reach out locally on FB maybe the family can get in touch and if scattered, will let you know where your little one is now.

Pricelessadvice · 09/05/2026 08:38

Ahh I’m sorry to hear this.
Try and think of it as your beloved dog is still with you, but his ashes have gone on an adventure!
Sending love x

Original poster
Pinkwellyboots3 · 09/05/2026 08:37

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/05/2026 08:35

Will you get the ashes back? I’m sorry for your loss. It was a massive error, probably not a common mistake.

I’m unsure right now. They collected their dogs ashes in a scatter box and we obviously don’t know what they have done with them. They tried to contact yesterday.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/05/2026 08:35

Will you get the ashes back? I’m sorry for your loss. It was a massive error, probably not a common mistake.

Original poster
Pinkwellyboots3 · 09/05/2026 08:34

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 09/05/2026 08:34

Surely they contact the other family? They will want the correct beloved pet back also?
Sorry for your loss op...

The other family collected in a scatter box so this is the main concern they they have been scattered already

OP posts:
Sunisgettinganewhaton · 09/05/2026 08:34

Surely they contact the other family? They will want the correct beloved pet back also?
Sorry for your loss op...